BIODEGRADATION OF CRUDE OIL BY BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM PRISTINE SOIL

Abstract

ABSTRACT The demand for petroleum as a source of energy and raw materials for chemical industries in recent years has resulted in a tremendous increase in world exploration. This increase in exploration of crude oil has also brought with it an ever increasing problem of environmental pollution. This present study was designed to identify crude oil degrading microorganisms from pristine soil and crude oil degradation capacity. Soil samples were collected from a pristine soil. The soil had a pH of 5.65 with total organic matter and organic carbon of 5.22% and 5.27% respectively. The isolates were identified based on morphological observation, physiological and biochemical tests. The isolates belong to species of Bacillus and Staphylococcus. Biodegradation of crude oil by the two isolates was 28.57% and 31.70% for Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus respectively after 28 days. The components degraded from the crude oil were majorly the n-alkane. Some of the aromatic hydrocarbons were converted into an intermediate product. Bacillus and Staphylococcus species could be good candidate microorganisms in the bioremediation of crude oil contaminated sites. The isolates demonstrated ability to degrade petroleum hydrocarbon.