Isolation and screening of crude oil-degrading microbes from contaminated sites in Koko Community, Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

The potential use of these isolated microbes for bioremediation of contaminated sites in Koko Community, Delta State, Nigeria. Bioremediation is an attractive option for reducing the environmental damage caused by crude oil contamination. This study aimed at isolating and screening a consortium of indigenous oil microbes with biodegradation capabilities from an oil-polluted spilled site situated in Koko community Delta State, South-Southern, Nigeria.  The samples were collected from the farm soil and the river water in the area. The hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria (HUC), The heterotrophic place count (HPC), Total fungi count (TFC)and hydrocarbon-utilizing fungi (HFC were identified and enumerated using standard methods.  The mean HPC, HUC and TFC and HFC for the crude polluted soil was (8.70 × 104 CFU/g, 8.20 × 104 CFU/g, 2.00 × 104 CFU/g and 1.90 × 104 CFU/g respectively), farm soil was (1.18 × 107 CFU/g, 5.90 × 104 CFU/g, 1.80 × 103 CFU/g and 1.80 × 103 CFU/g respectively), crude oil polluted river was (1.77 × 104 CFU/g, 1.15 × 104 CFU/g, 1.01 × 102 CFU/g and 6.60 × 101 CFU/g respectively) and for water was (4.50 × 103 CFU/g, 1.80 × 101 CFU/g, 3.00 × 101 CFU/g and 3.00 × 101 CFU/g respectively). The bacteria and fungi isolated were Bacillus sp., Citrobacter sp., Pseudomonas, Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces sp., Penicillium sp., Aspergillus sp. and Cladosporium sp. The results of this study may also be used to inform the management of crude oil-contaminated sites in similar environments as well as be employed to design and incorporate suitable strategies for effective monitoring and management of crude oil contamination in the environment. This study concludes that that the organisms isolated have biodegradable abilities and thus ideal candidates for bioremediation in oil spill polluted environment.