BioDegradation of Refined Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Soil

Carbon-dioxide production and hydrocarbon degradation of refined petroleum hydrocarbon in soils treated with 5% gasoline, kerosene and diesel oil were investigated. Soil for study was bulked from around acar park in Port Harcourt. Soil samples were collected at weekly intervals for four weeks and subsequently at monthly intervals for four months, between the months of March and July 1998. The volume of carbon-dioxide produced in 40g soil ranged from 17.6 mg to 105.6mg for the control soil and from 30.8mg to 154mg for the hydrocarbon-contaminated soils. Statistical analysis using paired t- test between control and hydrocarbon – contaminated soils showed significant differences for gasoline – contaminated soils. The rate of hydrocarbondegradation ranged from 0 ìgg-1 oil h-1 to 0.60 ìgg-1 oil h-1 for the control soil; 0.05 ìgg-1 gasoline h-1 to 1.67 ìgg-1 gasoline h-1 and from 0.12 ìgg-1 diesel oil h-1 to 1.31 ìgg-1 diesel oil h-1 for the hydrocarbon contaminated soils respectively. Carbondioxide production was generally higher in the hydrocarbon – contaminated soils than in the control soil with gasoline> diesel oil > control soils

BioDegradation of Refined Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Soil

Carbon-dioxide production and hydrocarbon degradation of refined petroleum hydrocarbon in soils treated with 5% gasoline, kerosene and diesel oil were investigated. Soil for study was bulked from around a car park in Port Harcourt. Soil samples were collected at weekly intervals for four weeks and subsequently at monthly intervals for four months, between the months of March and July 1998. The volume of carbon-dioxide produced in 40g soil ranged from 17.6 mg to 105.6mg for the control soil and from 30.8mg to 154mg for the hydrocarbon-contaminated soils. Statistical analysis using paired t-test between control and hydrocarbon-contaminated soils showed significant differences for gasoline - contaminated soils. The rate of hydrocarbon degradation ranged from 0 \u3bcgg-1 oil h-1 to 0.60 \u3bcgg-1 oil h-1 for the control soil; 0.05 \u3bcgg-1 gasoline h-1 to 1.67 \u3bcgg-1 gasoline h-1 and from 0.12 \u3bcgg-1 diesel oil h-1 to 1.31 \u3bcgg-1 diesel oil h-1 for the hydrocarbon contaminated soils respectively. Carbondioxide production was generally higher in the hydrocarbon - contaminated soils than in the control soil with gasoline > diesel oil > control soils. @ JASE

Activity of Zymomonas species in palm-sap obtained from three areas in Edo State, Nigeria.

The bacterium Zymomonas mobilis was isolated from fresh palm-sap samples from three different locations as to determine the contribution of the bacterial isolate to alcohol production in palm-wine. Carbohydrate (sugar) fermentation, alcohol tolerance, and growth of the bacterium at different pH and temperature values were determined; and a comparison of sugar fermentation by Z. mobilis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae was also determined. Z. mobilis contributes much to the fermentation of palm-wine due to its ability to ferment sucrose, glucose and fructose which are the main sugars in palm-sap. The bacterium reached its maximum density of 2.72 x 107 cells/ml between 12 and 15 hrs after tapping of the palm-sap. Z. mobilis is acid and alcohol tolerant being able to grow at pH values between 4.0 and 7.0 and in alcohol concentration of between 2.5% and 15% respectively. Z. mobilis was also found to ferment sugars at a faster rate than Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Statistical analysis of the data obtained using ANOVA showed that there is no significant difference at p = 0.05 level of significance in the growth of isolates of Z. mobilis obtained from the three locations under different pH, alcohol and temperature values. @JASE

BIOBURDEN (QUALITY) OF DIFFERENT DRINKING WATER SAMPLES

ABSTRACT The bacteriological quality of various drinking water samples of treated pipe-borne (tap) water, borehole water and well water collected from five (5) locations within "Town" Area of Port Harcourt in Nigeria was evaluated using the standard plate count method and the most probable number (MPN) technique. The temperature and pH mean values recorded ranged from 22.2°C ± 1.48°C to 23.4°C ± 1.95°C and from 7.16 ± 0.055 to 7.36 ± 0.055 respectively. Total aerobic heterotrophic bacterial counts ranged from 7.72 x 10 3 cfu/ml ± 6.42 x 10 3 cfu/ml to 12.2 x 10 3 cfu/ml ± 7.29 x 10 3 cfu/ml. While the total coliform and faecal coliform MPN index/100ml ranged from 0 to 1800+ and from 0 to 900 respectively. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) using F-test showed that there was significant difference at p ≤ 0.01 in pH and in faecal coliform MPN and at p≤0.05 in the other parameters determined. The bacteria isolated include Chromobacterium spp., Corynebacterium spp., Escherichia coli, Enterobacter spp., Klebsiella spp., Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., and their percentages ranged from 5% to 15%. The order of decreasing bacteriological quality of samples is treated tap water > borehole water > well water. The presence of E. coli and enteric pathogens such as Shigella, Enterobacter etc., indicated the contamination of the various water sources with faecal matter implying that they are not suitable for drinking

Dramatic Shifts in Benthic Microbial Eukaryote Communities following the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

Benthic habitats harbour a significant (yet unexplored) diversity of microscopic eukaryote taxa, including metazoan phyla, protists, algae and fungi. These groups are thought to underpin ecosystem functioning across diverse marine environments. Coastal marine habitats in the Gulf of Mexico experienced visible, heavy impacts following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, yet our scant knowledge of prior eukaryotic biodiversity has precluded a thorough assessment of this disturbance. Using a marker gene and morphological approach, we present an intensive evaluation of microbial eukaryote communities prior to and following oiling around heavily impacted shorelines. Our results show significant changes in community structure, with pre-spill assemblages of diverse Metazoa giving way to dominant fungal communities in post-spill sediments. Post-spill fungal taxa exhibit low richness and are characterized by an abundance of known hydrocarbon-degrading genera, compared to prior communities that contained smaller and more diverse fungal assemblages. Comparative taxonomic data from nematodes further suggests drastic impacts; while pre-spill samples exhibit high richness and evenness of genera, post-spill communities contain mainly predatory and scavenger taxa alongside an abundance of juveniles. Based on this community analysis, our data suggest considerable (hidden) initial impacts across Gulf beaches may be ongoing, despite the disappearance of visible surface oil in the region

Modification of cell surface properties of Pseudomonas alcaligenes S22 during hydrocarbon biodegradation

Biodegradation of water insoluble hydrocarbons can be significantly increased by the addition of natural surfactants one. Very promising option is the use of saponins. The obtained results indicated that in this system, after 21 days, 92% biodegradation of diesel oil could be achieved using Pseudomonas alcaligenes. No positive effect on the biodegradation process was observed using synthetic surfactant Triton X-100. The kind of carbon source influences the cell surface properties of microorganisms. Modification of the surface cell could be observed by control of the sedimentation profile. This analytical method is a new approach in microbiological analysis

The Environmental Impact of Oilfield Formation Water on a Freshwater Stream in Nigeria

A comparative analysis of the physico-chemical parameters of treated oilfield formation water and that of a freshwater stream with no previous history of pollution from oil exploration activities was determined. The environmental impact resulting from the discharge of treated oilfield formation water into freshwater samples collected from this stream with no previous history of pollution from oil exploration activities was assessed in terms of changes in water quality parameters such as Dissolved oxygen (DO), Biochemical oxygen Demand (BOD) and in the microbial populations of the freshwater samples over a period of seven days since oilfield formation water readily mixes with flowing water after discharge. The analyses showed that concentrations of constituents such as chloride, total dissolved solids, total hardness, nitrate nitrogen and ammonium nitrogen alkalinity and silicate of the oilfield formation water were much higher than those of the freshwater source. The oxygen uptake (BOD values) in some stations of the freshwater stream differed significantly only at the 5% level after the treatment. Generally, the microbial populations were also lower after the treatment. Such observations suggest that, there is reduction in the biological activities of the freshwater after the addition of the treated oilfield formation water. @ JASE

Activity of Zymomonas species in palm-sap obtained from three areas in Edo State, Nigeria.

The bacterium Zymomonas mobilis was isolated from fresh palm-sap samples from three different locations as to determine the contribution of the bacterial isolate to alcohol production in palm-wine. Carbohydrate (sugar) fermentation, alcohol tolerance, and growth of the bacterium at different pH and temperature values were determined; and a comparison of sugar fermentation by Z. mobilis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae was also determined. Z. mobilis contributes much to the fermentation of palm-wine due to its ability to ferment sucrose, glucose and fructose which are the main sugars in palm-sap. The bacterium reached its maximum density of 2.72 x 107 cells/ml between 12 and 15 hrs after tapping of the palm-sap. Z. mobilis is acid and alcohol tolerant being able to grow at pH values between 4.0 and 7.0 and in alcohol concentration of between 2.5% and 15% respectively. Z. mobilis was also found to ferment sugars at a faster rate than Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Statistical analysis of the data obtained using ANOVA showed that there is no significant difference at p = 0.05 level of significance in the growth of isolates of Z. mobilis obtained from the three locations under different pH, alcohol and temperature values. Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management Vol. 9(1) 2005: 25-3

Effects of Refined Petroleum Hydrocarbon on Soil Physicochemical and Bacteriological Characteristics

The physico-chemical and bacteriological characteristics of soils as influenced by the addition of 5% gasoline, kerosene and diesel oil hydrocarbons, were investigated. Soil for study was bulked from around a car park in Port Harcourt. Soil sampling was carried out at weekly intervals for four weeks and subsequently at monthly intervals for four months, between the months of March and July 1998. Physico-chemical parameters such as organic carbon, magnesium, and sodium increased from 1.48% to 2.46%: 0.60 to 3.40meg 100g-1 soil and 0.23 to 0.77meg 100g-1 soil respectively. Nitrogen and phosphorous decreased from 0.15% to 0.07% and 35.1ppm to 10.88pm respectively while ammonium nitrate and nitrite were not affected in all soils. Calcium and potassium decreased beyond the control soil level in gasoline - contaminated soil after week 16. Counts of total viable aerobic heterotrophs ranged from 0.46 x 106 CFGg-1 soil to 1.59 x 106 CFUg-1 soil for the control soil; and from 0.56 x 106 CFUg-1 to 2.40 x 106 CFUg-1 soil for the hydrocarbon - contaminated soils. There was significant difference amongst treatments at P = 1%. @ JASE

Seasonal Effect on the Bacterial and Fungal Population of an Oilfield Wastewater-Polluted Soil in Nigeria

Seasonal effect on the bacterial and fungal populations of an oilfield wastewater - polluted soil was investigated for a period of 12 months. Many bacterial and fungal species were present in the soil and the wastewater of the area investigated. Some of the organisms occurred in both the soil and oilfield wastewater while others occurred only in the soil. Eighteen (18) organisms were isolated, 4 species (2 bacteria and 2 fungi) occurred in all the seasons whereas the other organisms occurred in at least one season. This showed that different seasons selectively favour the growth of certain microbial types. The chemical analysis of the oilfield wastewater revealed the presence of inorganic components and oil residues in the wastewater. The microbial counts of the polluted soil when compared to the control samples in all the locations did not reveal a clear seasonal-pollutant effect on the microbial densities. However, fungal counts showed somewhat seasonal-pollutant effect in two locations. The chemical constituents of the wastewater are relatively of low toxicity and hence had no toxic effects on the soil microbial population. Seasonal variations showed that the drier seasons supported large active microbial populations and the wetter season had smaller populations. However, seasonal influence was more pronounced on the fungi than on the bacteria. @JASE