Evaluation of Percentage Degradation of Crude Oil in Contaminated Soil by Isolated Consortia

Abstract

The Biodegradation of spilled crude oil in contaminated soil could reach insignificant quantity and harmless compounds formed through the application of effective and viable hydrocarbon degraders. In this study, 15 micro-organisms were isolated, sub-cultured, purified and used for the bioaugmentation process of a crude oil contaminated soil. The isolated consortium used the crude oil as their sole carbon source and in the process lead to the bio-degradation of the oil contaminant. The quantity of residual oil obtained following bio-augmentation with each isolate was determined gravimetrically. The best hydrocarbon degraders identified include: Staphylococcus epidermis, Pseudomonas Spp, Baccilus Spp, Klebsiella Spp., Micrococcu Spp. These findings from this study have environmental implication as it could help in the selection and application of bacterial species that can be used for effective bio-degradation of crude oil in contaminated soil in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria through bio-augmentation process.