Hydrocarbon-degrading Capability of Bacteria isolated from a Maize-Planted, Kerosene-contaminated Ilorin Alfisol

Abstract

In an effort at discovering autochthonous and active bacterial strains that could be of relevance in biodegradation and/or bioremediation of  petroleum contaminated systems in Nigeria, twenty four bacterial species
were isolated from kerosene treated Ilorin alfisol. The traditional method of identifying bacteria was complemented by using Microbact^TM ID 24E system for the identification of Enterobacteriaceae and common  miscellaneous Gramnegative bacilli (MGNB). The results show appreciable increase in optical densities and total viable counts contemporaneous with decrease in pH of the culture media. The most promising organisms in this study are Leclercia adecarboxylata, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, Micrococcus luteus, Arthrobacter sp. and Streptococcus sp. The results obtained in this study showed that kerosene spillage posses a great threat to the survival and development of Zea mays. It also revealed that some bacteria survive and even thrive in kerosene contaminated soil and hence have the potential to be used in biodegradation and/or  bioremediation of oil contaminated soils and water.

KEYWORDS: Bacteria, biodegradation, alfisol, hydrocarbon, Zea mays.