Enhanced Degradation of C₁₇ and C₃₄ of Bonny Light Crude Oil by Enterobacter sp.

Abstract

Investigation of enhanced potential of Enterobacter sp. in biodegradation of Bonny light crude oil components, C₁₇ and C₃₄ was carried out. Samples of water and sediment were collected from predetermined locations and subjected to microbiological analyses using standard methodologies. Of the 32 potential hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria isolated from the water and sediment samples that were exposed to crude oil contamination, only one isolate,Enterobacter sp. (Y₈ESWS₃) was found to effectively biodegrade 99.8% of C₁₇ and 93% of C₃₄ of the aliphatic hydrocarbon after 28 days of degradation. Analysis of variance assessed by gas chromatography revealed that bacterial species (P=9.05E-05<0.05) and nature of hydrocarbon fraction (P=8.55E-08<0.05) significantly influence the hydrocarbonoclastic potential. The high growth rate of Enterobacter sp. and its ability to considerably reduce the hydrocarbon component, C₁₇ and C₃₄ of Bonny light crude oil makes it, an impressive candidate for consideration in bio –augmentation.