Degradation of Used Engine Oil by Bacteria Isolated from the Rhizosphere of Neem Plant
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56919/usci.2542.047Keywords:
Biodegradation, engine oil, Bacteria, Contamination, soilAbstract
This study examined the degradation of used engine oil by bacteria isolated from the rhizosphere of the neem tree within Sokoto metropolis. The study aimed to determine the physico-chemical properties of the spent engine oil contaminated soil, isolate bacteria from the neem plant rhizosphere, and test their degrading capability on soil contaminated with spent engine oil. Nine soil samples were collected from the rhizosphere of a neem plant contaminated by spent engine oil. The samples were examined and characterised first before testing their degrading ability. Microscopic and Biochemical identification of isolates shows that nine (9) bacteria species were isolated and identified from the samples. The isolated species includes Bacillus sp., Proteus sp., Klebsiella sp., Citrobacter sp., Corynebacterium sp., Pseudomonas sp., Yersinia sp., Staphylococcus sp., Salmonella sp., and Serratia sp. The soil samples collected from B1 had the highest temperature of 36°C, and the lowest temperature recorded was 33 °C from A3, C2, and C3 soil samples. The pH of the soil samples from A, A2, B1, B2, B3, and C2 was observed to be slightly basic in the range of 7.1-7.5, while the soil samples of C1 and C3 were found to be acidic. Soil samples B1 and B2 were discovered to have the highest percentage of Organic Carbon (1.05%) and Sodium (Na) content (1.80% and 1.85%) respectively, while sample C3 had the lowest percentage of Organic Carbon (0.56). The percentage biodegradability potential of the isolated bacteria are; Citrobacter sp (55.95%), Proteus sp (23.19%), Klebsiella sp (29.09%), Klebsiella sp (48.28%), Salmonella sp (25.89%), Serratia sp (15.26%), Bacillus sp (19.09%) and Yersina sp (37.04%). From the results of the present study, it can be concluded that bacteria can be present in soil contaminated with used petroleum products, and these bacteria play important roles in the biodegradation of petroleum substances from oil-contaminated soil by utilising the hydrocarbon substrate as their sole source of carbon. It is recommended that the use of native bacteria or fungal strains with petroleum hydrocarbon-utilising capabilities as a weapon for petroleum degradation could prove a more environmentally friendly approach to the soil than the use of chemicals.
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