Journal of Petroleum & Environmental Biotechnology

Abstract

Aerobic Degradation of Fluoranthene, Benzo(b)Fluoranthene and Benzo(k) Fluoranthene by Aerobic Heterotrophic Bacteria- Cyanobacteria Interaction in Brackish Water of Bodo Creek

Ichor Tersagh*, Ebah EE and Azua ET

The study aimed at ascertaining the biodegradability of polyaromatic hydrocarbons in the fate of fluoranthene, benzo(b)fluoranthene and benzo(k)fluoranthene by aerobic heterotrophic bacteria - cyanobacteria interaction in crude oil contaminated brackish water of Bodo creek. Samples of brackish water were spiked with known volume of Bonny Light crude oil and inoculated with aerobic heterotrophic bacteria and cyanobacteria isolated from crude oil contaminated waters of Bodo creek and monitored for 56 days. The PAHs investigated were quantified using GC-MS where as the bacteria and cyanobacteria isolates were identified on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The initial quantity of fluoranthene on day 0 for the treatments of Aerobic heterotrophic bacteria (A) 0.43, Cyanobacteria (B) 0.061, and a consortium of A+B 0.24, and the Control, (C) 0.26; Benzo(b)fluoranthene had 0.53, 0.31, 0.65 and 0.66 whereas benzo(k)fluoranthene had 0.62, 0.31, 0.56 and 0.69 mg/l respectively. There was an observed degradation of the HMW-PAHs which decreased and increased progressively from the treatments with exception of fluoranthene which remained at 0 from week 2 in all the treatment options. Biodegradation did not vary significantly with time in all the treatment options and the control.