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An Integrated Environmental Biotechnology for Enhanced Bioremediation of Crude Oil Contaminated Agricultural Land


INE Onwurah

Abstract

An enhanced in situ bioremediation of crude oil contaminated soil samples was carried out by manipulating a natural bioremediation process. In this approach, the soluble microbial products (SMPs) released during the metabolism of the polluting crude oil by hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria exemplified by Pseudomonas sp; NS50C10, were assimilated as growth substrates by the surviving/compatible aerobic, free-living diazotrophs exemplified by Azotobacter vinelandii. The utilization of the SMPs by diazotrophs was coupled to growth, nitrogen fixation and cometabolism of solubilized petroleum hydrocarbons. The two species of mutualistic hydrocarbonoclastic and diazotrophic bacteria used as consortium for the bioremediation project, were isolated from the same previously crude oil – polluted soil. Bioremediation was deemed successfully completed based on about 85% germination and seedling development obtained for sorghum grains planted in the treated soil, relative to untreated controls. This degree of success in the bioremediation effort suggests a significant soil fertility recovery to warrant immediate cultivation.


Key Words: Azotobacter, Pseudomonas, cometabolism, nitrogen fixation, bioremediation, crude oil, sorghum, germination


Bio-Research Vol.1(2) 2003: 51-60

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eISSN: 2705-3822
print ISSN: 1596-7409