Effects of the Consortium of Pseudomonas, Bacillus and Micrococcus Spp on Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Crude Oil

Abstract

The effect of the consortium of Pseudomonas, Bacillus and Micrococcus spp on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in crude oil was carried out using standard microbiological methods. Spectrophotometer, gas chromatography and viable count which determined the optical density, the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and the total heterotrophic hydrocarbon degrading bacteria were used for the study and analysis was for a period of three weeks at one week interval. The values of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon decreased from 419 mg/l to 0.06 mg/l while the values of the optical density and viable counts, respectively, increased from 0.018 to 0.740 and from 9.80 x 105 cfu/ml to 2.74 x 106 cfu/ml. This research concluded that the consortium of these bacteria can be used for the decontamination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) polluted sites.

Key words: Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Micrococcus, Petroleum hydrocarbon, Biodegradation