Potential microbial drivers of biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in crude oil sludge using a composting technique

Obi, Linda U. and Harrison, Atagana and Rasheed, Adeleke and Mphekgo, Maila and Bamuza-Pemu, Emomotimi (2020) Potential microbial drivers of biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in crude oil sludge using a composting technique. Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology, 95. pp. 1569-1579.

Text Obi et al 2020a.pdf Download (1MB)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Improper disposal of crude oil sludge poses a public health risk due to the toxic nature of components of the waste, especially polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Such toxic wastes can be treated by bioremediation of the polluted sites with composting, an eco-friendly technique that is gaining acceptance. Crude oil sludge was composted for four months during which surfactants were introduced. Fungi and bacteria were isolated from the compost using basic culture techniques. Residual concentrations of PAH components of the sludge during the composting period was monitored with gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC-MS). RESULTS: Molecular characterization of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) genes of fungal isolates classified fungi in the compost into different genera including Aspergillus, Bionectria, Doratomyces, Exophiala, Fusarium, Galactomyces, Geotrichum, Mucor, Penicillium, Trichoderma and Trichurus. The bacterial isolates were classified into Stenotrophomonas, Pseudomonas, Bordetella, Brucella, Bacillus, Achromobacter, Advenella, Klebsiella, Mesorhizobium, Mycobacterium, Ochrobactrum, Pusillimonas and Raoultella. Results from analysis of residual PAH concentrations of composted samples showed higher degradation efficiency of the higher molecular weight (HMW) PAHs resulting in their complete degradation, whereas the lower molecular weight PAHs were not degraded completely. CONCLUSIONS: Compost bioremediation is a sustainable waste management technique for hazardous wastes such as crude oil sludge. Inclusion of surfactants at different concentrations did not constantly improve the bioavailability of PAH compounds in the crude oil sludge but it promoted fungal growth in the treatments.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	Q Science > Q Science (General)
Divisions:	Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences
Depositing User:	Uchenna Eneogwe
Date Deposited:	08 Sep 2025 09:18
Last Modified:	08 Sep 2025 09:18
URI:	http://eprints.gouni.edu.ng/id/eprint/5495

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