Degradation of aviation fuel by microorganisms isolated from tropical polluted soils.
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Date
2011-04
Authors
Omotayo, A.E.
Efetie, O.A.
Oyetibo, G.
Ilori, M.O
Amund, O.O
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Abstract
The degradation of aviation fuel was observed in soil samples from a polluted site at the aviation fuel
depot, Lagos Airport, Nigeria. The percentage of occurrence of bacterial aviation fuel-utilizers were
less than 1.0% of the heterotrophic populations, while the fungal-degraders were between 2.547-
16.053%. There were no significant statistical differences for both the bacteria and fungi estimations
among the soil samples. Enrichment of soil samples with aviation fuel resulted in the isolation of five
bacteria (Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Micrococcus luteus, Corynebacterium sp., Flavobacterium
rigense, Bacillus subtilis), three yeasts (Rhodotorula sp., Candida tropicalis, Saccharomyces sp.) and
two molds (Aspergillus niger, Penicillium sp.). Utilization of the substrate by bacteria and yeast
isolates resulted in an increase in population density and subsequent decrease in pH value and residual
aviation fuel concentration. Over 90% of the n-alkane fraction of the aviation fuel supplied at 0.5% v
v-1 concentration was degraded in 14 days by Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Micrococcus luteus and
Corynebacterium sp. There were differential growth responses by the strains tododecane, benzene,
toluene and naphthalene, while growth was not supported by hexane and cyclohexane. Thus,
enrichment with of soil contaminated with aviation fuel led to the isolation of competent hydrocarbon
degraders.
Description
Keywords
Aviation fuel , Hydrocarbon , Biodegradation , Bacteria , Yeast , Soil
Citation
Omotayo, A.E., Efetie, O.A., Oyetibo, G., Ilori, M.O. and Amund, O.O. (2011). Degradation of aviation fuel by microorganisms isolated from tropical polluted soils. International Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences 5(2):698-708.