Biodegradation of Produce Water Hydrocarbons by Pure Cultures of Alcaligenes sp.
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Date
2010
Authors
Okoro, C.C
Amund, O.O
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Abstract
Biodegradation studies of hydrocarbons in untreated produce water from an oil production facility in
Nigeria was undertaken over a period of time using pure cultures of Alkaligenes sp. Isolated from Escravos
River where produce water was being discharged as at the time the studies were carried out. Gas
chromatography and mass spectrometry were used to monitor the rate of reduction in some petroleum
hydrocarbon fractions while the index used to evaluate biodegradation was the decreasing trend in the ratios of
nC17/Pristane and nC18/Phytane. Gas chromatographic analysis showed that untreated produced water used for
the study had an oil and grease content of 1407mg/L, this includes n-alkanes (608mg/L), Aromatics
(13.88mg/L), NSO compounds (12.68mg/L) PAHs(0.833mg/L) and some unidentified greasy components.
Upon mechanical treatment, the oil and grease component of produce water was reduced to 44mg/L comprising
of n-alkanes (38.40mg/L), Aromatics (2.65mg/L), NSO compounds (1.78mg/L), PAHs (0.0655mg/L) and some
unidentified greasy component. A pure culture of Alcaligenes sp. after 40 days of exposure to untreated
produced water reduced the oil and grease content to 19.58mg/l comprising of n-Alkanes (16.87mg/l), Total
aromatics (1.25mg/l), NSO compounds (0.98mg/l) and PAH (0.0096mg/l). This result indicate that produce
water is readily biodegradable and pure cultures of Alcaligenes sp. used for the study were very efficient in the
degradation of produced water hydrocarbons especially the recalcitrant PAH component when compared with
the conventional mechanical treatment process.
Description
Keywords
Alkaligenes sp. , Spectometry , Biodegradation
Citation
Okoro, C.C. and Amund, O.O. (2010) Biodegradation of Produce Water Hydrocarbons by Pure Cultures of Alcaligenes sp. Journal of American Science 6(4) 107-113