Microbial Degradation of Four Nigerian Crude Oils in an Estuarine Microcosm.
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Date
1993
Authors
Amund, O.O
Akangbou, T.S
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Abstract
Four Nigerian crude oils (Bonny Light, Bonny Medium, Escravos Light and Forcados Blend) that differ substantially in fractional composition were exposed to the Lagos Lagoon waters in microcosm experiments with oil-impregnated membrane filters. Changes in microbial numbers on the membranes and in the residual oil concentration showed a relationship between the fractional composition and the biodegradation rates of the oils, with the lighter oils disappearing more rapidly. After 10 weeks exposure in the lagoon, only 15 % (w/w) of the Bonny Light crude remained on the filters as compared with 20, 32 and 45 % (w/w) for Escravos Light, Bonny Medium and Forcados Blend respectively. The hydrocarbon-utilizing microbial colonizers of the oil-impregnated membranes were Micrococcus, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Flavobacterium, Alcaligenes and Aspergillus niger.
Description
Staff Publications
Keywords
Biodegradation , Crude Oils
Citation
Amund, O.O and Akangbou, T.S (1993) Microbial Degradation of Four Nigerian Crude Oils in an Estuarine Microcosm. Letters in Applied Microbiology 16