Isolation and Characterization of Microorganisms Associated with Crude Oil in Nigeria
Abstract
Crude oil is a complex mixture of hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon residues including several inorganic elements as well as microorganisms associated with the petroleum in its formation. An assessment of microorganisms associated with different brands of crude oil in Nigeria was evaluated using nutrient agar for isolating bacteria and potato dextrose agar for isolating fungi. Three brands of crude oil samples produced in Nigeria (light, medium and heavy crudes) were collected and spread-plated in duplicates in four replicates; samples were analyzed for total heterotrophic bacteria and fungi. Densities of bacteria and fungi were generally low and varied in the crude oil samples. Mean densities of viable heterotrophic bacteria were: light crude, 0.8X103CFUML-1; medium crude, 0.6X103CFUML-1; heavy crude, 0.9X103CFUML-1 while mean density of viable heterotrophic fungi was 0.7X103CFUM-1 for the three brands of crude oil analyzed. Eleven (11) bacterial species were isolated from the three brands of crude oil with Pseudomonas (16.4%) being most abundant and Propionibacterium (2.9%) being least abundant. Of the nine (9) fungal organisms isolated from the three brands of crude oil, Aspergillus was most predominant (26.6%) while Mucor was least predominant (1.6%). Some organisms occurred in the three brands of crude oil while others occurred in one or two brands. The study showed that microorganisms survived in crude oil but in low densities; bacteria being more abundant than fungi; and that bacterial and fungal organisms isolated from the crude oils are capable of utilizing crude petroleum, and could be used as bioremedants in crude oil polluted sites. Also, occurrence of microbes in crude oil could cause deterioration of the crude petroleum.
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