Biodegradation of Used Lubricating Engine Oil Contaminated Water Using Indigenous Hydrocarbon Degrading Microbes in a Fixed Bed Bioreactor System
Loading...
Date
2011-08-18
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The performance of a mixed population of hydrocarbon-degrading microbes in degrading
hydrocarbon contaminants in water was investigated using a fixed bed bioreactor system.
Hydrocarbon-degrading microbes used for the study were isolated from oil-contaminated
soil and further cultured in a nutrient medium. Sample concentrations of 500 mg/L, 1000
mg/L, 2000 mg/L and 6000 mg/L were studied. Each sample concentration was studied at
loading rates of 0.5 L/min, 1.0 L/min, and 2.0 L/min for a week. Total petroleum
hydrocarbon (TPH), pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), conductivity and the
microbial population density were measured to ascertain the progress of microbial
degradation of the oil contaminant in the water. A minimum degradation rate of
36.83±0.00 % was achieved at the least administered loading rate of 0.5 L/min at 1000
mg/L oil concentration. Maximum degradation rate of 93.85±0.00 % was also achieved at
loading rate of 1.0 L/min at the highest oil concentration of 6000 mg/L. The minimum
and maximum degradation rates were achieved by microbial populations of 1.53E+13 and
1.50E+13 respectively. The study revealed higher degradation rates occurring at higher oil concentrations and loading rates. The hydrocarbon degradation occurred in an
optimum pH range of 6.63 and 7.32 and a temperature range of 27.3°C and 29.9°C.
Description
A Dissertation Submitted To The Department Of Environmental Science, Kwame
Nkrumah University Of Science And Technology In Partial Fulfillment Of The
Requirements for the Award of the Degree Of Master of Science in Environmental Science
,August-2011