Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences: Research Areas

Article Title: Biodegradation of Hydrocarbons in Untreated Produced Water (From Oil Fields in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria) Using Indigenous Bacterial Cultures
by Oria-Usifo E.E., Akhere E. L. and Ndubuisi C. N.

Abstract:
Produced water is the largest volume of by-product generated during oil and gas recovery operations. Its contact with crude oil during extraction, results to the presence of high hydrocarbon content in it. Improper disposal of this produced water to the environment could cause hazardous effects. The objectives of this research are; to determine the mix bacteria population present in the produced water sample, to characterize, identify and isolate the hydrocarbon degrading bacteria found in the sample, and to cultivate a pure bacteria culture to degrade the hydrocarbon content of the sample. Five (5) hydrocarbon degrading bacteria such as: E. Coli, Micrococus Letus, Staphylococcus Aureus, Basillus Substilis and Pseudomonas Aeruginosa were identified in the mix bacteria population, the hydrocarbon degrading bacteria with the highest population (which is Staphylococcus Aureus) was used for the pure bacteria culture using oil agar medium method. After its cultivation, a concentration of cell per ml was used as a bio-stimulant to degrade the hydrocarbons in the sample. The initial total petroleum hydrocarbon content calculated in the sample was 125.513mg/l, after its incubation period of 15 days using the pure bacteria culture, the value of the hydrocarbon contents was then calculated and found to be 84.527mg/l. Thus, the hydrocarbon content removal efficiency in the sample of 425ml volume was calculated to be 32.655%. It is therefore recommended that for more efficient result, a mix hydrocarbon degrading bacteria culture of the listed hydrocarbon degrading bacteria should be used to carry out the experiment, which can produce 98% biodegradation according to the other researchers. In conclusion, the finding provides knowledge of hydrocarbon degradation bacteria present in the sample.

Keywords: Produced Water, Biodegradation, Hydrocarbon Content, Pure Bacteria Culture, Removal Efficiency

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