Ex-Situ Assessment of Degradative Potentials of Micrococcus Species Isolated from Kerosene-Polluted Site Using Spectrophotometric Method

ABSTRACTBioremediation is one of the current approaches in environmental microbiology orenvironmental biotechnology that has been exercised for the reduction removal of hydrocarbonpollutants. Microorganisms, typically bacteria that have particular metabolic capacities, areessential for the biodegradation of hydrocarbon pollutants. This study was undertaken to assessex situ degradative potentials of Micrococcusspeciesisolated from kerosene-polluted site usingspectrophotometric method. Soil sediments were collected from different points at localkerosene retail site located at Umuaku Uli. The samples were analyzed for the presence ofhydrocarbon degrading bacteria using a modified mineral basal medium. The bacterial isolateswere characterized based on their cultural characteristics, microscopy, and biochemicalcharacteristics. The hydrocarbon adaptation utilization potentials of the bacterial isolates wereevaluated using spectrophotometric method. The biodegradative potentials of the bacterialisolates were evaluated using hydrocarbon supplemented modified mineral basal medium andspectrophotometer. The Gram positive bacteria isolated were Micrococcus species. The opticaldiameter of the adapted bacterial isolates showed that the isolates adapted to the hydrocarbonmedium while the biodegradative potentials of the isolates showed that the hydrocarbon wasbiodegraded as revealed in the weight loss, which increased with time. The study has shownthat Micrococcus species are good hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria, which can be optimized inbioremediation of hydrocarbon-polluted site.