Bioremediation of Refinery Effluent by Consortium of Bacteria Isolated from Abattoir Waste

Aim: This research was conducted to examine the efficacy of bioremediation of refinery effluent by a consortium of bacterial organisms from abattoir waste.

Study Design: The experimental and analytical research designs were adopted for the study.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in a laboratory in the Department of Environmental Management and toxicology, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Delta State, Nigeria. The research was conducted within three months.

Methodology: Standard methods were adopted for sample collection, microbiological analysis and determination of physicochemical properties.

Results: Out of eight bacterial species isolated from abattoir waste, Pseudomonas, Proteus and Bacillus species recorded high hydrocarbon utilization potential. There was a significant difference between the physicochemical property of the control and the refinery effluents. The effluents had a mean Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) of 19 mg/l, Dissolved Oxygen (DO) of 3 mg/l, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) of 35 ppm, pH of 6.67, Electrical Conductivity (EC) of 71 µs/cm and temperature of 29.5°C. Samples subjected to 0 – 10 days biodegradation test by Pseudomonas, Proteus and Bacillus species recorded a mean increment in EC, reduction in pH, increase of TDS and reduction in Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) with Proteus species being the best. The percentage of degradation by Proteus was 69.7%, Bacillus 61.56% and Pseudomonas 53.19%.

Conclusion: The use of abattoir waste bacteria for bioremediation purposes are very safe, cost-effective and aids the environment from accumulating more burdens of unsafe compounds that render it harmful for living organisms including man.