Effect of prolonged exposure to generator fume and spent oil on selected soil microbial enzymes .
Date
2023-10
Authors
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Publisher
Federal University of Technology, Owerri
Abstract
The effect of prolonged exposure to generator fume and spent oil on selected soil microbial enzymes (lipase, catalase, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase) was evaluated by analyzing the microbiological and enzyme activity of the soil samples. The polluted soil samples were obtained from the generator house at OkBol cyber services, popularly known as BJ services in FUTO in Ihiagwa/North-West local government area of Imo State. The samples which comprises of the top soil, sub soil and sub-sub soil were aseptically collected using plastic auger in different portions ; epicenter (where the generator was placed), 1m and 2ms away from the epicenter N (North),S (South),E(East),W(West) . Twenty–seven different soil samples were collected from generator fume polluted site known as ‘BJ business center’ and three soil samples from the Department of Biochemistry which serves as the control. Soil microbial load, air sampling, and enzyme activities were determined using standard procedures. The highest heterotrophic bacteria count (7.45x107± 2.58 cfu/g) was recorded from location 1(South) sub soil (2m away from epicenter sub soil) while the least (0.9x107±1.1 cfu/g) was from the location 3 (North) sub sub soil (1m away from its epi center ). The result obtained showed a significant difference (p> 0.05) in the heterotrophic bacteria and fungi count between the control and the soil samples from the various locations. The bacterial genera isolated from the polluted site were Bacillus spp, Enterobacter spp, Serratia spp, Moraxella spp, Micococci spp, Vibro cholera, Staphylococci spp, Pseudomonas spp, Yersinia spp, Shigella spp, Actinomyces spp, Citrobacter spp while bacteria genera isolated from the unpolluted soil were Escherichia coli . The spent oil degrading bacterial genera were Enterobacter spp, Micrococci spp, Pseudomonas spp, Vibro cholera, Alcagenes spp, Bacillus spp, Klebsiella spp, Staphylococci spp, Serratia spp, Escherichia coli, Actinomyces spp, Moraxella spp, Proteus spp, Salmonella spp, Serratia spp, Streptococci spp, Shigella spp. The fungi genera identified were Asperigillius fumigatus, Asperigillus niger, Coccidioides immitis, Candida spp, Penicillium spp, Fusarium spp, Scopulanopsis spp, Aspergillus flavus while the spent oil degrading fungi genera were Scopulanopsis spp, Coccidioides immitis, Penicillum spp, Cladosporium carronii, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger. Micrococci spp was the most prevalent bacteria isolate and Moraxella spp, Escherichia coli, Citrobacter spp, Vibro cholera and Actinomyces spp were the least. Kiebsiella spp was the most prevalent spent oil degrading bacteria isolate and Cladosporium carronii, Aspergillus flavus were the least spent oil degrading bacteria isolate. Coccidioides immitis was the most prevalent fungi and the prevalent spent oil degrading fungi isolate. Fusarium spp was the least isolated fungi while Cladosporium carronii and Aspergillus niger were the least spent oil degrading fungi isolate. The enzymatic profile revealed that the top soil had the highest acid and alkaline phosphatases activities at 1m away from epicenter locations west (w) and south(s) with the values of 0.0035 ± 0.002 and 20.26 ± 0.07 respectively while the sub soil had the highest catalase and lipase activities at 1m away from epicenter locations west (w) and south(s) with the values of 5.5 ± 0.01 and 88.50 ± 0.01 respectively. Result showed that these selected soil enzymes (catalase, lipase, acid and alkaline phosphatase) were adversely affected due to prolonged exposure of hydrocarbons released by the generators. The overall variability in enzyme activities of soil strata from different polluted locations defined the pattern of soil contamination, which could serve as biomarkers for ascertaining level of soil pollution as well as monitorial indices for bioremediation.
Description
Master's thesis on effect of exposure to generator fume and spent oil on selected soil microbial enzymes
Keywords
Enzyme activity, generator fume, hydrocarbons, microbes, pollution, toxicology, Department of Biochemistry
Citation
Mba, G. O. (2023). Effect of prolonged exposure to generator fume and spent oil on selected soil microbial enzymes. (Unpublished Master's Thesis). Federal University of Technology, Owerri.