Comparison of Biodegradation Performance of Marine Sponge Symbiont Bacteria Consortium Against Anthracene and Pyrene

Every petroleum processing industry produces sewage sludge containing several types of poly-cyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) components. The degradation of PAH components by physical, biological and chemical methods is not efficient. The use of marine sponge symbiont bacteria is considered an alternative method in the degradation and reduction of PAHs com-pared to the previous method. This study aims to explore the potential and performance of a consortium of sponge symbiont bacteria in degrading anthracene and pyrene. There are three types of bacteria (Bacillus pumilus strain GLB197, Pseudomonas stutzeri strain SLG510A3-8, Acineto-bacter calcoaceticus strain SLCDA 976) were mixed to form a consortium. The interaction between the bacterial consortium suspension and PAH components was measured at 5-day intervals for 25 days. The biodegradation performance of bacteria on PAHs samples was determined based on five biodegradation parameters. The analysis results showed a decrease in the concentration of anthracene (21.89%) and pyrene (7.71%), equivalent to a ratio of 3: 1. The data was followed by a decrease in the abundance of anthracene (60.30%) and pyrene (27.52%), an equivalent ratio of 2: 1. The level of degradation of the pyrene component is lower than that of the anthracene compo-nent, presumably due to the higher toxicity of pyrene and the more stable molecular structure, making it difficult for bacterial cells to destroy it. The biodegradation products are organic compounds of alcohol, aldehyde, carboxylic acids and a small proportion of aromatic hydrocarbon components. Keywords: performance; biodegradation; bacterial consortium; marine sponge; PAHs

ASSESSMENT OF THE SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION AND TOXICITY OF POLY CYCYLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBON (PAH) IN AMBIENT AIR OF EGBEMA COMMUNITIES, IMO STATE.

Mosses plants (pleurozium schreberi) was used to trap Poly cyclic aromatic hydrocarbon in ambient air of oil producing areas of Egbema, where the distribution and assessment of pollution in ambient air from six locations where harvested for Six months (Dry Season). Gas chromatography was used to analyze the samples where the mean average of PAH recorded Pyrene with highest concentrations of 0.146(µg/kg) followed by Fluoranthane with 0.051(µg/kg) and their locations were recorded highest at AQOWH, AQEOJ with 2.86(µg/kg) followed by AQEWH and AQEWFS with 1.73(µg/kg) and 1.87(µg/kg) respectively. AQEOJ and AQOWH have largest variation spread of PAH in all locations, while Fluorathene recorded highest variation spread in all Locations. It is also noted that not only oil exploration generates PAH spread in Egbema, there are other vices that also contribute to daily exposures PAH which is associated with increased incidences of premature death, chronic asthma and as well as respiratory problems in children.