Research Article
Ichor Tersagh*, Aondoakaa EM a
Abstract
Biodegradation of anthracene, benzo(a)anthracene and dibenzo(a,h)anthracene by indigenous strains of aerobic heterotrophic bacteria and cyanobacteria isolated from Bodo creek - a moderate salt aquatic environment polluted with crude oil was monitored for 56 days using GC-MS. Anthracene was mineralized to 0.1, 0.001 and 0.08 mg/l by aerobic heterotrophic bacteria cyanobacteria and consortium of aerobic heterotrophic bacteria and cyanobacteria respectively. Benzo(a)anthracene was reduced to 0.03, 0.01 and 0.02 mg/l in the treatments of aerobic heterotrophic bacteria cyanobacteria and consortium of aerobic heterotrophic bacteria and cyanobacteria respectively where as dibenzo(a,h)anthracene was reduced to 0 mg/l in all the treatment options on the 56th day monitored. Fluctuations in the quantity of PAHs monitored and was observed at some weeks since it did not follow a straight and consistent reduction pattern but did not vary significantly with time when compared with the control at p>0.05 since the monitored PAHs were degraded in both the treatment options and the control.