6.In vitro Assessment of Pseudomonas stutzeri |
G. I. Ogu and Igborgbor J. C. |
The assessment of Pseudomonas stutzeri’s biosurfactant on its hydrocarbon degradation potentials was studied in vitro. The reference chemical surfactant was Tween-80. Biosurfactant production was analyzed using emulsification index, oil displacement and drop collapse assay, while the petroleum hydrocarbon degradation potentials was determined in 2 % Escravos Light Crude Oil (ELCO)-amended mineral salt medium for 14 days using the standard gravimetric techniques. P. stutzeri’s biosurfactant gave a positive drop collapse test, with an oil displacement and emulsification stability index of 19 mm and 72.5% respectively. The petroleum hydrocarbon biodegradation analysis revealed that P. stutzeri respectively yielded 95.71% and 75.43 % in the presence and absence of 2% biosurfactant-amended medium after 14 days incubation. The results were statistically significant (P<0.05) when compared with the chemical surfactant which yielded 80.57 % biodegradation. Findings from this study suggest that P. stutzeri, isolated from crude oil polluted soil, possesses bioactive biosurfactant that might be exploited for enhanced bioremediation technology. |