ABSTRACT

Isolation and identification of bacteria from diesel contaminated soil was carried out using Nutrient agar for total heterotrophic counts and mineral salt agar for diesel degrading bacteria by vapor phase transfer technique. The highest mean of total heterotrophic count was 3.8x10° cfu/g from uncontaminated soil and least mean count 2.5x10° cfu/g from diesel contaminated soil there was no statistical difference (P>0.05) in the total heterotrophic count of samples. The highest mean count of diesel degrading bacteria was 3.4x10° cfu/g while the least count was 2.0x10° for the control. There was significant difference in the mean count of diesel degrading bacteria (P<0.05). The diesel degrading bacteria isolated were of genera the genera identified were Bacillus sp, Staphylococcus sp, Micrococcus sp, Corynebacterium sp, Alicagenes sp, Flavobacterium sp, Pseudomonas sp, Arthrobacter sp, Acinteobacter sp, Streptococcus sp, and Klebsiella sp. These organisms were screened for their ability the degrade diesel. All the organisms were able to grow in diesel at different rates with Pseudomonas sp, Bacillus sp and Micrococcus sp showing heavy growths. These bacteria isolated can be employed as seeds for bioremediation.> The diesel degrading bacteria isolated were of genera the genera identified were Bacillus sp, Staphylococcus sp, Micrococcus sp, Corynebacterium sp, Alicagenes sp, Flavobacterium sp, Pseudomonas sp, Arthrobacter sp, Acinteobacter sp, Streptococcus sp, and Klebsiella sp. These organisms were screened for their ability the degrade diesel. All the organisms were able to grow in diesel at different rates with Pseudomonas sp, Bacillus sp and Micrococcus sp showing heavy growths. These bacteria isolated can be employed as seeds for bioremediation.