ABSTRACT In this study, the lipolytic organism produced from palm oil contaminated soil in Umuahia metropolis was subjected to microbiological analysis. Exactly 50 samples were investigated for the total viable count, coloform count, and fungal count using pour plate techniques. The test was carried out using nutrient agar for the estimation of total heterotrophic bacteria, purification of isolates. MacConkey agar for coliform count and sabourand Dextrose agar for the isolation of fungi. The organisms were further identified using tributyrin agar for the identification of lipolytic organism. The highest zone of clearance was further analyzed for biochemical and morphological characteristics. The value of total viable count of palm oil contaminated soil. Samples range from 2.1x106 to 〖2.8×10〗^6and the value of colioform count range from 1.7x106 to 2.6x106.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page i

Certification ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgements iv

Table of contents v

List of tables viii

Abstract ix

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 Aims and Objectives 3

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW 4

2.1 Biodegradation of Palm Oil Contaminated Soil 4

2.2 Biodegradation 5

2.2.1 Advantages of Biodegradation 5

2.2.2 Disadvantage of Biodegradation 5

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS 6

3.1 Area of Study 6

3.2 Collection of Samples 6

3.3 Media Used 6

3.4 Microbiological Studies 7

3.4.1 Inoculation of Samples and Enumeration of Total Heterotrophic Bacteria and Fungi 7

3.5 Isolation and Screening of Lipolytic Bacteria 7

3.6 Characterization of Bacteria and Fungal Isolates 8

3.6.1 Identification Fungal Isolates 8

3.7 Colony Features 8

3.7.1 Microscopic 9

3.8 Gram Staining 9

3.9 Biochemical Reaction Test 9

3.9.1 Catalase Test 10

3.9.2 Coagulase Test 10

3.9.3 Citrate test 10

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 RESULT 11

4.1 Bacteriological Analysis 11

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 Discussion and Conclusion 16

5.1 Discussion 16

5.2 Conclusion 17

References 18

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: Total viable count for palm oil contaminated soil 12 Table 2: Coliform count for palm oil contaminated soil 13 Table 3: Enumeration of Total Heterotrophic Count of Fungi 14 Table 4: Morphological biochemical characteristics of bacteria isolated from palm oil contaminated soil identified 15