ABSTRACT

The microbiological analysis of fresh water fish (Heterobranchus Longilifis) and the  water environment were done to determine the sensitivity of the fish to petroleum drilling additive Chrome Lignosulfonate at different concentrations. The concentrations of 750mg/I. and above of the test Chrome lignosulfonatc had acute toxic effect on the fishes. The results of the microbiological analysis of the fresh untreated fishes and water revealed a decrease in microbial count after introduction of Chrome lignosulfonatc. The bacterial isolates were Pseudomonas sp., Escherichia coil, Bacillus :vp, Aeromonas sp, Proteus sp, Micrococcus sp, Enterococcus sp, Serratia sp and Staphylococcus aureus. a Fungal isolates were Fusarium sp, Aspergiilus sp, Peniciliium sp, 1t1ucor sp and Rhizopu vp. The bacterial and fungal counts for untreated fresh water fish were 9.2 x 106 and 5.7 x 106 cfulml respectively, while those of fresh water were 9.7 x 106 and 5.14 x 106 respectively. Microbial count after treatment decreased with increase in concentration of Chrome lignosulfonate. Chromium content was undetected in fresh untreated fishes but were detected in fishes treated with different concentrations of Chrome lignosulfonate.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page

Certification

Dedication

Acknowledgment

Table of Contents

List of Tables

List of Figures

Abstract

Chapter One

Introduction and Literature Review

Introduction

1 . I Literature Review 4

1 .2 Assessing Risk to Fish and Their lIabitat of

Different Types of Drilling Fluids 6

1 .3 Drilling Mud Additive -- Chrome lignosulfonate

1.4 Properties of Chrome lignosulfonate 8

1 .5 Disposal of Petroleum Drilling Mud 9

1.6 Disposal of Mud at Different Locations and its

ElThct on AquaticEnvironment 10

1 .7 Characteristics of Synthetic Based Drill Fluid (SBF) 13

' 1.8 Environmental Effect of the Synthetic Based Fluid Spill 14

1.9 Health Fficcts of E)rilling Fluid 14

1 .9.1 Frcsh Water Fish ('ik'Irohranchus longifihis) 1 5

1 .9.2 Petroleum Drilling Mud Additive and Its Toxicity on Fish 16

1.9.3 Bioassay Test of Petroleum Drilling Mud 18

1.9.4 Acute and Chronic Ecotoxicity 20

1.10 Mechanism of Action ol Chrome lignosulfonaic of Fish 21

CHAPTER 2

2.0 Materials and Methods 23

2.1 Sample Collection 23

2.2 Microbiological Analysis 23

2.3 Preparation of Test Chemical (Chrome Lignosulfonate) 24

2.4 Uptake of Chromium by the Fish 24

2.5 Characteristics of bacterial Isolates 25

2.5 Isolation and Identification of Fungal Isolates 25

2.6 Statistical Analysis 26

Chapter 3

3.0 Results 27

3.1 MicrobIal Analysis 27

Chapter 4

4.0 Discussion 47

References 52

Appendix I 57