Biodegradation Potentials of Aspergillus sydowii and Fusarium lichenicola on Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon in an Oilfield Wastewater in Rivers State

This study investigated the potential of Aspergillus sydowii and Fusarium lichenicola as mixed cultures in the biodegradation of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons TPHs in oilfield wastewater. Oilfield wastewater was collected from an onshore oil producing platform and biodegradation of total petroleum hydrocarbons was investigated using standard methods. Fungi were isolated from oilfield wastewater contaminated soils obtained from the vicinity of the oil producing platform. Experimental control set-up and treatment with mixed culture of fungal isolates were periodically analyzed on days 7 and 21 intervals for total petroleum hydrocarbon degradation using Gas Chromatography (GC). The total amount of TPHs on day 1 recorded 381. 871 mg/l. The amount of TPHs on days 7 and 21 in the mixed culture of fungi was 108.975 mg/l and 21.105 mg/l respectively while TPHs in control was 342.891 mg/l and 240.749 mg/l respectively. There was a significant difference between the mixed culture and the control on days 7 and 21 at p≤0.05. The results therefore revealed actual and significant reduction of TPHs in the mixed culture. In addition, there was clearance of n-alkanes by the mixed culture. This suggests that fungi have great potentials in biodegradation of TPHs and in remediation of TPH contaminated environments.