Fungi with hydrocarbon degrading capabilities were isolated from spent engine oil contaminated soil
obtained from five automobile workshops in Ilorin, Nigeria. Preliminary analysis of degradation of the hydrocarbon was
performed using Mineral Salts Medium (MSM). The organisms identified include
Aspergillus sp.,
Blastomyces dermatitidis
,
Cladophialophora bantiana
,
Mucor circinelloides
,
Phaeoacremonium parasiticum
,
Rhizopus arrhizus
,
Neosartorya fischeri
,
Cladosporium sp. and
Microsporium furrigenum
. They were identified based on their morphological
and cultural characteristics. Findings from this study showed
Aspergillus sp. and
Mucor circinelloides were able to
degrade hexadecane, heptane, decane and petrol as sole carbon and energy source within 20days. Hydrocarbon utilization
rate ranged from 0.020 to 0.284 for heptane, 0.0120 to 0.4965 for decane, 0.079 to 0.340 for hexadecane and 0.023 to
0.268 for petrol. Measurement of optical density and pH was carried to determine hydrocarbon degradation by fungi. The
results of this study shows that fungi can play important roles in the effective clean-up of hydrocarbon contaminated soils
thereby making them environmentally friendly.
