This research study was designed to carry
out biolelectrochemical remediation of petroleum
contaminated wetland sediment obtained from
Ekerekana-Ama Creek, Okrika, in Rivers State.
Sediment Microbial Fuel Cells (SMFCs) consisting of an
anode embedded in the anaerobic sediment containing
petroleum hydrocarbon contaminants and a cathode
suspended in the overlying aerobic water were used.
Seven 300 ml sterile transparent bottles labelled T1 to
T7 subjected to different treatments were used for
bioelectrochemical remediation study. Gas
Chromatography Mass Spectrophotometric analysis
was done to check the level of reduction in petroleum
hydrocarbon contaminants at the beginning (0 day) and
end (80 days) of bioremediation. Percentage reduction
in total petroleum hydrocarbon contaminant (272.63
ppm) in the sediment were 22.42 %, 65.80 %, 6.12 %,
21.70 %, 52.4 %, 27.70 %, 19.93 % for T1, T2, T3, T4,
T5, T6 and T7 respectively. Distinct bacteria isolated
were characterized biochemically and molecularly. The
identity of the bacteria nucleotide sequences ( genus to
species) as shown by Basic Local Alignment Search
Tool (BLAST) identified Clostridium sporogenes
(MF623797), Desulfobulbus propionicus (MF623798),
Ewingella Americana (MF623799), Bacillus
amyloliquefaciens (MF623800), Helicobacter sp.
(MF623801), Alcaligenes faecalis (MF623802),
Clostridium botulinum, Bacillus subtilis (MF623803),
Klebsiella oxytoca (MF623804), and Burkholderia
cepacia (MF623805) associated with T1 to T7. These
isolated microorganisms interplayed metabolically to
bring about remediation of petroleum hydrocarbon
using a microbial fuel system.