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The present work was conducted to isolate, screen and identify polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB)-producing bacteria from municipal wastes. Samples were collected from dumping sites of Maiduguri Borno State and were checked for their bacterial population using nutrient agar and PHB Detection agar (PDA). A total of 20 PHB-producing bacteria were isolated and identified. Of the total, four of the isolates were found to be from Paenibacillus spp. while the remaining 16 were Bacillus spp. Isolates from Ngomari Custin denoted as NC 5, 2; NC 7, and NC 5A were suspected to be Paenibacillus favisporus, Bacillus lentus, and Bacillus firmus respectively while others of NC 7A X, NC 6A and NC 7A Y of the same site were all found to be Bacillus smithii. Isolates from Old Maiduguri Graveyard denoted as OMG 5X, OMG 7, OMG 6 and OMG 5A were all found to be Bacillus smithii. The isolates from Flour Mill Area denoted as FMA 5A, FMA 6A, FMA Y, and FMA7B were found to be Bacillus smithii, Paenibacillus nanensis, Bacillus acidiceler and Paenibacillus septentrionalis respectively. On the other hand, isolates from Ramat Square site denoted as RS 6,2; RS 6A, RS 5, RS 7,2 were registered as Bacillus nealsonii, Paenibacillus cookie, Bacillus firmus and Bacillus megaterium respectively. Those of RS 5B and RS 7A of the same sample site were both Bacillus acidiceler and their granules were stained by Nile Blue A staining and observed under the fluorescence microscope and were classified for the extent of their PHB production based on the intensity of fluorescence emitted under the microscopy. NC 7 produced the highest PHB yield compared to all other isolates. Hence, municipal wastes are a rich reservoir of PHB-producing bacteria and can readily produce (PHB), which has enormous advantages over petroleum-based polymers by means of cost effectiveness and eco-friendliness

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are also part of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), are considered to be especially toxic to humans (carcinogenic), likewise to plants, microorganisms and other living organisms. PAHs soil contamination occurs by storage leaking, transport loss, the land disposal of petroleum waste, and accidental or intentional spills. Due to their ubiquitous occurrence, recalcitrance, bioaccumulation potential and carcinogenic activity, PAHs are a significant environmental concern. The methods of controlling and repairing PAH-contaminated soils mainly include physical remediation, chemical remediation and phytoremediation. However, there was an increasing focus on phytoremediation technologies as a result of their unique advantages, including low cost, lack of secondary pollution and large-area application. Phytoremediation is therefore one of the soil remediation technologies with the greatest potential.

The study was conducted to determine the distribution of hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria in spent engine oil (SEO) contaminated soil. Five mechanical workshops within Maiduguri Metropolis. Five bulk soil sample comprising of one each of the five sites; the sites are Leventis Area on Kashim Ibrahim Way, Damboa Raod, Boiler (commonly called Bola) near Maiduguri Monday Market, Ngomari, on Kano Road, and 1000 Housing Estate, also on Kano Road. Nutrient agar was used, or isolation and enumeration total heterotrophic bacteria and Mineral salt agar was used for the isolation and enumeration of hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria. The result shows THB (92.0x104) at Damboa road (DR) to as higher and (78.8x104) at Bola area (BL) while HUB (2.0x104) at Damboa road (DR) and as high as (9.3x104) at Bola area (BL). The bacterial species isolated were species of Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus alvei, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus lentus other are Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia. Bacillus licheniformis, and Bacillus subtilis are the most occurring bacterial isolates identified. The ability of those bacterial isolate to degrade hydrocarbon buoyantly will help in remediation of oil polluted environments.

This study was conducted to know the population of rhizobacteria in both irrigation and non-irrigation sites of the dam. The dense population of these organism indirectly promote plant growth and development. Five sites (A, B, C, D and E) were used to collect soil samples randomly and transported to the laboratory for analysis. Total heterotrophic bacterial count was done using nutrient agar (NA) and nitrogen fixing bacteria was counted using Ashbey’s media (AM). The result shows that highest number of total heterotrophic bacteria in site C (46.0×106) cfu/g in irrigation site whereas higher count in non-irrigation site was (13.0×106) site D, the nitrogen fixing bacterial count in irrigation site was higher at site E with (12.0×106) and for the non-irrigation site was higher at site D with (14.0×106) The total heterotrophic bacteria isolated in the soil sample are the species of Bacillus alvei, Bacillus alvei, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas putida, Klebsiella aeruginosa and Enterobacter aeruginosa. Likewise, the Nitrogen fixing bacteria isolated are the species of Rhizobium leguminosarum, Klebsiella pneumonia, Bacillus lentus, Azotobacter nigricans, Azotobacter tropicalis, Azotobacter spp, and Azotobacter tropicalis. The long history of agricultural activities in the lake area has directly influenced the diversity of microbial population in the area.

The search for hydrocarbon has been of great priority for alternative source of energy and economy to many countries. Different types of studies are being conducted to trace specific reservoirs of hydrocarbons. The used of geologic and seismic surveys which are environmental unfriendly and costly requires alternate such as that of microbial survey. The use of culture based method to isolate bacteria with ability to utilize hydrocarbon in survey areas was conducted. Soil sample were collected randomly from all the 13 sample sites from different depths for microbiological analysis. Mineral salt agar supplemented with diesel was used to isolate hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria (HUB). Nutrient agar was used to isolate total heterotrophic bacteria (THB). Soil samples were collected randomly from sample sites at various depths (10, 20 and 30 cm) the bacterial populations at 10 cm depth for HUB was 129×105 to 269×105 CFU/g at Kukawa (KW) and Baga (BG), THB was 122×105 to 266×105 CFU/g at Bundur (BD) and Baga (BG), HUB was 128×105 to 282×105 CFU/g at Kukawa (KW) and Baga (BG), THB was 110×105 to 220×105 CFU/g at Alagarno (AL) and Bawarti (BW) in 20 cm depth. The HUB count at 30 cm depth was 128×105 to 285×105 CFU/g at Kukawa (KW) and Baga (BG), THB counts was 72×105 to 147×105 CFU/g at Alagarno (AL) and Kauwa (KU). Bacillus, Enterobacter, Actinomycetes and Pseudomonas are the dominant bacterial genera in the sample sites. Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus pumilis, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus lentus, Bacillus azotofomans and Bacillus alvei are among the dominant species of Bacillus in the sample sites. The isolation of these bacterial species in high population projects directly a guaranteed discovery of hydrocarbon reservoir and could be a relatively inexpensive and environment friendly method for hydrocarbon prospecting.

The use of Cajanus cajan (pigeon pea) or Kacang dhal in the phytoremediation of petroleum sludge in this study is novel. One of the challenges in monitoring the efficiency or inhibition of remediation by this toxic substance is measuring growth indicator. The number of shoots produced under growth on this toxic substance can be used to monitor the efficiency or inhibition and the use of mathematical models in describing the growth curve based on this parameter can give tangible results that can be used in further modelling exercise. In this study we demonstrated on the feasibility of using mathematical models in obtaining growth parameters based on the number of shoots produced under various concentrations of toxicants. The popular modified Gompertz growth model again prove itself as the best models in describing plant growth. The coefficients obtained in this study will be very valuable in secondary modelling exercise. This is the first time that mathematically modelling of the growth rate of C. cajan measured as the increase in number of shoots is carried out to the best of our knowledge.