Abstract

S. A. Balogun* and O. E. Fagade

The study reports the diversity of emulsifying bacteria in produce water obtained from Bonny Oil Terminal, Niger Delta, Nigeria. Physico–chemical analysis of produce water showed a high chloride ion content of 650.0 mg/L. Total aerobic mesophilic bacterial count was 8.6 x 106 CFU/mL while the oil utilizing bacterial count was 1.32 x 106 CFU/mL. The predominant bacteria genera were Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Serratia and Klebsiella. The ratio of the surface active agent producers in the mesophilic bacteria was 0.34%, while 2.2% was recorded among the oil utilizing bacteria. The highest emulsification and de-emulsification indices of 65 and 50% recorded respectively were for Pseudomonas mallei. The result obtained was discussed in relation to the use of the emulsifying bacteria in microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) in the Niger Delta, Nigeria.