Isolation and Characterization of Hydrocarbon-Degrading Bacteria in Top and Subsoil of selected Mechanic Workshops in Benin City Metropolis, Nigeria

The isolation of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria in topsoil and subsoil samples of selected mechanic workshops located in the benin metropolis was carried out. the highest and lowest bacterial counts in topsoil samples were found out to be 2.94 x 10^6 cfu/g and 2.39 x 10^6 cfu/g in central road and ogbelaka road automobile workshops respectively. the highest and lowest bacterial counts in subsoil samples were found out to be 1.14 x 10^6 cfu/g and 1.09 x 10^6 cfu/g in ogbelaka r oad and central road automobile workshops respectively. the bacterial species isolated were bacillus spp., pseudomonas spp., staphylococcus spp. and streptococcus spp. the isolates were also subjected to hydrocarbon degradation/utilization test where it was observed that pseudomonas spp utilized the hydrocarbon in the medium more efficiently than the other isolates. the isolates from this study are thus recommended as bacterial species for possible use in bioremediation of hydrocarbons.