ASSESSMENT OF THE DIVERSITY OF BACTERIA ON SPENT LUBRICANT OIL AROUND AUTO MECHANIC WORKSHOP IN MAIDUGURI

The study assessed the diversity of bacteria on spent lubricant oil around auto mechanic workshop in Maiduguri. Three objectives were selected for the for the study. The study sites was Ahmadu investment auto-mechanic workshops situated in Njimtilo in Maiduguri. auto­ mechanic workshops were asked questions pertaining to the sites with heavy oil spillage. The sites with the oil spillage had a characteristic black colour and the surfaces were hard. They also had no grasses growing on them. Samples were collected at mechanic workshop sites with a shovel to the depth of 0.5cm in triplicates using random sampling technique from the mechanic workshop, augured, and bulked together and put in well labelled black polythene bags and transported to the laboratory for analysis. The samples were subjected to microbiological analyses. The findings underscore the ecological adaptability of certain bacterial genera, particularly Pseudomonas and Bacillus, in hydrocarbon-polluted environments. The presence of hydrocarbon-degradingbacteria in spent lubricant oil suggests potential applications for bioremediation in mechanic workshop environments. The findings highlighted the diversity and hydrocarbon-degrading potential of bacteria isolated from spent lubricant oil in Maiduguri. The findings underscore the ecological adaptability of certain bacterial genera, particularly Pseudomonas and Bacillus, in hydrocarbon-polluted environments. The presence of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria in spent lubricant oil suggests potential applications for bioremediation in mechanic workshop environments . However, the persistence of hydrocarbons and their toxicity require further assessment to optimize bacterial use in mitigating environmental contamination. The results of the findings revealed that all bacterial isolates demonstrated significant growth in the presence of spent lubricant oil, confirming their potential for hydrocarbon degradation. Although some studies have shown that, oil-polluted soils are dominated by Gram negative bacteria the dominant culturable hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria from the soil samples were made up of gram positive Bacillus and Staphylococcus and also gram negative Pseudomonas. Based on the finding of the study it is recommended that auto mechanic workshops should ensure that spent lubricant oil is disposed of properly, rather than being dumped into the environment.