Abstract

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Benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylene(BTEX)are the most commonly cited monoaromatic compounds in environmental pollution in recent years due to their high solubility and toxicity in ground water and soils. This studywas conducted in order to isolate and enumerate fungi in soils heavily polluted with petroleum hydrocarbons, and to select those with BTEX degrading abilities. Screening of the fungi isolated on Mineral Salt Media (MSM) supplemented with BTEX showed Aspergillus terreus DMW-5 and Gliocladium spp. had the highest colony diameter while Penicillium spp. has the lowest colony diameter. The highest BTEX weight loss and increase in spore size was also observed with Aspergillus terreus DMW-5 and Gliocladium spp. which degraded 240mg/mL BTEXand 220mg/mL BTEX while the lowest was with Aspergillus flavus which degraded 190mg/mL BTEX. The hydrocarbon utilizing fungal (HUF) counts revealed Aspergillus terreus DMW-5 and Gliocladium spp. as having the highest number of spores (8.2 x 107 and6.3 x 107 spores/mL) and Aspergillus flavus with the lowest number of spores (1.2 x 107 spores/mL). Thus, Gliocladium spp.and Aspergillus terreus DMW 5 are potential candidates for the mycoremediation studies of BTEX.

Keywords: BTEX, Mycoremediation, Fungi, Aspergillus, Gliocladium