IDENTIFICATION AND LIPOLYTIC ACTIVITY OF YEASTS ASSOCIATED WITH PALM-OIL CONTAMINATED SOIL
Abstract
The study successfully identified and characterized yeast species from ten soil samples in palm
oil industries in Akungba-Akoko (Ayegunle and Medoline). A total of 15 yeasts were isolated
from two different soil samples. Total count of yeasts, temperature and pH of the isolates
obtained from palm oil contaminated soil in selected areas in Akoko are shown in the results.
The results revealed that MGL02 which is a sample collected from Medolie had the highest yeast
count and pH. Biochemical characteristics of Yeasts obtained from palm oil contaminated soil in
selected areas in Akungba shows that all the yeasts were gram positive while they also utilize
sugars differently as well as other tests. The study revealed a diverse array of yeast species such
as Hyphopichia burtonii, Cryptococcus laurentii, Candida parasitosis, Candida tropicalis,
Geotrichum candidum, Debaryomyces hansenii, Sporobolomyces roseus, Rhodotorula minuta,
Pichia membranifaciens and Pichia fermentans. T This study aimed at assessing potential
microbial isolates which could be helpful in degrading lipid wastes from oil mills and oil
contaminated soils. In the near future, this would definitely help to organize a cleaner
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environment with waste utilisation by these microbial species. This implies that with time, given
favourable conditions, these microorganisms could naturally aid the degradation process in
vegetable oil polluted soil. This work also shows that the fungal counts in contaminated soil
were high. This implies that fungi strive well in palm oil contaminated soil and could efficiently
use palm oil contaminated soil as its food substrate. Therefore, fungi could be employed as a
means of biodegrading and bioremediating palm oil contaminated soil polluted soil. However, as
disposal and discharge of palm oil has remained a challenge, mycoremediation technologies have
proved to be low-cost, effective methods of removing the pollutants and making the polluted soil
and water once again fit for domestic, agricultural and industrial uses
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