PSEUDOMONAS SPECIE

Environmental pollution from heavy metals in mechanic workshop soils poses serious threat to soil fertility, microbial health and groundwater quality. This study evaluated the bioremediation potential of phosphate solubilizing bacteria (Pseudomonas sp.) and hydroxyapatite in reducing heavy metal concentrations in contaminated soil. The study was carried out in a mechanic workshop in Osasogie, Ugbowo, Benin city, Edo state, Nigeria with four treatments: soil only (O1), soil + phosphate solubilizing bacteria (O2), soil + hydroxyapatite (O3) and soil + phosphate solubilizing bacteria + hydroxyapatite (O4). Microbial count and heavy metal concentrations (iron, copper and arsenic) were tested after 14 days. According to results hydroxyapatite was most effective in increasing the growth of Pseudomonas sp. and in the remediation of soil contaminated with copper and iron while phosphate solubilizing bacteria was the least effective due to the short period of remediation. In conclusion, Pseudomonas sp. and hydroxyapatite showed great promise in cleaning up heavy metal contaminated soil from a mechanic workshop.