scholarly journals Elephant Grass (Pennisetum Purpureum) Mediated Phytoremediation of Crude Oil-Contaminated Soil

Author(s):  
L. O. Bobor ◽  
B. E. Omosefe

Phytoremediation is an economic and environmentally friendly method for the remediation of hazardous crude oil contaminated soils. In this study, phytoremediation of crude oil contaminated soils by elephant grass (pennisetum purpureum) was investigated over a 40-day period. Grass clumps were harvested and transplanted into plastic buckets filled with 1kg of soil contaminated with 30 ml and 40 ml of crude oil and an uncontaminated control sample. An additional control sample was contaminated with 30 ml of crude oil with no elephant grass. The samples were analyzed periodically for changes in pH, total hydrocarbon content, total viable bacterial count, and total fungal count. The pH of the soil samples generally ranged from 5.26 to 7.85. After 40 days of treatment, the total hydrocarbon content decreased from 320 mg/kg to 38 mg/kg and from 590 mg/kg to 46 mg/kg in samples contaminated with 30 ml and 40 ml of crude oil respectively. Plant growth was uninhibited in contaminated and control samples as the heights increased by 34.5-42.8 cm. The results of the study further demonstrate the phytoremediation capabilities and tolerance of elephant grass in crude-oil contaminated microcosms.

Author(s):  
Renner Renner Nrior ◽  
Augusta Ogechi Inweregbu

Aim: To investigate bioremediation potentiality of Pseudomonas aeruginosa KX828570 on crude oil Polluted Marshland and Terrestrial Soil treated with oil spill dispersant Study Design: The study employs experimental design, statistical analysis of data and interpretation. Place and Duration of the Study: Soil samples were collected from K-Dere, Gokana L.G.A, and were transported to the Microbiology Laboratory of Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria for analyses while Oil spill dispersant (OSD/LT and OSD/Seacare) were from Barker and Hughes Nig Ltd (formally mil park Nigeria limited), all in Rivers state, Nigeria. This investigation study lasted for 28 days and sampling was done every 7day period. Methodology: Eight experimental set up were carried out using Pseudomonas aeruginosa KX828570 as the bio-augmenting organism in terrestrial and marshland soil contaminated with two Oil spill dispersant (OSD/LT and OSD/Seacare) separately. Controls for the two soil types were made without organism and treatment. Its bioremediation potential on the pollutants and two types of soil were monitored for 28 days. The setup was tilled twice a week to provide moisture and more oxygen for the organisms to thrive. Analysis of pH, Temperature, Moisture content, Total Hydrocarbon Content, Total Heterotrophic Bacteria, Dispersant Utilizing Bacteria was carried out at weekly intervals. Results: The pH of both soils ranged from 5.75 to 7.37; temperature from 270C to 340C; moisture content 03 to 0.6 across the soil samples. Total Hydrocarbon Content (THC) showed a steady decline from day 1 – 28. The percentage (%) bioremediation rates of polluted soils were as follows: Terrestrial soil+OSD/Seacare+Pseudomonas aeruginosa KX828570 69.4% > Terrestrial soil+OSD/LT+ Pseudomonas aeruginosa KX828570 65.9% > Marshland soil+OSD/Seacare+ Pseudomonas aeruginosa KX828570 52.6% > Marshland soil+OSD/Seacare+ Pseudomonas aeruginosa KX828570 47.6%. Dispersant utilizing bacterial count in marshland and terrestrial soil ranged from 6.013 to 7.338 log10Cfu/g and 6.045 to 7.301 log10Cfu/g respectively from Day 1 to 28. Conclusion:  From the investigation, it revealed that Oil spill dispersants are more degradable in terrestrial soil than marshland soil. OSD/Seacare is more biodegradable than OSD/LT in both terrestrial and marshland soil augmented with Pseudomonas aeruginosa KX828570. Thus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa KX828570 have been found to be a potential bioremediation agent in oil spill dispersant polluted marshland and terrestrial soil.


Author(s):  
Douglas, Salome Ibietela ◽  
Cornelius, Blessing Tamunonegiyeofori

Aim: To evaluate the effect of illegal crude oil refining activities on soil microorganisms using standard microbiological methods. Study Design: This study employs laboratory experimental design, statistical analysis of the data and interpretation. Place and Duration of Study:  Soil samples were taken once a month for three months (May- July, 2018) from Ke in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria, where illegal crude oil refining activities are ongoing. Methodology: Using standard microbiological methods, total culturable heterotrophic bacterial counts, total fungal counts, Hydrocarbon utilizing bacterial and fungal counts were analysed to evaluate the effect of the activities. Total hydrocarbon content of the soil samples was also analysed. Results: The populations of the total heterotrophic bacterial, fungal and hydrocarbon utilizing bacterial (HUB) and fungal (HUF) counts of the contaminated soil were enumerated. The mean total heterotrophic bacterial counts in Station 1 around the pot ranged from 2.5 x 105 to 1.8 x 106cfu/g, fungal counts ranged from 2.1 x 103 to 4.4 x 104cfu/g, HUB (HUB) counts ranged from 4.2 x 104 to 6.4 x 105cfu/g and hydrocarbon utilizing fungal (HUF) counts ranged from 1.5 x 103 to 4.0 x 103cfu/g. The results of soil samples taken 20m away from the Pot location ranged from 7.0 x 105 to 8.2 x 106cfu/g for total heterotrophic bacterial counts, fungal counts ranged from 2.3 x 103 to 1.5 x 104cfu/g, HUB ranged from 4.7 x 104 to 5.7 x 105cfu/g and HUF ranged from 2.0 x 103 to 3.5 x 103cfu/g. Also, the results of total heterotrophic bacterial counts for Station 2 ranged from; 4.3 x 105 to 3.3 x 106cfu/g, fungi 2.0 x 103 to 3.3 x 104cfu/g, HUB ranged from 3.8 X 104 to 5.4 x 104cfu/g  and HUF 1.6 x 103 to 3.5 x 103cfu/g, while 20m away from the Pot total heterotrophic bacteria ranged from 1.3 x 107 to 6.5 x 107cfu/g, fungi 5.8 x 103 to 1.4 x 105cfu/g, HUB 5.4 x 104 to 1.1x 105cfu/g and HUF 3.1 x 103 to 4.7 x 104cfu/g. While the control samples taken from inside the community where no such activity is on, ranged from 2.6 x 107 to 7.9 x 107cfu/g for total heterotrophic bacterial counts, total heterotrophic fungal counts ranged from 2.8 x 104 to 5.3 x 104cfu/g, HUB 2.0 x 102 to 3.1 x 102cfu/g and HUF 2.0 x 101 to 2.3 x 101cfu/g. twelve bacterial genera were identified and eight fungal genera: Bacillus, Alcaligenes, Flavobacterium, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Micrococcus, Proteus, Serratia, Enterobacter, Streptococcus, Escherichia, Staphylococcus, Penicillum, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Mucor, Rhizopus, Geotrichum, Candida, and Cladosporium. Total hydrocarbon content ranged from 106 to 281mg/kg across the locations.  When compared with the control, it was observed that the microbial population and diversity were adversely affected. These variations observed in the microbial population are indicative of the effect of the illegal refinery on the soil microorganisms. Conclusion: The results of this study indicates that the continuous contamination of the soil environment by the activities of illegal crude oil refining, lead to a decrease in microbial population and diversity. This may result in devastating ecological damage, adversely affecting the ecological balance which may affect food chain and in turn animals and humans.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 387-398
Author(s):  
Sylvia O. OGOANAH ◽  
Uzoamaka N. NGWOKE ◽  
Edokpolor O. OHANMU ◽  
Pascal C. OKOYE ◽  
Beckley IKHAJIAGBE

The study investigated the enhancement of soil quality of an oil-polluted ultisol using livestock wastes. Top soil (0 - 10 cm) was obtained as a pooled sample and polluted with spent lubricating oil at 10% w/w. The soil was subsequently amended with sun-dried goat (GT), rabbit (RB), and poultry (PG) dung at 10% w/w on dry weight basis both in singles, double-mixed, and triple-mixed combinations. Twelve weeks after treatment application, results showed that there was a 93.9% decrease (p<0.05) in bacterial colony count in the oil-polluted soil compared to the control. Penicillium notatum and Aspergillus niger as well as Bacillus sp. and Proteus sp. were the prominent fungal and bacterial species identified respectively. The most abundant plant in the soil seed bank was Panicum maximum with 10.4% abundance and this showed possible involvement of the plant in remediation of oil-pollution. The total hydrocarbon content of the oil-polluted soil was 9984.0 mg/kg, compared to 3170.6 mg/kg when amended with RB+GT, implying 76.77% remediation efficiency. Among several trials employed in this study, the combination of rabbit and goat wastes proved to be more effective in reducing the total hydrocarbon content of oil-polluted soil and therefore, is recommended as a potential candidate for application in the bioremediation of such soil.


Author(s):  
B J Meneghelli ◽  
R E Obregon ◽  
H R Ross ◽  
B J Hebert ◽  
J P Sass ◽  
...  

1991 ◽  
Vol 1991 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-86
Author(s):  
Klavs Bender ◽  
Preben Østfeldt ◽  
Hanne Bach

ABSTRACT In 1986 an oil and gas concession in the Baltic Sea was granted by the Danish Ministry of Energy to a group of oil companies, with Norsk Hydro as operator. A paper describing the goals achieved midway through the program was presented at the 1989 Oil Spill Conference in San Antonio, Texas. This paper presents the final results of the program. The chemical baseline study has shown that the only parameter that exhibits a marked variation is the total hydrocarbon content, where values are seven to eight times higher in the 1989 samples than in the 1987 and 1988 samples. It is suspected that the reason is seasonal variation, since the 1989 samples were collected in June, while the 1987 and 1988 samples were collected in September. Even though the total hydrocarbon content varies significantly between some of the sample suites, only biomarkers related to recent organic material or immature petroleum source rocks are present in the samples. Petrogenic hydrocarbons related to spilled crude oil or exploration activities were not found in the area. The spreading and weathering calculations revealed the zones along the coast where an oil spill was most likely to occur. The transport time for an oil spill to reach the coast was also calculated by the model. In combination with mapping of sensitive resources, the results from the model test runs were used in risk assessments. The information gained in this study was used in the oil spill contingency plan.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 587-597
Author(s):  
Godwin Asukwo Ebong ◽  
Richard Christopher John

Water and sediment samples from Cross River, Imo River, and Qua Iboe River Estuaries were collected and treated using standard analytical procedures. The samples were analyzed for their physicochemical properties, total hydrocarbon content (THC), and trace metals. Results obtained revealed that, the mean levels of total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, colour, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), THC, cadmium (Cd), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in water were higher than their acceptable limits in Nigeria. Whereas, the mean levels water pH, electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen (DO), nitrate, sulphate, phosphate, and copper (Cu) were within their acceptable limits. The results obtained also revealed that, the mean levels of nitrate, THC, and Fe in sediments were higher than their recommended limits. While the levels of pH, EC, sulphate, phosphate, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in sediments were within their recommended limits. This study indicated that the anthropogenic activities by oil and oil-related companies within the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria may have contributed significantly to the high level of toxic substances in the water channels within the zone. The results obtained revealed that, the direct or indirect exposure to untreated water from the studied water channels may result in serious health challenges. Hence, the environment should be closely monitored to forestall a devastating situation in the region.


2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 729-734
Author(s):  
S.A. Uzoekwe ◽  
U.L. Anekwe

Most household and some industrial solid wastes end up in the landfill which is the commonest means of solid waste management in many parts of Baylesa state, Nigeria. This study assessed the physicochemical characteristics, particle size distribution and total hydrocarbon content in soil samples from abandoned landfill site in Igbogene, Bayelsa state, Nigeria by collecting samples from varying distances (50m, 100m and 150m) at a depth of 0-20cm and analyzed using standard methods. Results were in the range of 5.01 – 5.34 (pH), 0.73 – 0.98 meg/100g (Exchangeable Acidity), 2.45 – 3.48 meg/100g (sodium), 0.19 – 0.31 meg/100g (potassium), 3.94 – 5.33 meg/100g (calcium), 1.52 – 2.15 meg/100g (magnesium), 9.57 – 11.49 mg/kg (nitrate), 4.18 – 5.19 mg/kg (sulphate), 6.99 – 8.85 mg/kg (available phosphorus), 8.23 – 12.60 mg/kg (total hydrocarbon content), 76.48 – 100.25 mg/kg (chloride), 5.14 – 7.59 mg/kg (ammonium), 8.83 – 8.95% (clay), 2.70 – 3.10% (silt), 87.93 – 88.35% (sand), 2.62 – 3.58% (organic carbon), 4.51 – 6.16% (organic matter) and 0.22 – 0.33% (total nitrogen). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed no significant deviations (p>0.05) across the various distances for all parameters except for organic carbon and matter, total nitrogen, potassium and ammonium. In addition, most of the  nutrients showed positive significant relationship at p<0.05. This suggests that at large the activities of old landfill in the study area is not influencing the soil characteristics under study. Rather the apparent decline in value away from old landfill may be due to mobility level of minerals in the soil toward the southwest direction, which the cluster analysis clearly showed. Keywords: Physicochemical Properties, Environmental Contamination, Hydrocarbon Content, Landfill


2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 489-493
Author(s):  
K.E. Enerijiofi ◽  
C.O. Ahonsi ◽  
E.K. Ajao

Environmental contamination by waste engine oil in cities all over the world constitute serious public health concern because its effects are unwholesome and unquantifiable. This study was carried out to biodegrade waste engine oil using bacterial isolates. Three bacteria were isolated from soil samples that have been contaminated with waste engine oil for over seven years in automechanic workshops at Ebelle. They were analysed using standard methods. The bacterial count was 89.4 ± 0.02cfu/g while the control was 3.6 ± 0.14cfu/g. The bacterial diversity identified in descending order were Bacillus sp. (25.41%), Pseudomonas sp. (22.13%), Corynebacterium sp. (18.44%), Acetobacter sp. (18.03%) and Aeromonas sp. (15.98%). The biodegradation efficiencies of three bacterial isolates; Bacillus, Pseudomonas and Corynebacterium species were observed taking records of change in physicochemical parameters (pH, electrical conductivity and total hydrocarbon content) for 40 days at 10 days interval with waste engine oil sample at concentrations of 10%, 20%, 30% and 40%. Corynebacterium sp. gave the highest percentage reduction in pH values of 52.92% at 10% contamination level while Pseudomonas sp. gave the highest percentage reduction of 53.04%, 52.99% and 53.01% at 20%, 30% and 40% crude oil contamination levels respectively. The pH values of the control was almost the same all through the period of incubation. Bacillus sp. gave the highest percentage increase in electrical conductivity value of 74.17%, 69.93% and 69.91% at 10%, 20% and 40% contamination level  respectively while Pseudomonas sp. gave the highest increase of 70.45% at 30% contamination level. Also, the values at day 0 and the control were not so different from each other. Corynebacterium sp. gave the highest percentage reduction in total hydrocarbon content of 95.49%, 95.48%,  96.50% and 96.50% at 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% contamination level respectively. The result revealed a reduction in pH and total hydrocarbon content while there was an increase in electrical conductivity values. This indicated that biodegradation occurred. This study revealed that the bacterial isolates particularly Corynebacterium sp. possess the ability to biodegrade waste engine oil thereby guaranteeing environmental quality and sustained public health for all and sundry.  Keywords: biodegradation, Corynebacterium sp., environmental sustainability, total hydrocarbon content


2009 ◽  
Vol 62-64 ◽  
pp. 802-807
Author(s):  
K.O. Obahiagbon ◽  
C.N. Owabor

Bioremediation as a strategy of clean- up of crude oil spills in water using a mixed microbial population of E. Coli, Aspergillus niger, Penicillum notatum and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was investigated in this study. The sample of crude oil polluted water containing the mixed microbes and the control was monitored for parameters such as BOD, pH, Total Hydrocarbon Content (THC) and Turbidity over a period of nine weeks. At the end of the bioremediation period, the results obtained showed that the sample remediated with the mixed microbes gave a THC drop from 14975mg/l -1.960mg/l (99.9% drop) compared to the control with a drop from 14975 – 18.72mg/l (99.8% drop). A BOD drop from 1447.4mg/l – 17.1mg/l (98.8?% drop) for the sample mixed microbes and 1447.4 – 90.8mg/l (93.7% drop) for the control. Turbidity values increased from 5.0 NTU – 25.2NTU for sample with mixed microbes and 5.0 NTU – 23.1 NTU for the control. The values of THC (1.96 mg/l) and BOD (17.1 mg/l) at the end of the experimentation period fell within the FEPA and DPR limits of 10mg/l and 30mg/l for THC and BOD respectively.The results above thus indicates that the use of mixed microbial population of Pseudomonas aureginosa, Penicillium notatum, E. Coli and


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