scholarly journals Fungal Population Dynamics Associated with Active-phase of Hydrocarbon Degradation in Oil-polluted Soil

Author(s):  
A. U. Okoye ◽  
C. B. Chikere ◽  
G. C. Okpokwasili

Fungal population dynamics was monitored in an oil-polluted soil undergoing remediation by enhanced natural attenuation (RENA) at Ibaa, Emohua L. G. A. Rivers State. Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined from baseline [pre-RENA (POL B)] and sampling days 0 (POL 0), 9 (POL 9), 18 (POL 18), 36 (POL 36) and day 56 (POL 56)] using gas chromatographic-mass spectrometry.  The baseline TPH and PAHs were 9,146.65 ppm and 3,454.10 ppm in the polluted soil (pre-RENA) and 479.67 ppm and 279.72 ppm for unpolluted soil (pristine control) respectively. By day 56, percentages of contaminants degradation were 97% and 89% for TPH and PAHs respectively. Higher counts for both heterotrophic fungal (THF) counts and culturable hydrocarbon utilizing fungal (HUF) counts were obtained on day 36 with values of 5.6 x 105 cfu/g and 4.77 x 106 cfu/g respectively. Out of the 47 HUF isolated and characterized, 34 hydrocarbon utilizing fungi were isolated in the active phase between day 9 (POL 9) to day 36 (POL 36).  These recovered hydrocarbon degrading fungal isolates associated with the active phase of hydrocarbon degradation (Mucor sp., Malbranchia sp., Prototheca sp., Cladosporium spp., Trichosporon sp., Acremonium spp., Rhizomucor spp.). RENA treatment effectively reduced the pollutant levels in the impacted soil.

Author(s):  
Akpan Esther Emmanuel ◽  
Obi Chidi ◽  
Kinigoma Boma

Aims: This study evaluates total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) and polycyclic hydrocarbons (PAHs) concentrations in wastewaters from three locations of the oil-producing flow station in Rivers State. Study Design: By experiment and the results obtained by analytical means. Place and Duration of Study: This work was conducted at the Department of Industrial Chemistry/Petrochemical Technology, School of Science and Laboratory Technology, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria between February and August, 2021. Methodology: The evaluation was done using gas chromatography-Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID), and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer Detector (GC-MSD). Results: Results obtained showed low levels of total petroleum hydrocarbons ranging from 0.051, 0.119, and 0.07 mg/l and 0.01, 0.06, and < 0.01 mg/l for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons for the three locations, respectively. The results also revealed that the concentrations of the total petroleum hydrocarbons of the samples from the three locations were highest at carbon atom 17 suggesting a biogenic contribution of organic matter. The chromatographs obtained gave evidence that the nature of the contamination was minimally crude oil, because crude oil normally distributes in broad range, as observed in the locations samples as against the narrower carbon range of C8 to C40 characteristics of refined products. The pristane/phytane ratios, which were 0.925, 0.891 and 0.372 for the three samples, depicted an oxygenated environment. The C17/pristane ratios (39.53, 38.93, and 31.48) for all three locations revealed that the wastewaters were slightly weathered. The low concentrations as well as absence of high molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and higher concentrations of low molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons support the petrogenity of the wastewaters.  The phenanthrene/anthracene ratios (1.26, 0, and 0) for the three samples confirm the nature of the wastewaters. In addition, the absence of benzo(a)anthracene to chrysene ratio for all three samples point to proper treatment of the wastewaters. Conclusion: From this study, the level of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and polycyclic hydrocarbons (PAHs) obtained from all the samples were lower than the maximum recommended levels by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR). This study recommends constant monitoring in the total petroleum hydrocarbons and polycyclic hydrocarbons concentrations because even at its low concentrations can be injurious to health of the people residing within the facility and beyond.


2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 475-479
Author(s):  
E.O. Nwaichi ◽  
C.O. Chukwuere ◽  
P.J. Abosi ◽  
G.I. Onukwuru

The present study investigated the viability of purple nutsedge in the phytoremediation of a crude oilcontaminated land in the Kom-Kom community, Oyigbo, Rivers state, Nigeria. 150g of soil samples were randomly collected from two (2) different points on the polluted site and a control site and analyzed for Petroleum Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) and Heavy metals ( Pb, Cd, Cr & Ni). in soils and plants before and after phytoremediation. Plants were transplanted into the contaminated and contaminated soil after soil sample collection.After planting,the progress of plant growth was observed and recorded biweekly for 3 months before harvesting. From the results obtained, over 80% and 66% PAHs and TPHs phytodegradation efficiencies were achieved using the plant while Cd, Pb and Cr were removed by 90%, 67% and 39.2% respectively. The Bioaccumulation Factor (B.F) of the heavymetals in study plant were found to be greated than 1 which makes it suitable for phytoextraction of heavy metals. Therefore, the study suggests that purple nutsedge can be useful in the phytoremediation of a crudeoil polluted soil. Keywords: Hydrocarbons, Heavy metals, Phytoremediation, Crude oil, Purple nutsedge


Author(s):  
Williams, Janet Olufunmilayo ◽  
Aleruchi Owhonka

This study investigated the potential of Aspergillus sydowii and Fusarium lichenicola as mixed cultures in the biodegradation of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons TPHs in oilfield wastewater. Oilfield wastewater was collected from an onshore oil producing platform and biodegradation of total petroleum hydrocarbons was investigated using standard methods. Fungi were isolated from oilfield wastewater contaminated soils obtained from the vicinity of the oil producing platform. Experimental control set-up and treatment with mixed culture of fungal isolates were periodically analyzed on days 7 and 21 intervals for total petroleum hydrocarbon degradation using Gas Chromatography (GC). The total amount of TPHs on day 1 recorded 381. 871 mg/l.  The amount of TPHs on days 7 and 21 in the mixed culture of fungi was 108.975 mg/l and 21.105 mg/l respectively while TPHs in control was 342.891 mg/l and 240.749 mg/l respectively. There was a significant difference between the mixed culture and the control on days 7 and 21 at p≤0.05. The results therefore revealed actual and significant reduction of TPHs in the mixed culture. In addition, there was clearance of n-alkanes by the mixed culture. This suggests that fungi have great potentials in biodegradation of TPHs and in remediation of TPH contaminated environments.


2005 ◽  
Vol 2005 (1) ◽  
pp. 149-160
Author(s):  
M. Srinivasa Reddy ◽  
Shaik Basha ◽  
H. V. Joshi ◽  
G. Ramachandraiah

ABSTRACT The present study assesses the distribution and contamination levels of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHCs) in surface seawaters during three successive seasons, (summer, monsoon and winter), and polyeyelie aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in intertidal sediments along the worlds largest Alang-Sosiya ship-scrapping yard. The pollution levels at this coast are evaluated and compared with those at one reference station (Mahuva, 60 km away from this yard towards south) in this region and similar ship scrapping yards in Asia. The concentrations of TPHCs in seawater were high in winter season followed by summer and monsoon which were relatively, much higher, about six times in winter and five times in summer/monsoon as compared to the reference station at Mahuva. The TPHCs concentrations in the coastal waters of Alang-Sosiya region are nearly 10–100 times higher on compared with other regions. The levels of PAHs found in the Alang-Sosiya sediments are between four and nine times higher than these prescribed levels by OSPAR commission. The overall levels of PAHs show the low content in Alang-Sosiya compared to values reported from Chang Jiang in China while the concentrations were nearly three times higher than Aliaga in Turkey. The relationships between the content of PAHs and %TOM (total organic matter) in sediments are discussed.


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