Bioremediation of artificially crude oil polluted soil of veritas University Abuja using poultry manure

The removal of hydrocarbon compounds from the environment has always been a difficult undertaking for people all over the world. As a result, remedial efforts are required to safeguard the environment as well as to restore agriculture. This study looked at how poultry manure (dung) could help in the bioremediation of Veritas University's intentionally crude oil polluted soil. The physical properties of the soil and total petroleum hydrocarbon content of the crude oil polluted soil were determined, followed by the isolation and identification of microorganisms present in the soil and poultry manure before and after pollution with crude oil. These analyses were done according to standard operating procedures. Within a six-month timeframe, the natural attenuation and poultry manure amendment option for remediating the crude oil-polluted soil were monitored and the residual hydrocarbon content of the polluted soil after remediation evaluated. There was an overall decrease in pH level during the experimental units containing 4 g amendment, 2 g amendment and the untreated polluted soil in the order 8.4 to 7.1, 8.4 to 7.2 and 8.1 to 6.7, respectively. Temperature was within 27oC and 31oC, the treated soil that contained 4 g dung had an initial moisture content of 58%, and 35% after remediation. The hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria isolated were Pseudomonas species, Staphylococcus species, and Bacillus species, while the hydrocarbon utilizing fungi isolated were Aspergillus niger, Fusarium solani and Candida albicans. There was more significant microbial increase in the sample containing 4 g poultry manure treatment than 2 g poultry manure treatment and natural attenuation. Total hydrocarbon quantity significantly decreased after six months with the complete removal of C4, C7, C19 and C37 from the treated sample containing 4 g poultry manure. This indicated that the negative effects of crude oil on the environment can be mitigated by adding poultry manure.

Damming Induced Natural Attenuation of Hydrothermal Waters by Runoff Freshwater Dilution and Sediment Biogeochemical Transformations (Sochagota Lake, Colombia)

The volcanic area of the Paipa system (Boyacá, Colombia) contains a magmatic heat source and deep fractures that help the flow of hot and highly mineralized waters, which are further combined with cold superficial inputs. This mixed water recharges the Salitre River and downstream feeding Sochagota Lake. The incoming water can contribute to substantial increases in hydrothermal SO42−-Na water in the water of the Salitre River basin area, raising the salinity. An additional hydrogeochemical process occurs in the mix with cold Fe-rich water from alluvial and surficial aquifers. This salinized Fe-rich water feeds the Sochagota Lake, although the impact of freshwaters from rain on the hydrochemistry of the Sochagota Lake is significant. A series of hydrogeochemical, biogeochemical, and mineralogical processes occur inside the lake. The aim of this work was to study the influence of damming in the Sochagota Lake, which acts as a natural attenuation of contaminants such as high concentrations of metals and salty elements coming from the Salitre River. Damming in the Sochagota Lake is considered to be an effective strategy for attenuating highly mineralized waters. The concentrations of dissolved elements were attenuated significantly. Dilution by rainfall runoff and precipitation of iron sulfides mediated by sulfate-reducing bacteria in deposits rich in organic material were the main processes involved in the attenuation of concentrations of SO42−, Fe, As Cu, and Co in the lake water. Furthermore, the K-consuming illitization processes occurring in the sediments could favor the decrease in K and Al.

Diversity and Hydrocarbon-Degrading Potential of Deep-Sea Microbial Community from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, South of the Azores (North Atlantic Ocean)

Deep-sea sediments (DSS) are one of the largest biotopes on Earth and host a surprisingly diverse microbial community. The harsh conditions of this cold environment lower the rate of natural attenuation, allowing the petroleum pollutants to persist for a long time in deep marine sediments raising problematic environmental concerns. The present work aims to contribute to the study of DSS microbial resources as biotechnological tools for bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbon polluted environments. Four deep-sea sediment samples were collected in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, south of the Azores (North Atlantic Ocean). Their autochthonous microbial diversity was investigated by 16S rRNA metabarcoding analysis. In addition, a total of 26 deep-sea bacteria strains with the ability to utilize crude oil as their sole carbon and energy source were isolated from the DSS samples. Eight of them were selected for a novel hydrocarbonoclastic-bacterial consortium and their potential to degrade petroleum hydrocarbons was tested in a bioremediation experiment. Bioaugmentation treatments (with inoculum pre-grown either in sodium acetate or petroleum) showed an increase in degradation of the hydrocarbons comparatively to natural attenuation. Our results provide new insights into deep-ocean oil spill bioremediation by applying DSS hydrocarbon-degrading consortium in lab-scale microcosm to simulate an oil spill in natural seawater.