BIOREMEDIATION OF CRUDE OIL CONTAMINATED SOILS USING ORGANIC AND INORGANIC BIOSTIMULANTS ENHANCED WITH NUTRIENT AGAR: EFFECT ON PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Authors: Imafidon A, *Ogirigbo O.R

DOI Info: N/A

ABSTRACT

Environmental pollution caused by the spillage of crude oil and its primary constituents on land and water has become a serious problem in Nigeria. This study investigated the performance of organic and inorganic biostimulants enhanced with nutrient agar for the bioremediation of crude oil contaminated soil. Uncontaminated soil samples were collected from Ologbo in Edo State and subjected to detailed laboratory characterization to determine their physico-chemical characteristics. Crude oil contaminated soil was prepared by adding 100ml of crude oil to 1kg of the uncontaminated soil. The contaminated soil samples were placed in plastic buckets and left open throughout the period of experimentation to allow for the influence of atmospheric oxidation. The remediation process involved the use of organic (cow dung) and inorganic biostimulant (NPK fertilizer) enhanced with nutrient agar. Remediation was carried out for a period of about ten (10) weeks, during which soil samples were taken out from the plastic buckets and analysed to determine their physico-chemical properties. Results obtained show that crude oil contamination resulted in a drastic alteration of the physico-chemical properties of the soil. A progressive increase in the total heterotrophic bacterial count for all the biostimulant used was observed with increasing remediation time. In addition, there was a gradual decrease in the total nitrogen, total phosphorous and total hydrocarbon content (THC). The performance evaluation based on the efficiency of crude oil removal, showed that cow dung enhanced with nutrient agar was best for the treatment of the crude oil contaminated soil.

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