INVESTIGATION OF BIOSTIMULATION AND BIOAUGMENTATION FOR ENHANCED BIOREMEDIATION OF CRUDE OIL CONTAMINATED SOIL
Authors: Obahiagbon K.O, *Amenaghawon N.A
DOI Info: N/A
ABSTRACT
Biostimulation using organic and inorganic biostimulants (poultry droppings and NPK fertiliser) and bioaugmentation using a mixed microbial consortium (Aspergillus niger and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) was evaluated for enhancing the bioremediation of a crude oil contaminated soil. The extent of remediation was evaluated by monitoring the pH of the soil, residual hydrocarbon content (RHC) and total microbial count (TMC) for 8 weeks. The pH of the samples was observed to increase during treatment albeit within the range of 6 – 7.6. The RHC decreased for all samples with the highest percentage reduction (99.88%) resulting for the sample containing both the biostimulant and the mixed microbial consortium. This result is significant when compared with the control which recorded a small percentage degradation (47.46 %). The TMC for most of the samples followed the typically observed TMC profile. Conclusively, the incorporation of biostimulation and bioaugmentation could be seen to have enhanced the bioremediation of the crude oil contaminated soil.
Affiliations: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria
Keywords: Aspergillus Niger, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, NPK Fertiliser, Crude Oil, Bioremediation
Published date: 2017/12/29
