Management of Petroleum Impacted Soil with Phytoremediation and Soil Amendments in Ekpan Delta State, Nigeria

Sunday Ighovie Efe, Aboh Edwin Okpali

Department of Geography and Regional Planning, Delta State University Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria.

DOI: 10.4236/jep.2012.35048                

Abstract

The study is aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of phytoremediation in the management of oil impacted soil in Ekpan communities of Delta state, Nigeria. To do this, the study adopted an experimental research design that involve the use of phytoremediation (carpet grass Axonopus compressus) and nutsedge Cyperus rotundus) in the management of petroleum impacted soil site in Ekpan, This experiment spans for three months periods (one planting season). It involves the treatment of the oil impacted site with different plant species and soil amendments. Laboratory analysis of the soil samples was conducted to determine the effect of phytoremediation and soil amendments on hydrocarbon loss in oil impacted sites. The study revealed that the combined effect of Axonopus sp., Cyperus sp. and oil amendments accounted for 59% reduction in hydrocarbon. However Axonopus sp. and Cyperus sp. accounted for 47% and 48% reduction in hydrocarbon respectively. This shows that though, both plant species can be used successfully as a phytoremediation technique for the reclamation of oil impacted soils, but Axonopus sp. and Cyperus sp. was the most effective when applied with soil amendment (organic and inorganic manure). It is therefore recommended that iindigenous plant species (particularly Axonopus sp. and Cyperus sp.) should be used together with soil amendments in phytoremediation rather than the traditional bioremediation involving the use of microorganism. Oil companies operating in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria are encouraged not only to carry out physical clean-up of oil spills but should also carry out bioremediation to restore the environment back to its natural or near natural state. The methodology adopted in this study could be followed by oil companies to manage oil impacted soils in the Niger-Delta environment in Nigeria and indeed everywhere in the world.

Keywords

Phytoremediation; Oil Impacted; Soil; Amendments; Ekpan

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	M. K. Bank, H. Mallede and H. Rathbone, “Rehizoshere Microbial Characterization in Petroleum Contaminated Soil,” Soil and Sediment Contamination, Vol. 12, No. 3, 2003, pp. 371-385. doi:10.1080/713610978
[2]	M. M. Amro, “Treatment Techniques of Oil Contaminated Soil and water Aquifers,” International Conference on Water Resources and Arid environment, 2004, pp. 1-3. http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/2442
[3]	UN Report, “Protecting Ecosystem for People and Planet,” United Nations Environmental Programme, 2001, pp. 130-147.
[4]	A. I. Etang, “The Nigerian State; Oil Exploitation and Community Interest: Issues and Perspectives,” University of Port Harcourt, Harcourt, 1997.
[5]	S. I. Efe, “Spatial Variation in Acid and Some Heavy Metal Composition of Rainwater Harvesting in the Oil Producing region of Nigeria,” Natural Hazard, Vol. 55, No. 2, 2010, pp. 307-319. doi:10.1007/s11069-010-9529-2
[6]	C. M. Frick, Farell and J. J. Germida, “Assessment of Phytoremediation as an in-Situ Technique for Cleaning Oil Contaminated Sites,” Phase 1 Final Report, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, 1999.
[7]	T. A. Anderson and B. T. Walton, “Comparative Fate of Trichloroethylene in the Root Zone of Plants from Former Solvent Disposal Site,” Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Vol. 14, 1995, pp. 2041-2047.
[8]	S. Trapp, A. S. Ucisik, D. Romano and M. Larsen, “The Role of Plant and Bacteria in Phytoremediation-Kinetic Aspect of Bioremediation of Soils Contaminated with Aromatic Compounds in NATO Science Series IV,” Earth Environmental Science, Vol. 76, 2007, pp. 41-49.
[9]	H. L. Yuan, J. S. Yang, B. Z. Wang, L. Li and R. Z. Zhang, “Microorganism Screening for Petroleum Degradation and Its Degrading Characteristics,” China Environmental Science, Vol. 23, No. 2, 2003, pp. 157-161.
[10]	H. S. Jop, P. M. Ndegwa, M. Shoda and C. G. Phae, “Bioremediation of Oil-Contaminated Soil Using Candida Catenulata and Food Waste,” Environmental Pollution, Vol. 156, No. 3, 2008, pp. 891-896. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2008.05.026
[11]	E. Cervantes-Gonzalez, L. I. Rojas-Avelizapa, R. CruzCamarillo, N. G. Rojas-Velizapa and J. Garcia-Mena, “Isolation and Identification by 16S rDNA Partial Sequencing of Hydrocarbon-Chitinolytic Bacteria Involved in Hydrocarbon Removal Process,” Progress Environmental Science and Technology, Vol. 1, 2007, pp. 1143-1149.
[12]	S. D. Cunningham, J. W. Huang, J. Chen and W. R. Berti, “Abstracts of Papers of the American Chemical Society,” American Chemical Society, Vol. 212, 1996, p. 87.
[13]	I. Shtangeeva. “Improvement of Phytoremediation Effects with Help of Different Fertilizers,” Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Vol. 50, No. 6, 2004, pp. 885-889.
[14]	J. Tang, X. Niu, Q. Sun and R. Wang, “Bioremediation of Petroleum Polluted Soil by Combination of Ryegrass with Effective Microorganisms,” Journal of Environmental Technology and Engineering, Vol. 3, No. 2, 2010, pp. 80-86.
[15]	J. Wang, Z. Z. Zhang, Y. M. Su, W. He, F. He and H. G. Song, “Phytoremediation of Petroleum Polluted Soil,” Petroleum Science, Vol. 5, No. 2, 2008, pp. 167-171.
[16]	Y. Chen, G. H. Li, X. Zhang, X. X. Lu and L. Zhang, “Effect of Petroleum Biodegradation and Rhizosphere Micro Eco-System in Phytoremediation of the Polluted Soil in oilfield,” Science and Technology, Vol. 45, No. 6, 2005, pp. 784-787.
[17]	R. Sandra, “Oil and Grease Measurement for Water and Soil Samples,” The Global Directory for Environmental Technology, 2005. www.eco-web.com
[18]	R. Ferrera-Cerrato, A. Alarcon, M. R. Mendoza-Lopez, W. Sangabriel, D. Trejo-Aguilar, J. S. Cruz-Sanchez, C. Lopez and J. Ortiz, “Delgadillo-Martinez. Phytoremediation of a Fuel Oil Polluted Soil with Phaseolus Coccineus Using Organic or Inorganic Fertilization,” Agrociencia, Vol. 41, No. 8, 2007, pp. 817-826.
[19]	J. E. Kaimi, T. Mukaidani and M. Tamak, “Screening of Twelve Plant Species for Phytoremediation of Petroleum Hydrocarbon Contaminated Soil,” Plant Production Science, Vol. 10, No. 2, 2007, pp. 211-218. doi:10.1626/pps.10.211
[20]	K. V. Nedunuri, R. S. Govindaraju, M. K. Banks, P. Schwab and A. Z. Chens, “Evaluation of Phytoremediation for Field Scale Degradation of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons,” Journal of Environmental Engineering, Vol. 26, No. 6, 2000, pp. 483-490. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9372(2000)126:6(483)
[21]	S. McClutchen and J. Schnoor, “Phytoremediation Transformation and Control of Contaminants,” John Wiley and Sons. Inc., Hoboken, 2003.
[22]	R. Shirdam, A. D. Zand, G. N. Bidhendi and N. Mehrdadi, “Phytoremediation of Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Soils with Emphasis on the Effect of Petroleum Hydrocarbon on the Growth of Plant Species,” Phytoprotection, Vol. 89, No. 1, 2008, pp. 21-29.
[23]	B. A. Badejo, “Strategies and Tactics of sustainable Agriculture in the Tropics,” College Press Publication, Nigeria, 2001, pp. 16-17.
[24]	T. Gunther, U. Dornberger and W. Fritsche, “Effects of Ryegrass on Biodegradation of Hydrocarbons in Soil,” Chemosphere, Vol. 33, No. 2, 1996, pp. 203-215. doi:10.1016/0045-6535(96)00164-6
[25]	W. Aprill and R. C. Sims, “Evaluation of the Use of Prairie Grasses for Stimulating Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Treatment in Soil,” Chemosphere, Vol. 20, No. 12, 1990, pp. 253-265.
[26]	J. M. Ayotamuno, R. B. Kogbara and P. N. Egwuenum, “Comparison of Corn and Elephant Grass in the Phytoremediation of a Petroleum-Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Agricultural Soil in Port Harcourt, Nigeria,” International Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment, Vol. 4, 2006, pp. 218-222.
[27]	X. Qiu, T. W. Leland, S. I. Shah, D. L. Sorensen and E. W. Kendall, “Chapter 14: Field Study: Grass Remediation for Clay Soil Contaminated with Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon,” In: E. L. Kruger, T. A. Anderson and J. R. Coats, Eds., Phytoremediation of Soil and Water Contaminants, American Chemical Society, Washington DC, 1997, pp. 186-199. doi:10.1021/bk-1997-0664.ch014
[28]	C. Archer, “Cyperaceae,” National Herbarium, Pretoria, 2005.
[29]	L. A. Phillips, C. W. Greer and J. J. Germida, “Culture-Based and Culture-Independent Assessment of the Impact of Mixed and Single Plant Treatments on Rhizosphere Microbial Communities in Hydrocarbon Contaminated Flare-Pit Soil,” Soil Biology & Biochemistry, Vol. 38, No. 9, 2006, pp. 2823-2833. doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2006.04.038
[30]	K. Euliss, C. Ho, A. P. Schwah, S. Rock and M. K. Banks, “Greenhouse and Field Assessment of Phytoremediation for Petroleum Contaminants in a Riparian Zone,” Bioresource Techology, Vol. 99, No. 6, 2008, pp. 1961-1971.
[31]	L. A. Phillips, W. G. Charles, R. E. Farrell and J. J. Germida, “Field-Scale Assessment of Weathered Hydrocarbon Degradation by Mixed and Single Plant Treatments,” Applied Soil Ecology, Vol. 42, No. 1, 2009, pp. 9-17. doi:10.1016/j.apsoil.2009.01.002
[32]	E. Escalante-Espinosa, M. E. Gallegos-Martinez, E. F. Torres and M. Gutierrez-Rojas, “Improvement of the Hydrocarbon Phytoremediation Rate by Cyperus laxus lam. Inoculated with a Microbial Consortium in a Model System,” Chemosphere, Vol. 59, No. 3, 2005, pp. 405-413. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2004.10.034
[33]	J. Gurska, W. X. Wang, K. E. Gerhardt, A. M. Khalid, D. M. Isherwood, X. D. Huang, B. R. Glick and B. M. Greenberg, “Three Year Field Test of a Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria Enhanced Phytoremediation System at a Land Farm for Treatment of Hydrocarbon Waste,” Environmental Science Technology, Vol. 43, No. 12, 2009, pp. 4472-4479. doi:10.1021/es801540h
[34]	L. A. Nwaogu, G. O. C. Onyeze and R. Nwabueze, “Degradation of Diesel Oil in a Polluted Soil Using Bacillus subtilis,” African Journal of Biotechnology, Vol. 7, No. 12, 2008, pp. 1939-1943.