Author(s)

Justin Nnaemeka Okorondu

Department of Environmental Management, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.

The remediation of crude oil-impacted soil has always been a challenge in different soil environments and climatic conditions. Bioremediation technology has offered a breakthrough in restoring crude oil-impacted soil/sediment in muddy, dry soil and wetlands. Though, there have been varied environmental conditions that have hampered the success of the bioremediation process. This study has evaluated the effectiveness of a biostimulated bioremediation of crude oil-impacted soil using some design criteria—nutrient amendment (NPK fertilizer) and moisture content. Soil sample sets—A, B, C, D, E, F, and G were impacted with crude oil at a ratio of 10 g/kg and amended with varying amounts of nutrient 30, 60, and 80 g of N.P.K fertilizer. The medium for the inoculation of the nutrient was water and the volume of water applied varied from 30% to 80% saturation. The soil sample sets were harvested at an interval of 3 months for 180 days to determine the concentration of total petroleum hydrocarbon left in the soil. The analysis of the total petroleum hydrocarbon was achieved using a GC-FID with a capillary column and autosampler. Soil samples were extracted with mixed solvent dichloromethane and acetone at a 1:1 ratio. The total petroleum hydrocarbon results show that biostimulated bioremediation achieved better results in soil sample sets with low moisture content (30% water saturation) and moderate nutrient amendment. The biodegradation of the sample sets with high water saturation and a high nutrient amendment was slow with a higher amount of total hydrocarbon content at the end of the 180 days. The variability in the hydrocarbon degradation pattern of contaminated soil shows that biostimulated bioremediation achieved better results in soils with low moisture content than in soil environments with high water content (saturation). More so, nutrient overdosing of the substrate hampered the effectiveness of the remediation process.

Bioremediation, Soil, Nutrient, Moisture Content, Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon, Crude Oil

Okorondu, J. (2023) Laboratory Design Criteria for Monitoring Biostimulated Bioremediation of a Crude Oil Contaminated Soil in Niger Delta Using Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon. Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 11, 139-149. doi: 10.4236/gep.2023.111009.