Phytoremediation of Crude Oil Contaminated Soil with Axonopus compressus in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

Efe Sunday Ighovie, Elenwo Ephram Ikechukwu

Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Port Harcourt Choba, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Department of Geography and Regional Planning, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria.

DOI: 10.4236/nr.2014.52006                

Abstract

The study assessed the effectiveness of carpet grass (Axonopus compressus) in the phytoremediation management of oil impacted soil in Ubeji and Alesa Eleme communities of Niger Delta region of Nigeria. To achieve this, the study employed an experimental research design that involved the use of Axonopus compressus in the management of oil-impacted soil sites of Ubeji and Alesa Eleme. This experiment lasted for four months’ period (one planting season). Axonopus sp. was used for the treatment of the crude oil impacted sites. Laboratory analysis of the soil samples was conducted to determine the effect of phytoremediation on hydrocarbon, acidity, organic matter and moisture loss in oil impacted sites. The study revealed that the use of Axonopus sp. resulted in 66% loss of hydrocarbon from crude oil-impacted soils of Ubeji and Alesa Eleme. However, there is no significant difference in crude oil loss in the soils of Ubeji and Alesa Eleme as a result of Axonopus sp. This could be ascribed to the similarities in soil properties and climate type of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. It also showed that the growth of Axonopus sp. in the crude oil-impacted soils of Ubeji and Alesa Eleme has reduced the acidity of hydrocarbon content in soils (4.46 - 6.87 pH in Ubeji and 4.66 - 6.86 pH in Alesa Eleme) from the first day to the 90^th days of experiment, and thereafter there was stabilization at the 4^th month. This indicates that acidity in soil increases (lower pH) with increase in the concentration of crude oil in soils. However, the adoption of Axonopus sp. in hydrocarbon-impacted soils has increased the pH of soils, and enhanced the accumulation of organic matter and moisture content in oil-impacted soils of Ubeji and Alesa Eleme. The implication of the findings is that Axonopus sp. has the tenacity to phytoremediate hydrocarbon concentration in soil effectively in any geographical region of the world; as such, it is recommended for adoption by oil companies, government and non-governmental organization agency for the remediation of oil spill sites.

Keywords

Axonopus sp.; Phytoremediation; Crude Oil; Impacted Soil

[7] opined that oil exploration and exploitation have over the last four decades impacted disastrously on the socio-physical environment of the Niger-Delta oil bearing communities, massively threatening the subsistent peasant economy and the environment and hence, the entire livelihood and basic survival of the people. However, attempts at clean up of oil contaminated sites in the region have been the physical, chemical and thermal process techniques [8-10]. However, these techniques have some adverse effects on the environment and are also expensive [8,11].

Petroleum contaminated soil can be revamped by different methods which include physico-chemical and biological approaches. Compared to physico-chemical methods, bioremediation is thought to be low cost, low environmental risk but longer time needed [12]. A variety of bioremediation methods have been developed to increase the degradation rate of petroleum in soil. Isolation of effective microorganisms has been well studied and proved to be effective method in bioremediation of petroleum polluted soil [12-14]. However, phytoremediation has shown that several pollutants of petroleum products and solvents, are degraded faster in the presence of plants in which transpiration of water, oxygen transport, biological stimulation in the root zone and plant uptake of chemicals are thought to be influencing factors [12,15]. On the same vein, microbial numbers in the vegetated soil were significantly higher than those in the unvegetated soils in the rhizosphere [16-18].

Phytoremediation is the use of plants and/or associated microorganisms to remove or render harmful material harmless or to detoxify oil polluted sites [19-22]. It has been shown to be effective for different kinds of contaminants like heavy metals, radionuclides and broad range of organic pollutants [23]. [24] asserted that plants for phytoremediation should be appropriate for the climate and soil conditions of the contaminated sites. The plants should also have the ability to tolerate conditions of stress [25]. Several plant species have been used for phytoremediation drivers, and these plants are: grasses, legumes, trees and several other monocots and dicots [25,26].

Attempts have been made to use some plants to remediate oil polluted in Nigeria [see 9,10,21]. While [27], carried his work in Port Harcourt for six weeks, and demonstrated the use of Zea mays (corn) and Pennisetum purpureum (elephant grass) in degrading petroleum hydrocarbons in contaminated agricultural soils, and found an average hydrocarbon losses of 77.5% (Z. mays) and 83% (P. purpureum) within the first two weeks. These values decreased to 67.5% and 55% after the six-week remediation period for corn and elephant grass respectively. [10] in the study of Ekpan which lasted for three months’ uses of Axonopus sp., Cyperus sp. and soil amendments, it was found 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. These scholars therefore call for similar studies with more weeks/months of study adopted in order to effectively validate the use of these plants for the remediation of hydrocarbon contaminated soil. Though this technology appears to be promising, not much has been done in Nigeria and in Niger-Delta region in particular. On this premise, this study is aimed at assessing the effectiveness of Axonopus sp. phytoremediation measure of crude oil contaminated soil of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

2. Study Area

The Niger Delta region of Nigeria falls within the central coastlands of southern Nigeria. It lies at the intersection of latitude 5˚31N and 5˚33N and longitude 5˚30E and 5˚32E. The region is divided into two subdivision, western and eastern region (see Figure 1), and one third of the region is made up of wetlands and house the third largest mangrove forest in the world [28], with some seven million people that live in the 70,000 square kilometer. While Ubeji is located close to Warri Petroleum and Refinery Company (WPR C) in the western region, the Port Harcourt Petroleum and Refinery Company (PPRC) is located at Alesa Eleme (see Figure 1). The region has been described as a gas province, and over 75% of it natural gas is fared [29]. The region is characterized with subequatorial climate, but this climate has been influenced by the gas flaring in this region with higher temperatures observed closed to gas flare sites. Rainfall is over 2450 mm to over 3000 mm per year with no dry season, as rain in all months is over 2.5 cm and often precipitate acid rain [30] (see Figure 1). Relative humidity is normally over 90% in the mornings, but drops to 80% in the afternoons [28,31]. The wet land nature has encouraged the retention of crude oil on the surface soil for long period of time whenever there is oil spill.

3. Methods of Data Collection

The study employed an experimental research design which involves the release of crude oil on the soil and the use of carpet grass plant (Axonopus sp.) as phytoremediation method in the management of petroleum impacted soil in Ubeji and Elesa Eleme for four months periods. It involves treatment of the oil impacted sites with Axonopus sp. grass plant. Axonopus compressusz is a perennial,

Figure 1. Spatial distribution of flare sites/acid rain in Niger delta.

coarse-leaved, creeping grass (see Figure 2). It grows better on low, wet soils than do other grasses. This plant was selected based on certain features thought to enhance phytoremediation. These include the ability of the plant to survive adverse environmental conditions, fibrous root system and high rate of evapo-transpiration to enhance phytostabilization. It grows well in either sun or shade but is less shade tolerant than St. Augustine and Centipede grass which it resembles [10]. These features enhanced the ability of these plants to remove oil from the spill sites. Two experimental plots each were established at Ubeji and Alesa Eleme, and Axonopus sp. grass plant was planted at one plot, while the other plot is without Axonopus sp. grass plant. A total of five soil samples each were collected from Ubeji and Elesa Eleme for laboratory analysis. One soil samples was collected from each plot at the beginning of the experiment and every 30^th days of a month until the fourth months of the experiment for laboratory analysis of TOG, expressed in milligram per kilogram of soil sample (mg/kg).

The crude impacted sites used for this research were tilled with the aid of shovels to loosen the soil and also enhance aeration. The tilled soil was then mixed, using rakes; this was to further homogenize the soil in order to create favourable condition for plant growth. The use of rake was also intended to obtain a near uniform concentration of petroleum hydrocarbon in the experimental plots. The cultivated/tilled experimental plots were then divided into two sub-plots about 2 m × 1.5 m by means of furrows between the flat ridges. The sub-plots were labelled A – B, based on the number of treatments intended for the study. Section A indicates the control that is soil that contains crude oil without Axonopus sp. While B is the soil section with crude oil and treated with Axonopus sp. Soil samples were then collected at the surface and 150 mm depth at the 1^st day and every 30 days. These soils were mixed together and used for the determination of soil pH, organic matter and moisture. Laboratory analysis of the soil samples was conducted to determine the effect of phytoremediation on hydrocarbon loss, soil pH, organic matter and moisture content in oil impacted sites. The pH of the soils was determined following the pattern outlined by [32]. In line with [33] method, the soils were air dried and sieved to remove large particles and debris. 5 g of the sieved soils were mixed with 5 mls of distilled water and stirred very well after which mixture was allowed to stand for 30 minutes. The electrode of a pH meter was put into slurry of the soil-water mixture and the pH of the soil was read off. And the moisture and organic matter content of the soil were determined following the procedures of [33-35] respectively.

The total amount of oil and grease (TOG) in the soil samples was determined using air-dried soils, sieved through 1 mm mesh. The TOG in the soil was first extracted with n-hexane in line with [10,36] methods. The soil-crude oil-n-hexane mixture was filtered into a beaker of known weight through a Whatmann No.1 filter paper. The TOG content of the filtrate was determined after heating the beaker at 40˚C to a constant weight in line with [9,22]. The amount of hydrocarbon lost from the soil was determined as the amount of TOG added to the soil minus that in the soil at the time of analysis. The effect of Axonopus sp. on the pH, moisture, organic matter and crude oil contents of the soils were determined by comparing each parameter in soil with Axonopus sp. with that of the soil without Axonopus sp. The data obtained were analyzed with descriptive statistics, paired t test and correlation analyses and run with the statistical package for the social sciences version 15.

4. Results and Discussion

This section discusses the data generated for this study. Tables 1-4 showed the concentration of petroleum hydrocarbon or total oil and grease (TOG) in soil, and its effect on soil pH, organic matter and moisture content of the soil of Ubeji in Delta state and Alesa Eleme in Rivers state. Table 1 reveals that Axonopus sp. and its associated micro organisms are capable of reducing the concentration of petroleum hydrocarbon in oil impacted soil. It showed clearly that there is a gradual loss in the concentration of petroleum hydrocarbon in soil from the beginning (3678.23 mg/kg) to the end of the experiment (1262.41 mg/kg and 2415.74) at Ubeji and Alesa Eleme respectively. Generally the study revealed 66% loss of hydrocarbon at the end of the four months observation in Ubeji and Alesa Eleme as result of Axonopus sp (see

Table 1). This loss showed a significant correlation value of 0.98, which is significant at p > 0.05 (see Figures 3 and 4). This showed that phytoremediation has significantly reduced the concentration of petroleum hydrocarbon from the impacted soil of Ubeji and Alesa Eleme (see Table 1). This is also evident in the trend lines in Figures 3 and 4. This finding agrees with [10,37] who reported that phytoremediation can be effectively used to manage soil contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbon. There is also gradual reduction in petroleum hydrocarbon in the soil without Axonopus sp. Hydrocarbon in this site decreases from 3678.23 mg/kg at the beginning to 2812.45 mg/kg and 2812.54 mg/kg at Ubeji and Alesa Eleme respectively. This indicates 865.78 mg/kg and 865.69 mg/kg (24%) loss in total oil and grease in soil of Ubeji and Alesa Eleme respectively in the control site without Axonopus sp. (see Table 1), this natural attenuation is precipitated by atmospheric influence [10]. This result corroborated those studies of Axonopus sp. and other plants in Table 2. In particular with those of [38] (85% for Cyperus laxus lam), [39] (50% for Festuca rubra), [40] (70% for sedge), [41] (30% - 50% for Altai wild rye AWR and alfalfa) and 10] (47% for Axonopus sp.). It also corroborated [42-44]. [10] study of Ekpan lasted for three months and accounted for 47% reduction in TOG by Axonopus sp., while this study of Ubeji and Alesa

Figure 2. Axonopus sp.

Table 1. Hydrocarbon in impacted soil under Axonopus sp. in Ubeji and Alesa Eleme.

Table 2. Bioremediation studies.

Table 3. Paired t’ test explaining the differences in loss of TOG soil of Ubeji and Alesa Eleme.

Table 4. Effect of Axonopus sp. on the pH of oil polluted Soil.

Eleme revealed 66% reduction in TOG by Axonopus sp (see Table 3).

A comparison of petroleum hydrocarbon loss in the soil of Ubeji in Delta state and Alesa Eleme in Rivers state showed 2415.82 mg/kg at Ubeji and 2415.74 mg/kg at Alesa Elema loss of TOG (see Table 1), indicating a difference of 0.08. This however showed no significant difference in TOG loss in the soils of these communities as a result Axonopus sp. This is evident from Table 3 that showed a calculated t value of 0.991 and critical tvalue of 2.776 with 4 degrees of freedom for a two-tailed test at 0.05 significant level, and correlation coefficient of 0.996 at p > 0.05. Since the calculated t is lower than the critical t, it showed that there is no significant difference in the loss of petroleum hydrocarbon in the soil of Ubeji and Alesa Eleme. This could be ascribed to the fact that these communities are located within the Niger Delta region of Nigeria that experiences similar soil properties

Figure 3. Axonopus sp. effect on the concentration of hydrocarbon in soil in Ubeji.

Figure 4. Axonopus sp. effect on the concentration of hydrocarbon in soil in Alesa Eleme.

and climate. The implication of this result is that Axonopus sp. has the tenacity to reduce/phytoremediate TOG concentration in soil of any geographical region of the world.

Table 4 showed the use of Axonopus sp. in the reduction of crude oil in impacted soils. Generally from Table 4, the growth of Axonopus sp. in the crude oil impacted soils of Ubeji and Alesa Eleme in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria has reduced the acidity of hydrocarbon content in soil. There was a gradual reduction of acidity from the first day to the 90^th days of experiment (4.46 - 6.87 pH in Ubeji and 4.66 - 6.86 pH in Alesa Eleme), thereafter there was a stabilization at the 4^th months. However the is slight reduction in acidity in soils with Axonopus sp. in both communities even until the 4^th months. This shows that Axonopus sp. quickened the phytoremediation process of TOG from impacted soil. This result also corroborated that of [9] with the use of Glycine max for the removal of the effect of crude oil on the physico-chemical properties of soil. There was a general significant difference in the pH values of the soils with Axonopus sp. and of those without Axonopus sp. This is evident from t = 3.92 and r = 0.971 for soils of Ubeji and t = 3.95 and r = 0.94 for Alesa Eleme at p > 0.05 which is greater than the critical t = 2.776, and this indicate a positive correlation in these soils. However comparing the content of TOG in soils with Axonopus sp. and their corresponding pH values, it showed that pH values increases with decrease in crude oil content, and a negative correlation of −0.853 for Ubeji and −0.845 for Alesa Eleme at p > 0.05. This indicates that acidity in soil increases with increase in the concentration of crude oil in soil, this is because of the fact that the higher the pH values, the lower the acidity. This finding corroborated the work of [9,27,45]. The continue increase in soil pH up to the 3^rd months is an indication that there was a conducive environment for soil bacteria and biodegradation [9,46].

Table 5 revealed that there is reduction in organic matter content of soils with Axonopus sp. than those without Axonopus sp. in Ubeji and Alesa Eleme in the first 30 days. This reduction could be the low release of carbon at the first month, and as such the Axonopus sp. now impact directly on the soils. On the other hand, the growth of Axonopus sp. from the 60 days enhanced the accumulation of organic matter in the soils. This finding corroborated those of [9] in his study of G. max and ascribed the enhanced accumulation of organic matter to shielding of leaves from after the 42 days and the decomposition of such leaves increased the organic matter composition of the vegetated soil more than the nonvegetated soil. The continuous release of carbon into the soil also enhanced the accumulation of organic matter content of soil. Crude oil content in soil correlate significance (r = −0.52 and t = 21.23) with organic matter content of the soil at p < 0.5, this indicate that as crude oil content in soil increases, there is a corresponding decrease in organic matter of soil in Ubeji and Alesa Eleme.

There was a general enhancement of moisture in the soil as a result of the treatment with Axonopus sp. at Ubeji and Alesa Eleme (see Table 6). This result corroborated the result of [9] with 75 g crude oil with G.max, but differs from those with 25/54 g crude oil with G.max. However there is a marked difference in soil moisture in soil with Axonopus sp. and those with crude oil alone except at the initial day of observation. For instance at the end of the 120 days of observation, a difference of 7.21% and 7.23% of moisture was observed in soil with Axonopus sp. and those with crude oil alone at Ubeji and Alesa Eleme respectively. This is further confirmed by r = 0.869 (t = 3.958) and r = 0.940 (t = 2.506) at p > 0.05 for Ubeji and Alesa Eleme respectively. This showed a positive correlation, which indicates that as crude oil in soil increases; there is a decrease in soil moisture content. The higher content of moisture content in soil with Axonopus sp. and those with crude oil alone could be ascribed to the inhibition of root growth, which often lead to low penetration of water and higher accumulation of water on the soil surface [9]. Also the crude causes reduction in transpiration and thus reduces the rate of water absorption and uptake [47].

5. Conclusion

The study has demonstrated that Carpet grass Axonopus sp. and its associated micro organisms have the tenacity to reduce the concentration of hydrocarbon in an impacted soil. It showed that there was a gradual loss in the concentration of hydrocarbon in soil from the beginning to the end of the experiment at Ubeji and Alesa Eleme

Table 5. Effect of Axonopus sp. on the percentage organic matter of oil polluted soil.

Table 6. Effect of Axonopus sp. on the percentage moisture content of oil polluted soil.

respectively. Generally, there was 66% loss of hydrocarbon at the end of the four months’ observation in both Ubeji and Alesa Eleme as a result of Axonopus sp. However, there is no significant difference in crude oil loss in the soils of Ubeji and Alesa Eleme as a result of Axonopus sp. This could be ascribed to the similarities in soil properties and climate type of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. It is also revealed that acidity in soil decreases with increase in the concentration of crude oil in soil. On the other hand, the adoption of Axonopus sp. has enhanced the accumulation of organic matter and moisture content in oil-impacted soils of Ubeji and Alesa Eleme. And as crude oil concentration in soil increases, there is a decrease in organic matter and moisture content in soil. On the premise of these findings, the study therefore suggests that Axonopus sp. should be adopted for the remediation of oil-impacted soils.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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