Abstract
Phytoremediation has been identified as an effective option for the clean-up of petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated soil. This study aims to assess the potential of Vigna unguiculata L. Walp (cowpea) in the remediation of used motor oilcontaminated soil. The germination and growth of cowpea on soil contaminated with 5% (w/w) of used motor oil were monitored for 28 days. One of the treatments received 15% (w/w) poultry manure seven days after pollution. The result of the physicochemical analysis of the soil and used motor oil shows that both have acidic pH values (5.90 for soil and 5.96 for used motor oil). Microbial degradation of the used motor oil was monitored by measuring the Total Heterotrophic Bacterial Count (THC), Hydrocarbon Utilizing Bacterial count (HUB), and gravimetric loss of used motor oil {Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH)} with time. The treatment options supplemented with poultry manure recorded higher THC and HUB counts (76.8 × 106 cfu/g and 15.0 × 106 cfu/g respectively). The result of the biodegradation studies shows a significant reduction of the concentration of the used motor oil with time. The highest reduction in TPH (83%) was observed in the contaminated soil with cowpea plant and poultry manure. It was also observed that the cowpea plant performed better in the presence of poultry manure, as reflected in the results of the agronomic studies carried out. This study has shown that cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) has great prospects as a tool for the clean- up of used oil-contaminated soil.
Highlights
IntroductionThis menace is more prevalent in the developing nations of the world where there is no effective environmental protection policy (Onuoha et al, 2011)
Apart from contaminating the air and freshwater, used motor oil is the source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the soil
The poultry manure supplied additional nitrogen and phosphorus needed for bioremediation
Summary
This menace is more prevalent in the developing nations of the world where there is no effective environmental protection policy (Onuoha et al, 2011). The global use of lubricating oil has lead to an increase in the contamination of soil by used motor oil (Mandri and Lin, 2007). Apart from contaminating the air and freshwater, used motor oil is the source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the soil. This is of public health concern because many PAHs are toxic, mutagenic, Ezeji, E. There is, the need for urgent and cost-effective measures for the remediation of the used motor oil-contaminated soils and possibly waterways in the Nigerian environment
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