Abstract
The harmful effects of spent engine oil on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems have been well established in literature. This study was conducted to assess the bio stimulatory influence of amendments; compost and inorganic fertilizer on bacterial degradation of spent engine oil contaminated soil. 500 g of unpolluted soil was collected and artificially contaminated with 5, 10 and 15% (v/w) spent engine oil. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design. Each amendment (50 g) was subsequently mixed thoroughly with the spent engine oil contaminated soil at varying levels except nine experimental bottles used as control. Incubation study was carried out and lasted for four weeks. Estimation of total petroleum hydrocarbon, pH, electrical conductivity, temperature and bacterial population density was done within two weeks interval during the incubation study. Results obtained indicate that compost significantly enhanced total petroleum hydrocarbon reduction by 87% while inorganic fertilizer facilitated 62% total petroleum hydrocarbon reduction on 5% spent engine oil contamination level respectively. Estimation of hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria on 5, 10 and 15% spent engine oil contaminated soil indicated that compost enhanced higher hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria thereby influencing bacterial degradation than those stimulated with inorganic fertilizer. pH remained in the range of alkalinity (7.8 and 8.06) for compost and 6.2 and 6.7 for inorganic fertilizer. The potential that compost recorded in influencing bacterial degradation of spent engine oil contaminated soil in this study has made it a good bio stimulant for the bioremediation of hydrocarbon polluted environments.
Highlights
The application of biotechnological processes entailing the employment of microorganisms with a view to preferring solutions to environmental pollution problems are fast growing these days
Effect of amendments on bacterial population density Results obtained from the estimation of hydrocarbon utilizing bacterial (HUB) population density in this study indicate that compost and inorganic fertilizer enhanced significant (P
Findings from this study suggest that the topsoil containing SEO may be largely influenced by the presence decayed organic matter and the presence of oxygen containing functional groups needed for microbial metabolism
Summary
The application of biotechnological processes entailing the employment of microorganisms with a view to preferring solutions to environmental pollution problems are fast growing these days. Abio stimulatory study conducted by Yerima et al (2011) on the potential of some organic wastes in enhancing bacterial salvage of crude oil contaminated soil showed that sewage sludge produced the best performance compared with other organic supplementations; chicken droppings and cow dung utilized. These authors further reported that the achievement that sewage sludge recorded in their study might be connected to its capability to improve porosity of the soil thereby facilitating the movement of desirable nutrients and gases.
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