Abstract
This paper reports a study that measured the effect of some heavy metals at different concentrations (Lead 0.86 ppm, Copper <0.001 ppm, Manganese 0.05 ppm, and Nickel <0.001 ppm) in well water contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbon on biodegradation by a consortium of hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria and fungi, using distilled water amended with 5% bonny light crude oil and varying concentrations of the salts of the heavy metals described earlier, either singly or combined. Also the effects of these heavy metals on the physicochemical characteristics of the treatments were analysed after 14 days. The control (no heavy metal addition) had the highest percentage of total petroleum hydrocarbon reduction (81.66%). There was no significant difference in total petroleum hydrocarbon reduction in Copper, Nickel, Lead and the combination of the heavy metals Copper, Nickel, Manganese and Lead at P≥0.05, while percentage of total petroleum hydrocarbon degraded of well water and Manganese was 35.29 and 59.67%, respectively and showed significant difference (P≤0.05) from the control. Electrical conductivity, salinity, temperature, total dissolved solid, dissolved oxygen and pH in various treatments showed no significant difference (P≥0.05), but Biological Oxygen Demand of Lead was significantly different (P≤0.05) from the control. These results suggest that the heavy metals present interfere with the extent of biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in water. Key words: Well water, petroleum hydrocarbons, heavy metals, bacteria and fungi consortia, biodegradation.
Highlights
Crude oil or petroleum is a naturally occurring heterogeneous composition of hydrocarbons and nonhydrocarbon compounds (Obire, 2018a)
The objective of this study was to determine the impact of the heavy metals present in petroleum hydrocarboncontaminated well water on biodegradation of the contaminant oil in well water and distilled water amended with 5% Bonny Light crude oil by consortia of hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria and fungi
Due to transportation of petroleum products to other interior villages, the river is contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons and domestic effluents which have resulted in the contamination of the well water close to the river
Summary
Crude oil or petroleum is a naturally occurring heterogeneous composition of hydrocarbons and nonhydrocarbon compounds (Obire, 2018a). The concentrations of these metals are generally low (Stigter et al, 2000) but can inhibit various cellular processes and the effect are often concentration dependent and vary in their individual toxicity (Talley, 2006)
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