Potential of biochar for hydrocarbon degradation of crude oil-contaminated soils.

Abstract

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to assess the effect of phytoremediation and biochar application on hydrocarbon degradation in crude oil-contaminated soils. The experiment consisted of four levels of biochar application (0, 5, 10, and 15 t/ha) and the presence or absence of Vigna unguiculata (cowpea; +C, -C) replicated thrice and arranged in a 4 × 2 × 3 factorial completely randomized design. Samples were taken on days 0, 30, and 60 for total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) analysis. A significantly higher TPH degradation efficiency of 69.2% (7033mg/kg) was observed in contaminated soils amended with 15 t/ha biochar only after 60 days of incubation. Highly significant interactions were observed between biochar × plant (p<0.001) and biochar × days (p=0.0073). Biochar also improved the growth of plants in contaminated soils, with the highest height of 23.50cm and stem girth of 2.10cm obtained when plants were amended with 15 t/ha biochar at 6weeks after planting. The potential of biochar to increase the degradation efficiency of hydrocarbons should be explored in the long run for the cleanup of crude oil-contaminated soils.