Remediation of spent engine oil-contaminated soil through biostimulation and bioaugmentation with sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and indigenous hydrocarbonoclastic bacterial isolates.

Abstract

Pollution caused by spent engine oil has become a major global ecological concern as it constitutes a big threat to plants, animals, microorganisms and the soil ecosystem. This study was undertaken to examine the remediation of spent engine oil-contaminated soil through biostimulation and bioaugmentation with sodium dodecyl sulphate and indigenous hydrocarbonoclastic bacterial isolates. Twelve mesocosms were organized into four groups designated G1, G2, G3 and G4 and each filled with 2.5kg of soil samples. Each group was composed of three mesocosms to produce a triplicate setup. G1 contained pristine soil which served as a positive control. G2 contained a total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) of 913.333mg/kg in the untreated oil-polluted soil which served as a negative control. G3 contained a TPH of 913.333mg/kg in the polluted soil inoculated with indigenous hydrocarbonoclastic bacterial isolates. G4 contained a TPH of 913.333mg/kg in the polluted soil mixed with bacterial consortium and sodium dodecyl sulphate. The level of pollution was 36.5% in the triplicate setup G2, G3 and G4. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy was used to determine the degree of hydrocarbon degradation. The initial TPH value of 913.33mg/kg was reduced by 84.44% (142mg/kg) in soil inoculated with indigenous hydrocarbonoclastic bacterial isolates and by 88.28% (106.66mg/kg) in biostimulated soil. Result of this study show that soil stimulation involving bacterial consortium and sodium dodecyl sulphate was more efficient than bioaugmentation strategy alone used in the remediation of spent engine oil-polluted soil.