Microbial degradation of an oil polluted site in Abule-Egba, Nigeria

Abstract

A pilot study was carried out on soil collected from Abule-Egba oil-pipeline in an area where pipeline vandalization was common to determine the effect of pig dung on microbiological composition and total petroleum hydrocarbon degradation. Top soil (0-15 cm depth) samples were randomly collected and one kilogram of the gasoline polluted-soil was measured into each of nine plastic containers. Pig dung was mixed 1 with the soil at the rate of 0, 50 and 100 g kg- soil in triplicate and the containers were arranged in a completely randomized design. Soil samples were taken from each container at 21 and 42 days for hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria and total petroleum hydrocarbon determination using standard methods. Data were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics. The species identified were Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Escherichia, -1 Pseudomonas and Enterobacter. The total petroleum hydrocarbon (mg kg ) of the soil before pig dung -1 application was 6.39 ± 0.11. After the amendments (at 0, 50 and 100 g kg ), the total petroleum hydrocarbon (mg -1 kg ) values were 3.25 ± 0.17, 0.03 ± 0.01, 0.03 ± 0.01 and 1.58 ± 0.10, 0.03 ± 0.01, 0.03 ± 0.01 for 21 and 42 days respectively. Pig dung significantly enhanced the biodegradation process as an impressive 99% remediation efficiency was achieved 21 days after amendment.

Keywords: Degradation, Hydrocarbon, Pig dung, Polluted soil