Biodegradation of gasoline polluted soil using goat dung

Abstract

Petroleum product leakages from underground storage tanks, distribution facilities and various industrial operations represent an important source of soil and aquifer contamination. This study was carried out to determine the effects of Goat Dung (GD) on Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) degradation and microbiological composition. Top soil (0-15 cm depth) was collected from Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Satellite Depot, Ejigbo, Lagos State. One kilogram of the gasoline polluted soil was measured into nine containers. The GD was mixed with the soil at the rate of 0, 50 and 100 g kg^-1 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 (HUB) and PAH determination using standard methods. Collected data were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics. The HUB species identified were Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Klebsiella, Escherichia, Pseudomonas and Enterobacter. The PAH (mg kg^-1) of the soil before GD application was 192.65. After the amendments at 0, 50 and 100 g kg^-1, this value reduced to 167.32±2.45, 107.11 ±1.88 and 75.10±3.65, respectively at 21 days and 134.26±1.59, 74.16 ±2.27 and 46.14.14±1.93, respectively at 42 days. Biodegradation efficiency of 76 % was recorded after 42 days in soil amended with 100 g kg^-1 of GD. Application of 100 g kg^-1 of GD was more effective in the remediation of PAH contaminated soil. Results demonstrated that GD could be used to enhance activities of the microbial hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria during bioremediation of gasoline polluted soil.

Keywords: Biodegradation, Gasoline, Goat dung, Hydrocarbon, Pollution