Physicochemical Properties Before and After Bioremediation of Crude Oil Polluted Soils from Ilaje, Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Bioremediation helps in the reduction environmental pollutants from air, water, soil, flue gasses, Industrial effluents etc., in natural or artificial settings. Hence, the objective of this paper was to investigate the physicochemical properties before and after bioremediation of crude oil polluted soils collected from Ilaje, Ondo State, Nigeria using appropriate standard techniques. Data obtained show that the pH values before and after bioremediation in sampling stations were A: (5.16±0.00^a; 5.25±0.003^a); B: (5.27±0.00^b; 5.40±0.06^a,b) and C: (5.46±0.02^c; 5.50±0.06^b) respectively. The results before treatment indicates lower values of pH obtained for soils from contaminated sites. The results showed that there is an increase in the pH of the soils after the treatment, reduction in the amount of available phosphorus in the polluted soil in compares with the control. It also reveals decrease in the amount of organic carbon, organic matter, nitrogen, and potassium and sodium contents of the soil after the treatment. This shows that the bioremediation treatment is effective in the removal of some contaminants in the soil and in the improvement of the physicochemical properties of the soil.