Remediation of Crude Oil Polluted Soil Using Biochar and Nanocomposites Prepared From Bread Fruit Seed Husk

Abstract

Crude oil contamination presents significant environmental challenges, particularly in soil fertility. This study investigates the use of breadfruit seed husk-derived biochar, combined with iron (FeNPs) and copper (CuNPs) nanoparticles, for degrading total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in contaminated soils. FeNPs and CuNPs were synthesized and characterized using standard methods, including SEM, UV-Vis, and FTIR. The study examined the degradation of TPH in three soil samples (A, B, C) treated with biochar, FeNPs, and CuNPs, both individually and in combination. The FeNPs + Biochar combination achieved the highest TPH degradation (up to 89.03% in soil sample A), significantly outperforming CuNPs + Biochar and biochar alone. Results indicate that FeNPs, through redox reactions, are more effective in breaking down long-chain hydrocarbons than CuNPs, which show lower efficiency due to dependence on specific soil conditions. This study suggests that the combination of biochar and FeNPs offers a promising, eco-friendly approach for the remediation of crude oil-contaminated soils.