Application of caladium-clay composite as oil spill treatment agent in soil from Bodo oil spill site

Abstract

Soil sample from Bodo city oil spill site in Gokana, Rivers State was collected, air dried and sieved. The sample was mixed with varying concentrations (0.20 g, 0.40 g, 0.60 g, 0.80 g and 1.00 g) of caladium in a fixed mass (5.00 g) of calcined clay from Kono Boue, respectively. The samples were divided into two portions each. One part was kept in the dark for 21 days while others were exposed for 24 h, 7 days and 21 days respectively. The samples were analyzed using GC-FID for the determination of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) content before and after treating with the caladium-calcined clay composite and the raw clay, respectively. The results obtained after 24 h of exposure to light, showed that the composite with the highest quantity (1.00 g) of caladium (organic matter) had the highest percentage degradation of 0.49 %. Upon further exposure to 7 days, % degradation increased to 6.02 % and finally to 18.36 % after 21 days of exposure. The unexposed had 4.90 % as the highest degradation after 21 days of the experiment. The result showed that, the greater the quantity of the organic matter in the composite, the higher the level of degradation of the contaminated soil. Also, exposure to light and oxygen was identified as co-factor that enhanced degradation of the TPH. Caladium-calcined clay composite can therefore be used as treatment agents for the remediation of crude oil polluted soils especially for durations longer than 21 days of exposure and higher concentrations of caladium.