Effect of Different Remediation Strategies on the Removal of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons from Crude Oil Polluted Soils

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of crude oil pollution on the soil in the Niger-Delta region of Nigeria and explored possible remediation methods. The aim of the study was to analyze the physioco-chemical parameters of the soil and determine the crude oil contamination on land within the port-harcourt refinery. The study focused on analyzing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with the use of microorganisms. The microorganisms used in this study were Aspergillus Niger, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Sargassum filipendula. The synergies of microorganisms and charcoal were also used to check the removal efficacy of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon. The total non-carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were estimated at 327.9±3.46 mg/kg, and the carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was recorded at 69.07±4.20 mg/kg. According to the results, phenanthrene has the highest concentration of non-carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at 175.8±0.23 mg/kg, while benzo[a]anthracene has the highest concentration of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at 20.29±0.67 mg/kg. The efficacy of Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons removal increased over time, from week 1 to week 9, when employing the six remediation techniques. Anthracene, phenanthrene, dibenz[a,h]anthracene, indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene, and benzo[ghi]pyrene were completely removed from polluted soil when treated with individual microorganisms or a synergy of charcoal and

microorganisms. Other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons discovered in the sampling area have a high percentage of elimination; however, this percentage is not as high as the aforementioned polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.