Proceedings of the 2nd (Hybrid) International Conference, Faculty of Social Sciences, Niger Delta University, Held on March 13, 2024
March, 2024
Pages 174-188
DOI: 10.36108/wjss/ConfP.2024.010
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF BIOREMEDIATION RATES OF WELLDRAINED AND WATERLOGGED SOILS IN THE NIGER DELTA
DEEKOR TORNUBARI
Abstract
Oil exploitation in the Niger Delta has resulted in widespread hydrocarbon pollution. Despite vast research on bioremediation using organic amendments for restoring hydrocarboncontaminated land, the potential of decomposed cassava peels has attracted little attention in the literature. This study was therefore designed to examine the seasonal effect of decomposed cassava peels for bioremediation of hydrocarbon-polluted soils of different topographic surfaces in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria. The experimental research design was used. Welldrained and waterlogged sites were purposively selected for the study. Each site was divided into 18 plots, each measuring 2m by 2m and was contaminated with Bonny Light crude oil at three levels of 2.0,4.0 and 6.0% concentrations. The experiment was undertaken in both dry and wet seasons. The baseline soil without contamination served as a control. Decomposed cassava peels were introduced into the soil to a depth of 10cm seven days after contamination. Thirty-six soil samples were collected from 0-15cm and from 15-30cm depth. Soils in the experimental sites were analysed before and after contamination and after three months of bioremediation for Total Hydrocarbon Content (THC). The properties of polluted soils before and after remediation were compared using descriptive statistics and independent t-test at p< 0.05. Rates of bioremediation in the well-drained and waterlogged soils were analysed and compared. The THC in both well-drained and waterlogged sites before contamination was low. THC increased in both sites after contamination and decreased after remediation. The study revealed that there was a 51% reduction in THC in well-drained soils and 22% in waterlogged soils. The study also revealed that remediation was more effective in welldrained soil than in waterlogged soil but proceeded faster in the dry season than in the wet season. The study recommends that decomposed cassava peels for hydrocarbon remediation should be applied on well-drained soil in the dry season.
Keywords: Bioremediation of polluted soil, Decomposed cassava peels, Total hydrocarbon content, Well-drained, Waterlogged.