Biokinetics of Crude Oil Remediation on Soil Environment Using Fermented Cassava Liquid

Abstract

A short-term study was carried out for the bioremediation of crude oil polluted soil environment which are clay soil, sandy-loamy soil and swampy soil, using isolates from cassava liquid fermented for a period of six (6) days to build enough microbial culture. After inoculation of fermented cassava liquid into the crude oil polluted soils environment and control soil (not inoculated), were obtained at regular interval of one week for total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) content analysis. Results showed the bacterial population in fermented cassava liquid was 6.82 x 10⁴cfu/ml as determined by standard plate count. The concentration of petroleum hydrocarbon in the experimental set-up inoculated with the fermented liquid reduces to 46.5% in clay soil, 34.06% in sandy-loamy soil and 20.4% in swampy soil. The degree of pH value of the various soil sample increases as the fermented cassava liquid also increases. The thermal conductivity values were observed to decrease with an increase in the fermented cassava liquid during the 28day study period at the Department of Chemical/Petrochemical Engineering laboratory. The research work demonstrated that micro-organism isolated from the fermented cassava liquid can be used to treat crude oil contaminated soil environment but requires longer days and the right operating condition for effective remediation.

Key words: Biokinetics, crude oil, remediation, soil environment, fermented, cassava liquid