Bioremediation of Crude Oil Contaminated Soil Using Cow Dung

Author(s): O. E. Oludele, M. E. Wyse, O. K. Odeniyi, P. O. Ali, M. Kugbogbenmowei

Crude oil contaminated soils were obtained from an oil pit in Burutu L.G.A. of Delta State and the Cow dung was collected from Garki slaughterhouse along Benin-Sapele-Warri road Delta, Nigeria. The samples were sundried for a period of one week and kept in the laboratory. 500g of crude oil contaminated soil was weighed into four different containers labeled A, B, C and D. The soil was amended with the application of cow dung at various weights of 100g, 150g and 200g/kg respectively leaving sample D without amendment which served as the control for a period of 10 weeks. The microbiological and physiological analysis of crude oil contaminated soil amended with cow dung was investigated using standard cultural techniques. The Total Heterotrophic Bacterial count for the samples A, B, C and D treatment options increased from (8.1 x106–9.2x106cfu/g), (8.1x106–9.5x106cfu/g), (8.1x106–9.6x 106cfu/g) and (8.1 x 106–8.9x106cfu/g) respectively. The Total Hydrocarbon Utilizing Bacterial Count for the A, B, C, and D treatment options increased from (4.2 x106 –7.6x106cfu/g), (4.2x106–8.0x106cfu/g), (4.2 x 106–8.5 x 106cfu/g) respectively and sample D control increased slightly (4.2x106–4.9x106). The Nitrate concentration increased from (0.04mg/kg to 0.11mg /kg). Phosphate concentration also increased from (1.72mg/kg to 5.72mg/kg). Percentage loss of total hydrocarbon for the three treatment options A, B and C at the end of 10 weeks were 29.3%, 44.13% and 68% respectively. From the results obtained it can be concluded that cow dung has demonstrated high potential in enhancing bioremediation of crude oil contaminated soil.

1. Aina E.O.A., Adedipe E. (2005): Making of the Nigeria Environmental Policy. Federal Environmental protection Agency, Lagos p.329
2. K.H. Baker, D. Herson, Biodegradation, 1st Edition, McGraw Hill Inc., New York, 1994, 9 – 60
3. Okolo, J.C., Amadi, E.N., Odu, C.T.I. (2005) Effects of Soil Treatments Containing Poultry Manure on Crude Oil Degradation in Sandy Loam Soil. Applied Ecology and Environmental Research, 3 (1): 47 – 53
4. U.J.J. Ijah, H. Safiyanu, O.P. Abioye, Science World Journal, (2008), 3 (2): 63 – 67
5. Nie M, Zhang X, Wang J, Jiang L, Yang J, Quan Z. (2009) Rhizosphere effects on soil bacterial abundance and diversity in the Yellow River Deltaic ecosystem as influenced by petroleum contamination and soil salinization. Soil Biology and Biochemistry,; 41(12): 2535-2542.
6. Rimmer D.L, Vizard C.G, Pless-Mulloli T, Singleton I, Air V.S, Keatinge Z.A.F. (2006) Metal contamination of urban soils in the vicinity of a municipal waste incinerator: One source among many. Science of The Total Environment, 356(1–3):207-216
7. Li X, Liu L, Wang Y, Luo G, Chen X, Yang X, (2013). Heavy metal contamination of urban soil in an old industrial city (Shenyang) in Northeast China. Geoderma,; 192: 50-58.
8. Ijiah U.J.J, Antai S.P (2003). The potential use of chicken dung microorganisms for oil spill remediation. The Environmentalist 23(1):89-95.
9. Oludele, O. E., Ogundele, D. T., Odeniyi, K., & Shoyode, O. (2019). Crude oil polluted soil remediation using poultry dung (chicken manure). African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 13(10), 402-409.
10. Basharudin H. Bioremediation of oil contaminated waste waster using mixed culture. Master Dissertation, Universiti Malaysia Pahang. 2008 Retrieved on April 12, 2011 from http://umpir.ump.edu.my/507/1/BIOREMEDIATION_OF_OIL_CONTAMINATED_WASTEWATER_USING_MIXED_CULTURE_THESIS.pdf
11. Agamuthu P, Tan Y.S., Fauziah S.H. (2013) Bioremediation of hydrocarbon contaminated soil using selected organic wastes, Procedia Environmental Sciences 18 ( 2013 ) 694 – 702
12. Ijah U.J.J, Safiyanu H. Microbial degradation of Escravos light crude oil in soil amended with chicken dropping and NPK fertilizer, 10th Annual Conference of Biotechnology Society of Nigeria, 2nd -5thApril 1997.
13. Lee K, Park JW, Ahn IS. (2003) Effect of additional carbon source on naphthalene biodegradation by Pseudomonas putida G7. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 105: 157–167.
14. Adesodun J.K, Mbagwu J.S.C. (2008) Biodegradation of waste lubricating petroleum oil in a tropical alfisol as mediated by animal droppings. Bioresource Technology, 99:5659-5665.