EFFECT OF Nypa fruticans ASH AND COW DUNG ON THE DEGRADATION OF HYDROCARBON POLLUTED SOIL

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ABSTRACT

The use of Nypa ash and cow dung for the remediation of crude oil polluted soil was determined at six replication levels (10g, 20g, and 30g) per 2kg soil at residual and cumulative treatment levels. Soil chemical properties were evaluated at six (6) weeks post treatment for residual experiment while the cumulative experiment was evaluated at six (6) weeks post treatment. Soil chemical property analysis indicated increase in soil organic matter with levels of treatment materials over time, soil total nitrogen was generally deficient in soil. However, there was improvement at the end of experimentation. Soil available phosphorus increased with treatment levels and was subsequently depleted in soil overtime. At the end of experimentation there was improvement in soil available phosphorous., Nitrogen was observed to narrow down over time in soils amended with Nypa ash and cow dung. Soil total hydrocarbon analysis indicated a significant reduction in treated soil at 20g and 30g/2kg treatment levels with reduction of total petroleum hydrocarbon content for residual treated soils while cumulative treatment indicated optimum significant reductions at 30g/2kg. The finding of the work shows that Nypa ash treated at the rate of 20g-30g/2kg soil is the optimum treatment for remediation while cumulative application would favour the three levels of amendment with 30g/2kg as optimum.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

COVER PAGE    i

TITLE PAGE       ii

DECLARATION iii

CERTIFICATION         i

DEDICATION     ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS     iii

ABSTRACT        iv

LIST OF TABLES         vii

LIST OF FIGURES       viii

CHAPTER ONE  1

INTRODUCTION         1

1.1     Background of the Study        1

1.2     Statement of the Problem        2

1.3     Aim and Objectives of the Study:     3

1.4     Significance of the Study         3

1.5     Scope of the Study        3

1.6     Limitation of the Study  4

1.7 Definition of Terms 4

CHAPTER TWO 5

2.0     Literature Review 5

2.1     Concept of Environmental Pollution 5

2.2     Hydrocarbon        6

2.3     Hydrocarbon contamination   6

2.3.1  Petroleum hydrocarbons         7

2.3.2  Phytoremediation 7

2.3.3 Soil Remediation Techniques  8

2.3.4 Nutrient Components of Soil  9

2.4     Bioremediation     12

2.5     Use of Cow Dong for Remediation   13

2.6     Nypa Palm 14

2.6.1  Nypa Fruticans in Niger Delta         15

2.6.2  Distribution of Nypa Fruticans in Niger Delta     16

2.7 Impact of Nypa frutican Ash on the reclamation of Contaminated Hydrocarbon   17

2.8     Reclamation of Cow Dung to Contaminated Hydrocarbon Polluted Site  17

CHAPTER THREE       20

MATERIALS AND METHOD         20

3.1     Study Area 20

3.2     Experimental Design     20

3.3     Sampling    20

3.4     Post Experiment Sampling      21

3.5     Laboratory Analysis      21

CHAPTER FOUR         23

4.0        RESULTS AND DISCUSSION     23

4.1     Results        23

4.1.2  Residual Treatment        23

4.1.3  Cumulative Treatment   23

4.1.4  Effect of Residual and Cumulative Treatment on Total Hydrocarbon Content    24

Figure 4.1 Hydrocarbon polluted soil treated with treated Nypa  ash        (Residual)   25

Figure 4.1 Hydrocarbon polluted soil treated with treated Nypa  ash and Cowdung (Cumulative)        26

4.2     Discussion  27

CHAPTER FIVE 31

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION    31

5.1     Conclusion 31

5.2     Recommendation 31

References  33

Appendix I 37

Appendix II          38

LIST OF TABLES

Table 4.1: Results of hydrocarbon polluted soil treated with treated Nypa ash   37

Table 4.2 Result of cumulative treatment of hydrocarbon polluted soil treated with treated Cowdung and Nypa ash          37

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 4.1 Hydrocarbon polluted soil treated with treated Nypa  ash        (Residual)   25

Figure 4.1 Hydrocarbon polluted soil treated with treated Nypa  ash and Cowdung (Cumulative)        26

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background of the Study

The word petroleum is derived from a Latin word Petroleum which means rock-oil. Petroleum (liquid)/oil consist of a mixture of liquid hydrocarbon compounds, these hydrocarbon compounds are made up of hydrogen and carbon in different proportions. Some other elements like sulphur, oxygen and nitrogen are also present in trace amount. The exploration and exploitation of oil stated in Oloibiiri the present day Bayelsa State. Since then, oil product have contributed in no small measure to the economic development of Nigeria (Gbosidom, 2015). The exploitation and exploitation of crude oil is concentrated in the Niger deltas were oil is found. Though the dollars generated from these activities are used for the benefit of Nigeria, the socio-economic and agricultural problems caused by oil pollution is suffered by the Niger Deltans. This single act has made the Niger Delta environment unhabitable and hostile for both plant, animal and the soil. The adverse effect of crude oil on the soil cannot be overemphasized as it decrease the Nitrogen and Phosphorus content of the soil, it also provide the soil with excessive hydrocarbons (Baker and Herson, 2000). To support the above view, Benson, Ochekwu and Tanee (2016) that, due to the great number of sources        and environmentally hazardous chemical composition of these contaminants, implementation  of  innovative treatment processes  for  contaminated  soil  remediation  is  a  matter  of pressing concern.

Therefore the need for approaches and methods to restore and stimulates hydrogen polluted soil. In Nigeria several methods have been employed in the remediation of polluted soil (Okoh , 2016). The physical, chemical and biological method has frequently been used. However, the biological method has been applauded for its availability, cost effectiveness, safety to the ecosystem and environment to amend the soil for human and agricultural purpose. This method entails the use of manure as well as plant as a means of improving soil fertility. The effectiveness however has been conflicting due to the heterogeneous nature of soil and crude oil as well as possible interaction between the soil options, presence of soil micro-organisms and natural soil constituent (Leahy and Colwell, 1990). The effectiveness of each treatment in any soil therefore needs to be evaluated. This study examine the effect of Nypa Fruticans ash and Cow dungs on the degradation of hydrocarbon polluted soil.

1.2     Statement of the Problem

Crude oil polluted soil has been reported to have little agricultural yields. Crude oil spillage makes the soil unsuitable for agricultural production. The persistent and harmful effect of crude oil on the soil has called for remediation measure to retain the soil nutrient. Biostimulation is an effective measures because it is less expensive and environmentally friendly when compared to other remediation measures. This method has proven to improve soil texture and structure as well as maintaining an adequate amount of organic matter (Powel et al ,1998; lkpe and Powel, 2002). The use of animal waste as a remediation agent has been studied by different scholars (Njoku et al, 2008). Amadi and Uebari (1992) and Ogboghodo et al. (2004) studied the use of poultry dung as a remediating agent to improve soil fertility and the growth of maize. However, the use of cow dung, and other bio- stimulants have been studied but little or no attention has been given to the combination of these treatments on the remediation of degradated soil. It is based on the above that this study examine the effect of Nypa Fruticans ash and cow dung on the degradation of hydrocarbon polluted soil.

1.3     Aim and Objectives of the Study:

The aim of this study is to examine effect of Nypa frutican Ash and Cowdungs on the degradation of hydrogen polluted soil.

The specific objectives of this study are:

1.       To collect soil samples from post oil spill sites.

2.       To treat 2kg Hydrocarbon polluted soils at 10g, 20g, 30g   of Nypa Fruticans ash.

3.       To examine the combine effect of Nypa Fruticans ash and cow dung treatment at 10:10g, 20:20g  and 30:30g on 2kg of hydrocarbon polluted soil.

4.       To evaluate THC, N, P, OM on pre and post treated soils

1.4     Significance of the Study

Findings of this study will add to the existing knowledge on bioremediation process especially the combine effect of Cowdungs and Nypa Fruticans on remediation. The study will provide an alternative measure for remediation against the chemical methods which are not environmentally friendly.

Findings will serve as a bench mark for other related studies in the field of remediation.

1.5     Scope of the Study

The study is limited in scope to the examination of the effect of cowdungs and Nypa Fruticans in the degradation of hydrogen polluted soil.

Geographically, this study will be limited to Obiakpor Local Government Area in Rukpokwu from where sample of hydrocarbon polluted soil will be taken, for laboratory test to enable the researcher make inferences on the result of the analysis.

1.6     Limitation of the Study

This study was limited by short time duration for effective work.  A research of this magnitude requires money to execute it, but the researcher was with minimal amount of fund within her reach.

Finally, the researcher also encountered some problems in the process of getting the same and adequate equipment for the research. This study was conducted ex situ in a laboratory setup and sample size collected was rather small due to logistic problems associated with managing larger quantities of contaminated soil sample, this prevented a more detailed insight to the problem.

1.7 Definition of Terms

Bioremediation: This is an approach that facilitates the natural biodegradation process of hydrocarbons through the provision of nutrients and oxygen required by microbes.

Remediation: this is the process of returning soil, water or air functionality that existed prior to contamination.

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