Petroleum Hydrocarbon Underground Water Bioremediation Using Direct Application Technique, Of A Bionutrient: A Niger Delta Case

Research Article
Ohia, Nnaemeka and Iyiegbu, Hillary
DOI: 
xxx-xxxxx-xxxx
Subject: 
science
KeyWords: 
Direct application technique;Finger printing; gas chromatography; bioremediation; bionutrients; persulphate oxidant; Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylenes (BTEX); Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon and Below detection limit (BDL).
Abstract: 

Operational and accidental spill of petroleum hydrocarbon and pollution of the ecosystem by the activities of the oil and gas industries cannot be over emphasized. The underground water has become the ultimate sink for most petroleum contaminants, such as Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylenes (BTEX); Aliphatic and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). These compounds degrade the quality of the underground water, and have become a serious environmental concern. This study presents the use of direct application technique, over an activated persulfate oxidant (bionutrient) as an underground water bioremediation technique that may be employed in a variety of contaminated site or underground water bioremediation programs. This technique possess theability to biodegrade significantly, the petroleum hydrocarbon contaminants fast and cost effectively. Underground water samples were collected from contaminated site, a set of physical, chemical and biological laboratory based analysis were carried out before and after remediation. After the remediation by direct application technique, a significant reduction of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH), and BTEX profilewas observed in the contaminated underground water to be below DPR intervention value and detection limit respectively. Gas chromatography fingerprints showing the peak of individual organic compounds were as well obtained for BTEX and TPH respectively.