PHYSICOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF PETROLEUM CONTAMINATED SOIL FROM ELEME, PORT-HARCOURT
SOURCE:
Faculty: Physical Sciences
Department: Pure And Industrial Chemistry
CONTRIBUTORS:
Ojukwu U. P.
Eboatu, A.N.
Okoye, P. A. C.
ABSTRACT:
Oil spillage and its attendant problems pose great threat to governments and the people directly affected. Pollution of soil, surface and groundwater from oil spillage has been reported. Both inorganic and organic matter affect soil’s physical, chemical and biological properties. In view of these it became necessary to assess the physicochemical properties, organic substances and heavy metals in petroleum contaminated soils. To analyse and control this problem, pollution of petroleum contaminated soil was investigated by collecting representative samples of soil from around crude oil storage tanks at Eleme Petroleum Refinery Port-Harcourt and from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (control). The samples were analyzed for pH, colour, bulk density, texture, moisture content, water holding capacity, organic matter, organic carbon, organic nitrogen, total petroleum hydrocarbon, benzene, phenol, oil and grease according to standard methods of soil analysis and AOAC Method . Results obtained show higher levels of organic matter (18.41%-26.02%), total petroleum hydrocarbon (148.7637-626.4060mg/kg), benzene (0.2002-1.0293mg/kg), phenol (0.7285-1.8397mg/kg), oil and grease (10.711%-20.899%) for petroleum contaminated soil than non petroleum contaminated soil (control). The results of the metals were within the range of soil quality standards. Also comparison of the results obtained with that reported from sampling in unpolluted area and NESREA Draft Effluent Standards for Petroleum Based & Allied Chemical Industries , showed that there was significant level of pollution in the sampled areas at p = 0.05. This was confirmed by statistical analysis using ANOVA. Best oil adsorption result was obtained by the finest particle of 0.425mm.The adsorption values of this particle size ranged from 3.15g/g to 3.68g/g. These investigations indicate that petroleum prospecting and processing has the ability to pollute an environment. However, use of adequate adsorption material could remedy the problem.