Biofacilitation Potential of Sawdust on Landfarming of Petroleum Hydrocarbons Polluted Soils

Abstract

S. U. Oghoje*, C. Ejeomo, U. Ugbune , J. E. Ukpebor , A. K Asiagwu and E. E. Ukpebor

The purpose of this study is to reveal the biofacilitation potentials of green biomass (GB) using dried and sieved sawdust (DSS) as a typical type. The effects of the DSS on water retention capacity (WRC), leaching of diesel range organics (DROs) and landfarming of 5% diesel-spiked soils were investigated according to standard methods and procedures. Hydrocarbon analyses were carried out according to USEPA recommendations using GM-MS. The results showed that green biomass could increase the WRC of oil-contaminated soils significantly. For instance, 2.5, 5 and 10 % DSS composting of 5 % diesel-contaminated soil increased its WRC by about 35, 36 and 45 % respectively as compared to the control which was 34 % and for 10 % pollution, the effects were 31, 33, and 40 % respectively as against the control soil whose WRC was about 30 % which reveals that the higher the degree of pollution, the more the relative effects of GBM on the WRC of the polluted soils. Also, the different levels of composting reduced the leaching of the DROs by about 43, 51, and 74 % respectively. Furthermore, the weather-moist DSS was found to contain 3.5 x 104 and 4.0 x104 cfu of hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria and fungi respectively and 5 and 10 % of the GBM promoted the total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) removal by 47 and 52 % respectively in 56 days. The various results have revealed that DSS (And by extension all GBM) could ease the accessibility of soil pollutants by soil biodegrades and hence, optimise the bioremediation of oils polluted soils.