Evaluation Of Remediation Potentials Of Cassava And Orange Peels On Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons And Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons Contents In Crude Oil - Contaminated Soils

Crude oil pollution is a serious challenge in Nigeria especially in Niger Delta area. There is, therefore, a need to source an affordable method that is eco-friendly for remediating these polluted soils. The study investigated the use of cassava peel waste, orange peel waste, and mixture of cassava and orange peels as a bio stimulating agent in bioremediation of crude oil polluted soil. Treatments were as follows, NCS: Non contaminated soil to serve as Control, COS: Contaminated soil without treatment to serve as Control, CSC: Contaminated soil with cassava peel treatment, CSO: Contaminated soil with orange peels treatment, CSC+ CSO: Contaminated soil with mixed waste treatment. Total organic carbon, total petroleum hydrocarbon, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon content, in soil were monitored at 0, 2, 4 and 6 weeks. Results showed that TPH and PAH in the soil after 4 weeks were as follows, CSC (2605.0 and 0.1100mg/kg), CSO (2429.2 and 0.2000mg/kg) and CSC+ CSO (1824.4 and 0.1667mg/kg), respectively. This result proves that cassava peel waste, orange peels and mixture of cassava and orange peels are effective bio-stimulating agent in crude oil degradation especially at the mixture at 4 weeks compared to other treatment options hence providing an alternative for the remediation of crude oilpolluted soil, especially in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria.