REMEDIATION OF CRUDE OIL POLLUTED SOIL USING TREATED BIOSOLID (SEWAGE SLUDGE)

This study examines the effect of processed biosolids in the remediation of crude oil contaminated soil. The remediation process was for varying quantities of processed biosolids. The experiment was carried out in Rivers Agricultural Research Institute (RIART) in Rivers State University, Nkpolu, Port-Harcourt. Soil samples with crude oil were in seven (7) reactors (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, T7) with three replications. The physiochemical properties of the initial soil conditions, processed biosolids Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K) were analyzed. The physiochemical properties of treated soil such as Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH), Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH), Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylene (BTEX), and Bacteria count were analyzed in the laboratory before and after treatment. The result revealed that the contaminated and uncontaminated soils, and biosolids were confirmed loamy sand and grit soils, respectively. The result also showed that the biosolids has high nutrient content of NPK value that is suitable for remediation of contaminated soil. The result similarly indicated that TPH, PAH and BTEX reduced significantly in all the treatment options at the end of the remediation period of 120days. TPH, PAH and BTEX percentage reductions were 99.38, 97.03, and 94.39%, respectively in all treatment options for the period of 120days. In addition, ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) result showed significant difference at 95% confidence levels. It is therefore recommended that the biosolids can be used for degradation of TPH, PAH, and BTEX in crude oil polluted soil.