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Abstract
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Article Information:
Assessing the Effectiveness of Land farming in the Remediation of Hydrocarbon Polluted Soils in the Niger Delta, Nigeria
P.C. Mmom and T. Deekor
Corresponding Author: Mmom Prince Chinedu
Submitted: 2010 August, 11
Accepted: 2010 September, 13
Published: 2010 October, 25 |
Abstract:
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Hydrocarbons pollution of soils has constituted environmental issues over the years. The biggest
concern associated w ith hydrocarbon pollution in the environment is the risk to farmlands, fisheries and potable
water supplies contamination. Several remediation techniques exist (Bioremediation and Non-bioremediation),
which aim at reducing the hydrocarbon content of the polluted soil and water with their varying degrees of
success. Thus land farming, one of the bioremediation remediation techniques is view ed as a more viable
remediation options for hydrocarbon polluted soils. The study therefore was instituted to assess the
effectiveness of land farming (Enhanced Natural Attenuation) in the remediation of hydrocarbon polluted sites
in the Niger Delta. Soil samples from ten (10) sites polluted and remediated sites in the Niger Delta; that is five
(5) samples each from the swampy and well drained sites and subjected to Laboratory analysis. The results were
further analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistical tools of percentages, regression analysis and
student t-test. The results of the soil analysis show 14.54 to 82.24% and 16.01 to 50.54% reductions in the TPH
and PAH concentrations after land farming respectively. This shows high level of efficacy in the use of the
Land farming as remediation technique. However, the efficacy varied between the swampy and well drained
soils; reductions in the hydrocarbon levels of the soils in the water-logged or swamp areas were lower and
slower than that of the well drained soils. This shows that the soil microbes were able to degrade the
hydrocarbons faster in the well-drained soil probably because of the favourable soil conditions like pH,
moisture, and nutrient. To ameliorate this problem, more effective way of bio-remediation for swamp area
should be pursued like phyto-remediation; this is the use of higher plants to enhance the remediation of soils
contaminated with recalcitrant organic compounds.
Key words: Hydrocarbons pollution, land farming, Niger Delta, Polycyclic, Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH),, remediation, Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH),
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Cite this Reference:
P.C. Mmom and T. Deekor, . Assessing the Effectiveness of Land farming in the Remediation of Hydrocarbon Polluted Soils in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. Research Journal of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology, (7): Page No: 654-660.
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ISSN (Online): 2040-7467
ISSN (Print): 2040-7459 |
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