Bioremediation of Crude Oil Contaminated Soils Using Surfactants and Hydrocarbonoclastic Bacteria

A study of the rate of crude oil remediation in soils with the application of surfactants and hydrocarbonoclastic bacterial population was undertaken. Locally sourced particulate surfactants (wood and palm bunch ashes) were compared with synthetic surfactant, Tween 80, and found to be more microbial friendly and efficient in contaminant removal from the soil. The microbial count recorded in biostimulated set up ranged from 2.08 x104 to 1.43 x107 cfu/g for wood ash; 2.08 x104 to 2.22 x107 cfu/g for palm fruit bunch ash while Tween 80 had a range of 2.08 x104 to 3.38 x107 cfu/g. The bioaugmented set up had microbial counts of 8.00 x103 to 2.50 x108 cfu/g with wood ash treatment; 9.90 x103 to 2.50 x108 cfu/g for palm fruit bunch ash treatment while Tween 80 recorded 1.00 x103 to 2.50 x108. The highest reduction of 94.54% was observed in bioaugmented soil treated with palm fruit bunch ash. While the control sample with indigenous population and no surfactant treatment had 36.32% reduction. Biosurfactant aided the utilization of the crude oil by hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria in the soil. Therefore, stakeholders in the oil and gas/petroleum energy sector should encourage the development of cheaper, safe and readily sourced remedial agents.