Journal
INTERNATIONAL BIODETERIORATION & BIODEGRADATION
Volume 98, Issue -, Pages 113-120Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.ibiod.2014.11.019
Keywords
Petroleum hydrocarbons; Normal-paraffin; Poly-aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); Sulfur; Degradation rate; Bioremediation; Arid land soils
Funding
- Deanship of Scientific Research at King Saud University [RGP-VPP-175]
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The ability of Bassia scoparia (L) A.J. Scott to remediate petroleum-contaminated arid land sandy soil was studied with natural and sterilized soils, and with supplemental nutrients and water. The species showed good tolerance of petroleum hydrocarbons (PHs) in soils reaching 2-3% (oil:soil by mass) pollution levels. After five months of phytoremediation, the average degradation rate of petroleum hydrocarbons ranged between 31.2 +/- 1.15-57.7 +/- 1.29% for natural soil and 28.7 +/- 1.04-51.1 +/- 1.53% for pre-sterilized soil. The highest breakdown of PHs for both saturated and poly-aromatic fractions was achieved when plants were present. Changes in saturated and aromatic fractions were monitored and measured using gas chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography. Moderate concentrations of PHs activated specialized oil-degrading microorganisms which in turn promoted the efficiency of phytoremediation. Polluted soils planted with B. scoparia also showed a significant reduction in sulfur levels. The potential demonstrated for remediation of petroleum hydrocarbons and sulfur by B. scoparia suggests it may be a useful tool for remediation of arid land soils contaminated with crude oil. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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