Enhanced Degradation of Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Corn-Steep-Liquor-Treated Soil Microcosm
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Date
2015-06
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Taylor and Francis: Soil and Sediment Contamination: An International Journal
Abstract
The efficiency of corn steep liquor (CSL) as a potential stimulant for remediation of
hydrocarbon-contaminated soil was evaluated in soil microcosms. Chronically
polluted soil samples treated with CSL, water, and un untreated control were
compared over a period of 42 days. There were remarkable changes in the
physicochemical status of the soil in the CSL-treated set-up with noticeable utilization
of essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Percentage
hydrocarbon utilizers showed a concomitant increase with hydrocarbon utilization in
CSL-treated (0.05–0.16%) and water-treated (0.02–0.12%) set-ups, while no
significant changes occurred in the untreated control. Gas chromatographic
fingerprints showed complete disappearance of the lower-fraction alkanes C7, C8, C9,
and C11 within 21 days, as well as some higher fractions, significantly C16 and C29, in
the CSL-treated set-up. In the CSL-treated set-up, 77.9% of hydrocarbon was
degraded, while the corresponding values for the water-treated and untreated control
were 40.55 and 30.6%, respectively. The percentage aliphatic components degraded
differed significantly in the CSL-treated, water-treated, and untreated set-ups. The n-
C17/pristane and n-C18/phytane ratios in the CSL-treated set-up were 1.298 and
1.153, respectively, on day 0, but at the end of the treatability period, the values had
dropped drastically to 0.182 and 0.585, respectively. The results of this study show
that corn steep liquor is a potential material for bioremediation of hydrocarbonpolluted
sites.
Description
Staff Publication
Keywords
Biodegradation,, bioremediation,, petroleum,, corn steep liquor
Citation
Oluwafemi S. Obayori, Lateef B. Salam, Wusamot T. Anifowoshe, Zainab M. Odunewu, Odunayo E. Amosu & Bukola E. Ofulue (2015) Enhanced Degradation of Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Corn-Steep-Liquor-Treated Soil Microcosm, Soil and Sediment Contamination: An International Journal, 24:7, 731-743, DOI: 10.1080/15320383.2015.1020409