Integration of Fermented Fresh Water System with Moringa Roots for Remediation of Contaminated Loamy Soil

Abstract

The biodegradability of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) in loamy soil amended using moringa root extracts was investigated in this study. The moringa roots were soaked separately into predetermined volume of water to extract liquids from the roots. The solution of moringa in water extract was then used as treatment to remediate crude oil polluted loamy soil. The physicochemical properties of the loamy soil before pollution, after pollution and at the 84^th day of treatment were determined, while analysis for the total bacteria count and TPH were carried out for 84 days at 14 days interval. Density, electrical conductivity (EC), moisture content (MC), total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN) and phosphorus (P) in the soils increased after pollution, except for pH, which was the opposite. However, density, EC, MC, TOC, TN and P decreased remarkably with time under treatment, while pH increased from acidity to neutrality after the treatments.The total bacteria count increased across the soils with treatments up to the 56^th day of analysis, but declined gradually thereafter due to depletion of the nutrients in the soils. Sandy soil has the highest growth of bacteria and least in silt soil for all the treatment formulations. The degadation of TPH in the loamy soil decreased across the loamy soil of different dosages, but higher in the loamy soil with treatment. However, TPH removal was higher with treatment in water solution. The TPH degradation percentages at the 84^th day were 94.69%, 89.84%, for MW-600, NW-600in loamy soil.

Keywords: Remediation, contamination, loamy soil, integration, fermented solution, moringa roots.