Ex-situmycoremediation of petroleum polluted soils in Ogoniland, Nigeria

Abstract

AbstractThe study investigated the mycoremediation oil-polluted soil from Ogoniland (at the B-dere/Nabem community).The mushroom,Pleurotus tuberregiumwas exposed to this soil as principal remediation component.While the fungus grew undisturbed, weeds were also allowed to grow from soil seed bank.Dominant weeds identified in the study includeMariscus sp, Pepperomia pellucida, Synedrella nodiflora, Cyperussp., andOldenlandia corymbosa. Survival and growth of microorganisms in the polluted soils were monitored.Bacterial species identified wereEscherichia coli, Micrococcus varians, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P. vulgaris, Bacillus pumilis, Clostridum sp.,Klebsiellasp., andAzotobactersp. The fungi species includedMucormucedo, Aspergillussp.,Penicillinsp.,Rhizopussp.,Trichoderma harzianum, andFusarium solani. The degradation of the petroleum pollutant wasmonitored through laboratory determination using the Gas Liquid Chromatographic methods. The determinations showed the gradual but steady decline in the concentration of the petroleum hydrocarbon pollutants in the Ogoni soil within the 4-month observation period. Significant reduction in heavy metal concentration of the soils was also evidenced.