No abstract

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the suitability of Axonopus compressus for the removal of petroleum hydrocarbons from contaminated soil. An experiment was conducted with crude oil contaminated soil to evaluate the degradation of this crude oil in pots in the presence of A. compressus for 360 days. Study of the degradation of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH), its accumulation in roots and shoots, plant growth and biomass production and most probable number (MPN) was conducted at 60 day intervals.

The aim of this study was to degrade total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) in a petroleum sludge contaminated site (initial TPH concentration of 65,000-75,000 mg kg(-1)) with two native sedge species namely Cyperus rotundus (Linn.) and Cyperus brevifolius (Rottb.) Hassk. Fertilized and unfertilized treatments were maintained separately to record the influence of fertilizer in TPH degradation. The average biomass production (twenty plants from each treatment) of C. rotundus was 345.5 g and that of C. brevifolius was 250.6 g in fertilized soil during 360 days. Decrease in soil TPH concentration was higher in fertilized soil (75% for C. rotundus and 64% for C. brevifolius) than in unfertilized soil (36% for C. rotundus and 32% for C. brevifolius). In unvegetated treatments, decrease in soil TPH concentration in fertilized (12%) and unfertilized soil (8%) can be attributed to natural attenuation and microbial degradation. TPH accumulation in roots and shoots was significantly higher in fertilized soil in comparison to unfertilized soils (p < 0.05). Most probable number (MPN) in planted treatments was significantly higher than in unplanted treatments (p < 0.05).

BACKGROUND: Contamination of soil and sediments with petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs) is a serious global problem and environmental concern. Therefore, remediation of soil, water, and sediments is a great challenge for research in this field. This study aims to use two types of sedge species, Cyperus odoratus L. and Cyperus laevigatus L. for phytoremediation of crude oil contaminated soil. The study includes the evaluation of plant height, root length, total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) degradation in soil, TPH accumulation in plants grown in fertilized and unfertilized pots and most probable number (MPN).

No abstract