ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Enhancing petroleum-contaminated soil remediation using pulverized rice straw

S. U. Oghoje, I. C. Omoruyi, C. Ejeomo, I. H. Ifijen, J. E. Ukpebor, A. K. Asiagwu, E. E. Ukpebor, and E. U. Ikhuoria

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria

E-mail: oghojesteve@yahoo.com

Received: 13 October 2023  Accepted: 21 March 2024

Abstract:

This study investigated the effect of pulverized rice straws (PRS, Oryza sativa) on the water retention capacity (WRC) of diesel-contaminated soils and the leaching of diesel-range organics (DROs). Diesel contamination at levels of 5, 10, and 15% reduced the WRC by ~ 6, 11, and 26%, respectively. However, adding PRS to 15% diesel-contaminated soils improved the WRC by ~ 18, 31, 53, and 75% for PRS concentrations of 1, 2.5, 5, and 10%, respectively. Furthermore, PRS concentrations of 2.5, 5, and 10% decreased the DROs leaching from 20% diesel-contaminated soil by 34, 75, and 100%, respectively. The findings of this study indicate that composting with PRS enhances WRC and significantly reduces contamination leaching in oil-contaminated soils. This suggests that PRS and similar green composts could optimize landfarming of organically contaminated soils, offering an innovative approach to repurposing waste plant biomass.

Keywords: Pulverized rice straw; Improved landfarming; Petroleum hydrocarbons; Contaminated soil

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-024-03439-w

Chemical Papers 78 (8) 4909–4918 (2024)