Environmental & Analytical Toxicology

Mineral and Heavy Metal Composition of Crude Oil Polluted Soil Amended with Non-Ionic Surfactant (Triton X-100) and White Rot Fungus (Pleurotus ostratus)

Abstract

Anacletus FC, Nwauche KT and Ighorodje-Monago CC

The ability of the macro-fungus, Pleurotus ostreatus and non-ionic surfactant (Triton X-100) to degrade crude oil in crude oil polluted soil was investigated with a view to ascertain their efficacy in reducing the toxicity of polluted ecosystem. Crude oil polluted soil samples (2000 g) contained in polypropylene bags (20 cm diameter x 20 cm height) were inoculated with P. ostreatus mycelium and triton x-100 and incubated at 28 to 30°C for 60 days. Crude oil polluted soil samples were analyzed before inoculation and incubation and they served as the control. In all the heavy metals quantified (Pb, Cu, Mn, Cd and Ni), there is a significant difference at P ≤ 0.05 when all the amended cells (B to D) are compared with the control cell (A). For Pb, the concentration of all the cells amended significantly reduced with cells C (PSS+Triton x-100) having the lowest concentration of 1.52 ± 0.02 when compared with the control cell (11.31 ± 0.15). For Cu, Cd and Ni, all the amended cells were seen to be reduced in their concentrations when compared with the concentration of the control sample. For Mn, the concentrations of the amended cells were seen to be high when compared with the concentration of the control sample. For all the mineral elements analyzed (Ca, Mg, Na and K), there is a significant difference at P ≤ 0.05 when all the amended cells (B to D) are compared with the control cell (A). For Ca, there was a significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) when cell A is compared with other cells. Highest reduction in Ca level was seen in cell D (PSS+Pleurotus ostreatus+Triton X-100) with the value of 88.28 ± 2.72. For Mg, all the amended cells were seen to have a significant increase in their values when compared with the control sample (271.15 ± 0.45). For Na and K, only cell B had the highest value of 90.18 ± 0.73 for Na and 371.54 ± 2.26 for K. Cell C was observed to be slightly reduced for Na while cell C and D were also seen to be reduced for K. These results showed that white rot fungus (P. ostreatus) and triton x-100 were able to degrade the polluting oil and as such may be suitable for remediating crude oil polluted soil.