Concentrations of heavy metals in untreated produced water from a crude oil production platform in Niger-delta, Nigeria

The various stages of petroleum industrial activities are linked with at least a by-product, residue or waste. One of such is an effluent from the mining of crude oil and gas, known as produced water, which contains varying quantities of hydrocarbons and heavy metals, thereby making it to require proper treatment in order to reduce the contaminants load to acceptable levels before being discharged into the environment. However, there are reports that this by-product is sometimes discharged untreated into Nigeria’s coastal waters. This study was therefore carried out in order to contribute to efforts at sensitising the various stakeholders concerning this challenge. In carrying out this study, samples of untreated produced water were obtained from a crude oil production platform in Rivers State, Nigeria, using chemically clean amber glass bottles, properly covered with Teflon-lined lids to prevent contamination, transferred to the laboratory in ice boxes, and subjected to atomic absorption spectroscopy for heavy metals detection and quantification in line with standard laboratory procedures. Results showed that the following detected heavy metal ions i.e., Iron, Copper, Manganese, Cadmium, Lead, Nickel and Chromium had mean concentrations, in mglitre-1, of 3.9, 2.5, 2.4, 2.7, 1.4, 2.6 and 1.2 respectively. These values were comparatively higher than the documented required limit for these metals in drinking water and effluent to be discharged into inland water. The prescribed limits for drinking water by World Health Organization (mglitre-1) are as follows: Fe (2.0), Cu (2.0), Mn (0.4), Cd (0.003), Pb (0.01), Ni (0.07) and Cr (0.05).Key words: Coastal pollution, Produced water, Toxic metals, Crude oil, Petroleum ga

Assessment of In-Situ Natural Dendroremediation Capability of Rhizophora racemosa in a Heavy Metal Polluted Mangrove Forest, Rivers State, Nigeria

Environmental pollution is assuming frightening dimensions in many parts of the world. This is not excluding Niger-Delta region of Nigeria where most of the countryfs oil and gas are sourced with attendant production of noxious substances as byproducts/residues/waste. Many of these noxious substances have been noted to be removable from polluted environment through proper application of phytoremediation techniques, particularly using native plant species. Consequently, this research was conceived to evaluate potentials for phytomediation by native red mangrove tree (Rhizophora racemosa G.F.W. Meyer). This was carried out by evaluating the presence of heavy metals ions and their bioconcentration levels in the samples of root and wood tissues axially along the stem of this tree. The sorrounding soil and water were also sampled and evaluated for presence and concentration of these metal ions in comparison with those for the sampled plant tissues. All the samples were sourced from a mangrove forest in Okrika, Rivers State, Nigeria. The samples from the root, butt, 50% and 90% bole length were oven-dried at 60}5oC to constant weight, pulverised and heated with trioxonitrate (v) acid to achieve total dissolution before subjecting them to atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Similarly, samples from sorrouding soil were dried at 35}2oC to constant weight, crushed and sieved using a . 2mm mesh before performing metal  extraction and detection using AAS while water samples were also subjected to AAS for heavy metal analyses, in line with appropriate standard  methods. The data obtained were statistically analysed using basic descriptive tools, Analyses of Variance and Fishersf Least Significant Difference (P < 0.05). Outcomes of these statistical analyses showed that, in terms of bio-concentration values, the evaluated metal ions thatinclude Fe, Cu, Mn, Cd, Pb, Ni and Cr were more in the root than the surrounding soil and water. The bio-concentration trends, for the metal ions, also progressively declined from the root towards the crown of the trees. The bio-concentration distribution in all the tree sections showed an inconsistent pattern with Fe ions having higher bio-concentration. In addition, Cr, Ni, Pd and Cu also inconsistently followed Fe in terms of bio-concentration level. c JASE

Assessment of <i>In-Situ</i> Natural Dendroremediation Capability of <i>Rhizophora racemosa</i> in a Heavy Metal Polluted Mangrove Forest, Rivers State, Nigeria

Environmental pollution is assuming frightening dimensions in many parts of the world. This is not excluding Niger-Delta region of Nigeria where most of the countryfs oil and gas are sourced with attendant production of noxious substances as byproducts/residues/waste. Many of these noxious substances have been noted to be removable from polluted environment through proper application of phytoremediation techniques, particularly using native plant species. Consequently, this research was conceived to evaluate potentials for phytomediation by native red mangrove tree (Rhizophora racemosa G.F.W. Meyer). This was carried out by evaluating the presence of heavy metals ions and their bioconcentration levels in the samples of root and wood tissues axially along the stem of this tree. The sorrounding soil and water were also sampled and evaluated for presence and concentration of these metal ions in comparison with those for the sampled plant tissues. All the samples were sourced from a mangrove forest in Okrika, Rivers State, Nigeria. The samples from the root, butt, 50% and 90% bole length were oven-dried at 60}5oC to constant weight, pulverised and heated with trioxonitrate (v) acid to achieve total dissolution before subjecting them to atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Similarly, samples from sorrouding soil were dried at 35}2oC to constant weight, crushed and sieved using a . 2mm mesh before performing metal  extraction and detection using AAS while water samples were also subjected to AAS for heavy metal analyses, in line with appropriate standard  methods. The data obtained were statistically analysed using basic descriptive tools, Analyses of Variance and Fishersf Least Significant Difference (P &lt; 0.05). Outcomes of these statistical analyses showed that, in terms of bio-concentration values, the evaluated metal ions thatinclude Fe, Cu, Mn, Cd, Pb, Ni and Cr were more in the root than the surrounding soil and water. The bio-concentration trends, for the metal ions, also progressively declined from the root towards the crown of the trees. The bio-concentration distribution in all the tree sections showed an inconsistent pattern with Fe ions having higher bio-concentration. In addition, Cr, Ni, Pd and Cu also inconsistently followed Fe in terms of bio-concentration level. c JASE

Weight loss in bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris) treated with neem seed oil (nso)

Realising maximum benefits from bamboo culms in Nigeria and other developing countries are presently constrained by their almost non-acceptance for application in structural and construction purposes owing to their susceptibility to biodegradation. Therefore, there is the need for value-addition to these culms using low cost preservatives, particularly the environmentally benign ones, in order to ensure sustainable utilisation. Split-bamboo samples conditioned to 11.76% moisture content were converted to test specimens for Percentage Weight Loss (PWL) and treated with mechanically extracted neem seed oil at two different treatment temperature regimes by completely soaking a set in oil at ambient room temperature of 25 ± 2oC for 24 hours and soaking the other in hot oil at 60oC for 4 hours with untreated samples serving as control. The oil-treated and control samples were initially weighed and inoculated with cultured P. sanguineus and monitored in an incubating room maintained at ambient temperature of 25 ± 2oC and 65 ± 5% relative humidity for 84 days. After the 84 days incubation period, the test specimens were then reweighed and the PWL determined. Results obtained showed that mean values for PWL was highest for those obtained for control samples, lower for samples soaked in oil at 25 ± 2oC for 24 hours and lowest for samples soaked in oil at 60oC for 4 hours.Keywords: Bamboo, Neem, Oil-treatment, Basidiomycetes, Environment, Weight los

Phytoremediation: an alternative tool towards clean and green environment

Wetlands being the most productive and ecologically sensitive and adaptive ecosystems are constantly being challenged with anthropogenic pressures due to their wide variety of services they provide to mankind. The vast expansions of human population and associated activities have put a tremendous amount of pressure on these naturally occurring resources. Uncontrolled discharge of effluents in water from various sources resulted into altered nature of the associated ecosystems giving rise to several health issues and problems. Hence, realising the urgent need of protecting these ecologically fragile ecosystems several adaptive measures have been taken. In this connection, it is found that the available conventional methods are not feasible on various grounds like their cost, their by-products, time frame, etc. Therefore, the use of plants emerged as the alternative and promising tool for safe and sustainable ecosystem supporting life.Sandhya Misra, and Krishna G. Misra

Generic and Advanced Characterization Techniques

International audienceNowadays, the valorization of biomass, biowastes and by-products is among the key issue to be considered in the development of renewable energies from bioresources. Accurate analysis and characterization of these feedstocks is a crucial aspect in the understanding of their behaviour for further use. This chapter is focused on different characterization techniques which are commonly used up-to-date. They are classified in different categories: Sampling and storage; Proximate analysis; Ultimate analysis; Thermal analysis, Physical characterizations; Physico-chemical characterizations; Structural and textural characterizations; and Mechanical characterizations. For each of them, a general description of the technique is presented, followed by useful information on machines and experimental conditions such as sample preparation, sample pre-treatment, gas atmosphere, temperature program etc. Finally, examples, results treatment and exploitations will be provided to illustrate. This chapter provides an insight on generic and advanced characterization techniques for complex materials, such as biomass, biowastes and related bio-products, that will be again discussed along the handbook in the other chapters