Physicochemical Characterization of a liquid Effluent from a Refinery

The physicochemical profile of wastewater from a Refinery in the Niger Delta was evaluated to ascertain efficiency of wastewater treatment methods applied using standard analytical methods. In all samples, temperature ranged between 26.45 – 28.65 º C while the pH values of the untreated and treated wastewater samples were 8.39 ± 0.04 and 7. 82 ± 0.02 respectively. Total dissolved solids and observed total hydrocarbon levels gave maximum values of 172 mg/L and 11.35 mg/L respectively. The turbidity values for untreated and treated wastewater samples were 7.55 ± 0.08 and 3.49 ± 0.01 NTU respectively. The results revealed that the untreated wastewater sample had a higher concentration of phenol (28.46 ± 1.23) when compared to those (9.34 ± 0.89) of the treated wastewater sample while the cyanide content was relatively higher when compared to the limits set by World Health Organization for such effluents. Although substantial improvements were obvious in some water quality indices with treatment, high concentration of major effluent pollutants, phenol and total hydrocarbon content in the treated wastewater is indication of ineptitude in the effluent management system and calls for immediate intervention Keywords: Refinery effluent; Water treatment; Contaminants in wastewater; Water quality

Evaluation of soil microbial communities as influenced by crude oil pollution

Impact of petroleum pollution in a vulnerable Niger Delta ecosystem was investigated to assess interactions in a first-generation phytoremediation site of a crude oil freshly-spilled agricultural soil. Community-level approach for assessing patterns of sole carbon-source utilization by mixed microbial samples was employed to differentiate spatial and temporal changes in the soil microbial communities. Genetic diversity and phenotypic expressions were measured for a more holistic perspective. The 5’-terminal restriction fragments generated after Csp digestion of 16S rRNA gene correlated with observed DNA concentrations in the community profile and revealed loss of diversity with pollution. Crude oil pollution significantly reduced phosphomonoesterases and respiratory activities and values were pH dependent. There were no expressed dehydrogenases activity in initial spill site but were enhanced with phytoremediation. Factor analysis of predictors and independent variables indicates that respiratory, alkaline phosphatase and â-glucosidase activities could be used to explain underlying factors. Positive soil – microbes - plant interactions were observed.Key words: Species diversity, impact of crude oil pollution, soil – biota interactions, ecosystem monitoring, genetic diversity

Performance and risk assessment of Bambara beans grown on petroleum contaminated soil and the biostimulation implications

The potential of Vigna subterranean commonly called Bambara beans for phytoextraction of copper in a crude oil contaminated soil was investigated. The contamination levels of crude oil in the soil for this pot experiment were 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10% (w/v). Amendments were added to increase the uptake and translocation of metal to aerial biomass. A range of amendments was tested for copper uptake enhancement with V. subterranean commonly called Bambara beans. Safe levels of exposure to contaminants were further investigated using albino Wistar rats for 28 feeding trial days to trace inherent biomagnifications. Bambara beans extracted up to 88.88 and 43.38 mg/kg into its shoot and root respectively at 10% contaminant dose while achieving 63.17% Cu removal unamended. Poultry manure was the most effective amendment for enhancing copper uptake and translocation into the shoots of Bambara beans with shoot tissue copper levels of 118.13 mg/kg compared to 98.25 and 93 mg/kg obtained for NPK and UREA amendments. 79.28, 70.07 and 70.99% Cu removal was achieved with poultry manure, NPK and UREA amendment respectively. An assay was carried out with animals on inherent biomagnifications. The results showed that the performance of rats fed diets formulated from contaminated soil differed significantly (P > 0.05) from those of the controls used. Hazard characterization revealed negative effects of potentially toxic copper on organ weight, optimum digestibility and animal growth rate. Weight of pancreas showed pancreatic hypertrophy in rats adapted to diets, which contain higher levels of contaminants compared to controls

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and some Trace metals in Yam, Cassava, Orange and Papaya from two Oil and Gas Flaring Impacted Communities in Southern Nigeria

The present investigation provides data on the levels of PAHs and trace nutrient elements in selected tubers (yam and cassava) and fruits (orange and papaya) harvested from oil impacted and gas flaring areas in Akalaolu and Ogale Niger Delta communities. PAHs and heavy metals concentrations were analysed by Gas Chromatography and Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. Akalaolu samples gave (mg kg-1 PAHs) 4.321, 2.934, 19.003 and 7.004 while Ogale samples gave 3.445, 3.200, 5.41, 0 and 5.021 for cassava, yam, papaya and orange respectively. All selected fruits and tubers collected from the two sites contained significantly decreased trace nutrient elements and signal deficiency conditions. These findings suggest that study food crops from exposed areas are markedly contaminated by carcinogenic PAHs and may pose public nutrition and health concerns. Also, determination of trace nutrient elements in papaya at contaminated sites showed that papaya markedly accumulates metals in response to contamination. Keywords: PAHs levels; Hydrocarbon contaminant exposure; Food safety; Fruits and tubers

Comparative Effects Of Processing On The Cyanide Content Of Manihot Esculenta , Glycine Max And Zea Mays

The effects of varying processing treatments on the cyanide content of Manihot Esculenta, Zea Mays and Glycine Max were determined using picrate kit method and the following mean concentrations in ppm were obtained: 0.10, 0.00, 0.00, 0.00, 0.01, 0.00, 0.02,0.00, and 0.00 for Cassava, Garri, Fufu, Tapioka, Soybean, Vitamilk, Raw maize, Roasted maize, and Boiled maize respectively. There were statistically significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) among all raw samples analysed for the observed phytotoxin (Cyanide) levels. The results obtained from the processed and unprocessed food products generally showed a marked difference (P ≤ 0.05) in cyanide levels between raw and processed food products and this implies that food processing has a marked effect on the cyanide content of different food types indicating success in degradation of cyanide by heat. Heat treatments therefore reduced the cyanide content (approximately 100%) in tested food crops thereby making them suitable and safer for consumption outside creating variety

Phytoremediation Of Crude Oil Impacted Soil Using Purple Nutsedge

The present study investigated the viability of purple nutsedge in the phytoremediation of a crude oilcontaminated land in the Kom-Kom community, Oyigbo, Rivers state, Nigeria. 150g of soil samples were randomly collected from two (2) different points on the polluted site and a control site and analyzed for Petroleum Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) and Heavy metals ( Pb, Cd, Cr & Ni). in soils and plants before and after phytoremediation. Plants were transplanted into the contaminated and contaminated soil after soil sample collection.After planting,the progress of plant growth was observed and recorded biweekly for 3 months before harvesting. From the results obtained, over 80% and 66% PAHs and TPHs phytodegradation efficiencies were achieved using the plant while Cd, Pb and Cr were removed by 90%, 67% and 39.2% respectively. The Bioaccumulation Factor (B.F) of the heavymetals in study plant were found to be greated than 1 which makes it suitable for phytoextraction of heavy metals. Therefore, the study suggests that purple nutsedge can be useful in the phytoremediation of a crudeoil polluted soil. Keywords: Hydrocarbons, Heavy metals, Phytoremediation, Crude oil, Purple nutsedg

Levels of Some Heavy Metals and Physico Chemical Properties of Effluents from a Beverage Company in Rivers State, Nigeria

In this study, the concentrations of selected heavy meyals and physico-chemical characteristics of effluents from a beverage company in Rivers State, Nigeria and those of the receiving Woji River were evaluated to ascertain the efficiency of the company\u2019s waste treatment processes. The results showed that the contents of Mg in downstream water samples differed significantly (p< 0.05) from those of upstream and effluent samples with a value of 80.8mg/l. However, the concentration of NA+ in the upstream samples far exceeded those of other samples with a mean value of 791mg/l. The concentrations of Cd, Pb and Cr fell below detection limit of 0.001mg/l for all samples. Also, the levels of Fe, Zn, and Mn were low with Fe having the highest concentration of 2.10mg/l (downstream and treated effluent samples, respectively). The pH of the samples were generally alkaline, except the upstream samples that gave a pH value of 6.89. The dissolved Oxygen contents of all the samples fell below FEPA limit of 10mg/l. However, the highest chemical oxygen demand concentration of 93.7mg/l was obtained in the untreated effluent sample. The mean ammonia concentration of the untreated sample was much higher than those of the treated with a value of 50.0mg/l. Also, total dissolved solid content of the untreated sample fell far above those of the treated sample. In general, whereas the concentrations of nutrient metals were higher in the treated samples, the contents of the physico-chemical parameters in the treated samples fell far below those of the untreated samples. These findings suggest that the treatment system adopted by the beverage company is efficient for effluent treatment as the values fell within the natural background levels

Physico Chemical Properties and the Antinutrient status of a non-Alcoholic Beverage (Coke)

The physicochemical properties and the antinutrient status of the beverage, coke were evaluated to determine its suitability for consumption and toxic levels in mammal. The mean levels of nitrates, total nitrogen, chloride, ammonia, tannin, cyanogenic glycosides and caffeine in the samples were (mg/l): 0.008 \ub1 0.001, 150.000 \ub1 3.446, 11.000 \ub1 0.686, 183.000 \ub1 3.019, 0.016 \ub15.976, 0.020 \ub1 0.010 and 0.146 \ub1 0.002 respectively. The pH of the samples gave a mean value of 3.500, while the mean metal concentrations gave (mg/l) - 0.990 \ub1 0.099 (Mg); 38.030 \ub10.050 (Na); 1.400 \ub10.114 (Fe); 0.650 \ub1 0.014 (Zn); 0.080 \ub1 0.005 (Mn); 4.720 \ub1 0.016 (K) and 10.120 \ub1 0.094 (Ca). Toxicological test using whister albino Rats, shows that the beverage was relatively safe. Generally, the results shows that the antinutrient status of the beverage fell within the standards adopted by most countries. Similarly, the other parameters fell within natural background level although few fell above WHO specifications

Economics of gas to wire technology applied in gas flare management

Our environment is increasingly being endangered by the introduction of greenhouse gases which are continuously produced from gas flaring processes. Currently, total volume of gas flared globally amounts to 100 billion cubic meters (BCM) annually. Nigeria flares about 18.27 BCM and loses approximately $2 billion yearly. This statistics indicates the urgent need to conduct research aimed at addressing both the environmental impact of gas flaring and the economic implications. This research studies the economic viability of using gas to wire (GTW) technology as an integral component of gas flare management. The investigation critically evaluates the cost implications and impact of the GTW technology. The research method involves the interview of key experts and practitioners in the field. The interviews are structured to obtain information on the total volume of gas produced, utilised and flared in two major gas and electricity producing firms in Nigeria. The data obtained show that the gas producing company flares about 8.33% of its total production which is in excess of the 6.6 million cubic meters (MCM) utilised daily. This study demonstrates that in the Nigerian oil and gas sector, one unit of gas turbine having 0.93 MCM gas consumption capacity generates 150 MW of electricity daily. It is found in result evaluation that 50 turbines are sufficient to consume an average of 46.5 MCM of gas daily to generate 7500 MW of electricity. Economic analysis shows that there is an annual net profit of £2.68 billion gained from flare prevention and overall environmental protection