ABSTRACT

Crude oil contamination poses a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems and widespread environmental challenge leading to severe damage in affected areas. This study explored the optimization of bioremediation using biochar and microbial load (Aspergillius Niger) for remediating crude oil contaminated water. The experiment investigated the influence of four independent process factors on bioremediation efficiency: time (weeks), crude oil dosage (ml), microbial load (ml) and biochar dosage (g).

Biochar was prepared from the pyrolysis of corn cobs at a temperature of 400^oC in a muffle furnace under controlled experimental conditions.Crude oil contaminated water was simulated in 29 sample containers with each run sample having its specific duration of remediation time, amount of crude oil, biochar dosage and microbial loading. No biochar or microbial load was added to the control sample in order to measure its initial physio-chemical properties of the contaminated water. Sample analysis was done at 2 weeks interval over the 6 weeks remediation period.

Optimization and modelling performed using response surface methodology (RSM) gave R² values of 0.9818 and 0.9660 for RHC and DO respectively showing that RSM was an effective tool for optimization. Optimal conditions of 5.9676 weeks as remediating time, 63.446ml of crude oil dosage, 24.7745ml of microbial load and 35.8667g of biochar dosage which yielded RHC of 16.5066mg/l and dissolved oxygen level of 5.7844mg/l.