Synergistic Effect of Microorganisms and Charcoal on the Removal of BTEX and TPH from Crude Oil Contaminated Soil

This study investigates the synergistic effect of microbial consortia and activated charcoal on the remediation of crude oil-contaminated soil in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Soil samples were treated over nine weeks using Aspergillus niger, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Sargassum filipendula, activated charcoal, and their combinations. Key physicochemical parameters including pH, temperature, organic matter (OM), and total organic carbon (TOC) were monitored. The combined treatment of microorganisms and charcoal (S6) achieved the highest total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) removal efficiency (91.45%), outperforming individual treatments. BTEX compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene isomers) showed substantial removal, with final degradation efficiencies ranging from 95.5% to 100% based on preliminary spectrophotometric data. However, due to limitations in the analytical method used (UV-Vis at 600 nm), these BTEX results are considered indicative and require validation through standard chromatographic techniques. The findings suggest that activated charcoal enhances microbial degradation by adsorbing toxic intermediates and providing a surface for microbial colonization. This integrated approach offers a cost-effective, scalable, and environmentally sustainable strategy for remediating oil-polluted soils, particularly in ecologically vulnerable regions such as the Niger Delta.