Phytoremediation of Petroleum Hydrocarbon Contaminated Soil Using Senna occidentalis Seeds
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62050/ljsir2026.v4n2.826Keywords:
Phytoremediation, Senna occidentalis, Enzymes, Hydrocarbon, Spent engine oilAbstract
Plants and the associated enzymes have shown considerable potential to effectively transform and detoxify polluting substances. This work aims at assessing the potential of Senna occidentalis and associated rhizospheric enzymes to remediate a hydrocarbon-polluted environment. Viable seeds of Senna occidentalis were randomly collected from abandoned farmland at Sabo in the Yaba Local Government Area (LGA) of Lagos. Phytoremediation potential of Senna occidentalis was assessed ex situ in a screen house using two concentrations each of spent engine oil and crude oil for 150 days. Results for physicochemical analysis showed an alkaline soil with pH (9.64±0.00a), nitrate (53.61±0.15d), organic matter (90.45±0.35e), organic carbon (44.56±0.06c), electrical conductivity (677.5±0.71g), phosphate (92.95±0.21f), and a cation exchange capacity of (37.53±0.03b). Morphological characterization of S. occidentalis in SEO- and crude oil-contaminated soil showed a decrease in morphometric parameters with increasing concentrations of the pollutants. The least morphometric was observed in the highest concentration of the combined pollutant. Enzyme activity, however, did not correlate with the concentration of the pollutant. Polyphenol oxidase had the lowest activity (15.07±0.32a) in unpolluted soil and the highest activity (26.89±0.08cg) in mixed pollutants. The mechanism of phytoremediation by Senna occidentalis is a combination of phytovolatilization, phytodegradation, rhizofiltration, and rhizodegradation. Degradation of contaminants was seen to decrease with increasing concentration for most of the components of the pollutants. Senna occidentalis has potential for phytoremediation, but it may be best used in conjunction with other organisms.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Emmanuel Ani, Ndubuisi, L. K., Ofodile, L. N. (Author)
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