Title: Biostimulation of oily sludge – contaminated soil using organic and inorganic additives

Authors: Amina Benchouk; Kahina Ighilahriz; Meryem Khellouf; Mohamed Khodja

Addresses: Laboratory of Petroleum Biotechnology and Environment, Central Directorate Research and Development, SONATRACH, Boumerdes, Algeria ' Laboratory of Petroleum Biotechnology and Environment, Central Directorate Research and Development, SONATRACH, Boumerdes, Algeria ' Laboratory of Petroleum Biotechnology and Environment, Central Directorate Research and Development, SONATRACH, Boumerdes, Algeria ' Algerian Petroleum Institute, SONATRACH, Boumerdes, Algeria

Abstract: In this work, five microcosms containing polluted soil and the organics and inorganics stimulants were set up and undergone during five months. The sample was originated from an oil refinery located in the south of Algeria with 77.15 ± 0.1 g/kg of TPHs. We have evaluated the performance of the biostimulation by residual TPHs, composition of hydrocarbon residues by GC, microbial growth and eco-toxicity using Hordeum vulgare. Three bacterial were isolated from contaminated soil and characterised by MALDI-TOF. At the end of the experimental, we obtained a reduction of TPHs to 30.66 ± 1.15 g/kg. The results from GC showed the disappearance of major hydrocarbons pics within the treated microcosm. In the uncontaminated medium, the germination rate was higher than in the contaminated soil. A remarkable increase in the rate was observed in the seeds put in the treated medium to reach a percentage higher than 80%.

Keywords: oily sludge; biostimulation; camel dung; solanum tuberosum peels; eggshells; bentonite.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2025.146869

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2025 Vol.37 No.3, pp.327 - 344

Accepted: 02 Jul 2023
Published online: 24 Jun 2025 *

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