Dike, C.C.; Rani Batra, A.; Khudur, L.S.; Nahar, K.; Ball, A.S. Effect of the Application of Ochrobactrum sp.-Immobilised Biochar on the Remediation of Diesel-Contaminated Soil. Toxics2024, 12, 234.
Dike, C.C.; Rani Batra, A.; Khudur, L.S.; Nahar, K.; Ball, A.S. Effect of the Application of Ochrobactrum sp.-Immobilised Biochar on the Remediation of Diesel-Contaminated Soil. Toxics 2024, 12, 234.
Dike, C.C.; Rani Batra, A.; Khudur, L.S.; Nahar, K.; Ball, A.S. Effect of the Application of Ochrobactrum sp.-Immobilised Biochar on the Remediation of Diesel-Contaminated Soil. Toxics2024, 12, 234.
Dike, C.C.; Rani Batra, A.; Khudur, L.S.; Nahar, K.; Ball, A.S. Effect of the Application of Ochrobactrum sp.-Immobilised Biochar on the Remediation of Diesel-Contaminated Soil. Toxics 2024, 12, 234.
Abstract
The immobilisation of bacteria on biochar has shown potential for enhanced remediation of petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated soil. However, there is a lack of knowledge on the effect of bacterial immobilisation on biosolids-derived biochar for the remediation of diesel-contaminated soil. The aim of this current study was to assess the impact of the immobilisation on biosolids-derived biochar of an autochthonous hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria, Ochrobacterium sp. (BIB) on the remediation of diesel-contaminated soil using a laboratory based mesocosm study. Additionally, the effect of fertiliser application on the efficacy of the BIB treatment was investigated. Biochar (BC) application alone led to significantly higher hydrocarbon removal compared to the control treatment at all sampling times (4,887 – 11,589 mg/kg higher). When Ochrobacterium sp. was immobilised on biochar (BIB), the hydrocarbon removal was higher than BC by 5,533 mg/kg and 1,607 mg/kg at weeks 10 and 22, respectively. However, when BIB was co-applied with fertiliser (BIBF), the hydrocarbon removal was lower than BIB by 6,987 – 11,767 mg/kg. Quantitative PCR analysis revealed that the gene related to Ochrobacterium sp. was higher in BIB than in the BC treatment, which likely contributed to higher hydrocarbon removal in the BIB treatment. The findings of this study demonstrate that bacteria immobilisation on biosolids-derived biochar is a promising technique for the remediation of diesel-contaminated soil. Future studies should focus on optimising the immobilisation process for enhanced hydrocarbon removal.
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