Evaluation of Marine Oil Spill using Phytoremediation and Bioremediation

Oil spill pollution, a severe environmental problem which persists in marine environment has grown to an alarming magnitude. There are several oil spill cleanup technique exist for deep sea. In contrast, offshore oil spill often goes unnoticed. Thus remediation of these hydrocarbons by natural decontamination process is of utmost importance. This study focuses on evaluating the most effective oil spill remediation option for Mirkarwada boat jetty, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra using the four pilot scale studies (Phytoremediation, Bioremediation, Hybrid unit & Control Unit). In this study the degrading potential of enhanced indigenous mixed culture of microorganisms towards hydrocarbons had been investigated. Parallel to that efficiency of Phytoremediation using 'Amaranthus palmeri' in degrading hydrocarbons was evaluated. Combination of Bioremediation and Phytoremediation is studied in Hybrid setup. Parameters viz. pH, Salinity, Temperature DO, and Oil and Grease was analyzed. From the observations bioremediation using hydrocarbon degrading bacteria shows promising results compared to phytoremediation. Bioremediation using bacteria show an efficiency of 64.1% where as phytoremediation gives an efficiency of 52.3% and the Hybrid setup has an intermediate efficiency of 53.2% at a pH of 7.5, 8.2 and7.8, DO of 1.2, 1.3 and 1.6 mg/liter, Salinity of 29, 28 and 29g/kg, Temperature of 28.1oC, 28.2oC, 29.8oC and Oil and grease of 15.2, 20.2, 18.1mg/liter respectively.