Bioremediation potential of <i>Lentinus subnudus</i> in decontaminating crude oil polluted soil

Abstract

The aim of this work was to study the efficacy of using a white-rot fungi Lentinus subnudus to treat crude oil polluted soil by employing its biodegradation and bioaccumulation potentials. The polluted soil was amended  with plantain peels and treated with spawns of Lentinus subnudus for 180 days. The physicochemical  parameters monitored during the study were Total Hydrocarbon Content(THC), Total Nitrogen, Total Organic Carbon, Ash content, Phosphate, Potassium, Nitrate, Organic matter, pH and heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cr, Cd, Pb, Ni and V). The mushroom demonstrated ability to biodegrade hydrocarbon pollutants in the soil as evident by decreased levels of THC which ranged from 20.46% - 91.94%. Results also showed decreased concentrations of all heavy metals analysed. Lentinus subnudus was more efficient in decreasing the levels of Cd, Cr, Pb, Ni and V than Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn. Observed values of Mn and V were 33.5% and 98.16%,  respectively, after 180 days of treatment. This study demonstrated that Lentinus subnudus could be used in bioremediation of crude oil polluted soil amended with plantain peels.

Keywords: Biodegradation, bioaccumulation, Lentinus subnudus, plantain peels.