Assessing phytotoxicity of sand contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons on Phragmites karka

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of petroleum sludge on a tropical indigenous plant species (Phragmites karka) and assess the feasibility of using vegetation to cure crude oil in contaminated sands. The study involved conducting experiments in glass aquarium containing P. karka that were subjected to three distinct concentrations of crude oil in sand: 10%, 50%, and 100% (v/v). This phytotoxicity test utilized thirteen aquarium containing spiked sand with petroleum sludge. Each concentration was tested in three replicates labeled as R1, R2, and R3. An uncultivated aquarium was used as a control for contaminants (CC), while an aquarium without crude oil sludge served but with sand only as a control growth for the plants (PC). After a period of 42 days, the rates of degradation of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) were 67.6%, 71.7%, and 44.5% in sand spiked with petroleum sludge at concentrations of 10%, 50%, and 100%, respectively. In comparison, the TPH removals in aquarium without any plant cultivation were 38.2%, 35.8%, and 21.1%, respectively. This experiment provides conclusive evidence of P. karka’s ability to remediate petroleum-contaminated environments.