Physicochemical and biochemical characterisation of asphalt plant dumpsite located at Obinze, Imo State, Nigeria
| dc.contributor.author | Aligwekwe, Ikechukwu Anthony | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-03-17T10:46:16Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-03-17T10:46:16Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2018-02 | |
| dc.description | This thesis is for the award of Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree in Biochemistry | |
| dc.description.abstract | Some physicochemical properties, levels of heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, total petroleum hydrocarbons, dioxins and furans, enzyme assay, microbial population of soil samples from depths of 0, 15 and 30 cm around asphalt dump site and the control site about 5 km uphill away from the asphalt dump site both located at Obinze, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria, were analysed. The phytochemical and proximate analysis of two plant samples Sida acuta and Sporobulus pyramidalis found in the area were also analysed. These analyses were carried out in order to assess the effects of the dumps on the soils and plant samples with a view to establish the pollution or contamination status of the soil and the plants as a result of anthropogenic input. There was slight alteration in the physicochemical properties of the soil, the mean pH values of the soil samples from the dump site were 5.43 ± 0.49a 5.30 ± 0.18a, 6.46 ± 0.03c while pH values from control soil samples were 6.06 ± 0.05b , 5.94 ± 0.07b , 7.83 ± 0.03d at depths of 0, 15 and 30 cm respectively. The level of most heavy metals was higher in the test soil compared to the control with manganese recording the highest concentration followed by aluminium. There was significant difference (p < 0.05) in the level of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, total petroleum hydrocarbons, dioxins and furans in the soil from dump site compared to the control for example PAH recorded 86.73 ± 1.73, 49.49 ± 2.79, 63.37 ± 2.60 at the dump site while the control site recorded 0.16 ± 0.02, 0.14 ± 0.10, 0.05 ± 0.00 at depths of 0, 15, and 30 cm respectively. There was also slight alteration in the enzyme activity, the result of acid phosphatase in the test soil was 3.62 ± 0.76 compared to result from control which was 0.73 ± 0.01. The microbial population in the control soil sample were higher than that in the test soil. There were significant differences in the phytochemical and proximate results of the plant samples from test soil compared to the control. The overall results show the test soil is polluted and constitutes a major health risk to the local population as a result of the asphalt dump. | |
| dc.identifier.citation | Aligwekwe, I. A. (2018). Physicochemical and biochemical characterisation of asphalt plant dumpsite located at Obinze, Imo State, Nigeria, [Unpublished Master's Thesis]. Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://repository.futo.edu.ng/handle/20.500.14562/2381 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Federal University of Technology, Owerri | |
| dc.rights | Attribution 4.0 International | en |
| dc.rights.uri | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | |
| dc.subject | Petroleum | |
| dc.subject | hydrocarbons | |
| dc.subject | asphalt | |
| dc.subject | phytochemical | |
| dc.subject | pollution | |
| dc.subject | Department of Biochemistry | |
| dc.title | Physicochemical and biochemical characterisation of asphalt plant dumpsite located at Obinze, Imo State, Nigeria | |
| dc.type | Master’s Thesis |