Mobility of total petroleum hydrocarbons in Shambat soil in Sudan
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/WJSTSD-11-2013-0045 |
| Date | 27 May 2014 |
| Published date | 27 May 2014 |
| Pages | 134-143 |
| Author | Nuhad M. Ali,Sarra A.M. Saad,Elamin A. Elamin |
| Subject Matter | Public policy & environmental management,Environmental technology & innovation |
Mobility of total petroleum
hydrocarbons in Shambat
soil in Sudan
Nuhad M. Ali
Department of Environment and Environmental Pollution,
Environment and Natural Resources Institute,
National Centre for Research, Khartoum, Sudan
Sarra A.M. Saad
Department of Environment and Environmental Pollution,
National Centre for Research, Khartoum, Sudan, and
Elamin A. Elamin
Department of Soil and Environment Science, Faculty of Agriculture,
University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
Abstract
Purpose – A laboratory experiment was conducted in the soil laboratory in the Department of
Environment and Environmental Pollution, Environment and Natural Resources Research Institute,
National Centre for Research. The purpose of this paper is to study the movement of crude oil through
soil column.
Design/methodology/approach – Polyvinyl chloride columns were filled with Shambat soil,
amended with three concentrations of light crude oil (0.16, 0.32, and 1.28 ppm), obtained from Petrodar
Oil Company. Soil samples were taken from 5 and 10cm depths after two, 14 and 28 days from crude
oil addition. At each sampling date, the recovery of petroleum hydrocarbons measu red.
Findings – The results obtained indicated that high by significant differences among the different
concentrations, different depths and differentsampling du rations.Mo reover,the downward mobility of
petroleum hydrocarbons decreased with increasing crude oil concentration.
Originality/value – Results of the experiment revealed the importance of studying the fate and
mobility of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in soils in order to facilitate a proper reclamation
practice specially in oil polluted sites.
Keywords Sustainable environment, Crude oil, Research institutions, Downward mobility,
Hydrocarbons, Oil contaminated soil
Paper type Research p aper
1. Introduction
Petroleum is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons with a characteristic c hemical
composition and specific physical proper ties, depending on the geological and
geographical origin of the crude oil and the nature of the cracking process used during
refining. The problem of petroleum hydrocarbons in the environment is that they have
serious health effects on humans and animals.
In Sudan, the new expansion of petroleum industries caused some environmental
problems these may include, mainly polluting the soils with the polychlorinated
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
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WorldJour nal of Science, Technology
and Sustainable Development
Vol. 11 No. 2, 2014
pp. 134-143
rEmeraldGroup PublishingLimited
2042-5945
DOI 10.1108/W JSTSD-11-2013-0045
The authors deep thank and gratitude are extended to the Petrodar Oil Company, who provided
the research for the crude oil. Special thanks to the staff of the Central Laboratory – Shambat
Campus, University of Khartoum fo r samples analysis.
134
WJSTSD
11,2
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