A

SEMINAR REPORT

ON

EFFECT OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS (PAHs) IN SOIL

MINERALS USED IN INDUSTRIAL PROCESS

BY

AJAGUNNA SAMUEL ADEMOLA

MATRIC NUMBER: 150403013

SUBMITTED

TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL SCIENCES OLUSEGUN AGAGU

UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, OKITIPUPA, ONDO STATE,
NIGERIA.

IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENNT FOR THE AWARD OF

BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY (B.TECH), IN
INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY

SEPTEMBER 2021
 DECLARATION
I, AJAGUNNA SAMUEL ADEMOLA, hereby declare that this research was carried out and
written by me. All source of information are acknowledge by means of references.

………………………………………… ……………………………
AJAGUNNA SAMUEL ADEMOLA Date

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 CERTIFICATION

This is to certify that the research work reported in this project write up was carried out by

AJAGUNNA SAMUEL ADEMOLA with Matric No 150403013 and submitted to the

department of Chemical Sciences, School of Science and the work has not been submitted

elsewhere for the award of a degree.

…………………………………………. ……………………………….
Dr Ayedun Date
Supervisor

………………………………………….
……………………………………
Dr V.O Akpoveta Date

………………………………………….
………………………………….
Dr A.O. OLADIMEJI Date
Ag. H.O.D Chemical Sciences

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 DEDICATION

I dedicate this work firstly to God almighty the author and finisher of my faith, the keeper of my

soul and the redeemer of my life. To him be all glory, honour and adoration forever and ever.

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First and foremost, my sincere gratitude goes to almighty God the reason why I am able to begin

and end this project.

My deep gratitude goes to my mom, siblings and Ajaguna’s family for their financial support and

prayers which has really been vital in the success of this project. I also want to appreciate my

supervisor Dr Ayedun for his intense support and encouragement which constituted a great deal

to the success of this project.

I also want to honour my friends and cliques for the support and love shown towards the success

of this research work. Thanks so much I really appreciate. May the lord continue to bless you all,

Amen.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
DECLARATION ……………………………………………………………………………ii
DEDICATION ……………………………………………………………………………....iii
CERTIFICATION …………………………………………………………………………..iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT …………………………………………………………………..v
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Introduction……………………………………….………………………………..……1
1.1 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) ……………………………………………2
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 Properties of PAHs ……………………………………………………………….……..4
2.1 1 PAHs in Soil …………………………………………………………………………..5
2.2 Contaminated Sites ……………………………………………………………………...6
2.3 PAH Toxicity …………………………………………………………………………...7
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 Remediation of PAH-Contaminated Soils ……………………………………………..10
3.1 Degradation of PAHS…………………………………………………………………..11
3.2 Biological Degradation ………………………………………………………………...11
3.3 Chemical Degradation of PAHS ……………………………………………………….12
3.4 Reactivity of PAHS …………………………………………………………………….13
3.5 Transformation Products of PAHS ……………………………………………………..14
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 Analysis of PAHS and OXY-PAHS in Soil ……………………………………………16
4.1 Physical Treatment ……………………………………………………………………..17
4.2 Chemical Oxidation …………………………………………………………………….18
4.3 Uses of PAHS…………………………………………………………………………...20
4.4 Health Effects of PAHs in Soil …………………………………………………………21

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CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………………...24
5.1 References………………………………………………………………………………25

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 LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1. Structures of the 16 US-EPA PAHs and selected alkyl-PAHs and heterocyclic
compounds……………………………………………………………………………………..3
Figure 2. Metabolic activation of benzo[a]pyrene, from IARC 1983 ………………………...8
Figure 3. Electron localization energies for benzene and selected PAHs, based on the work of

Zander 1979……………………………………………………………………………………14

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 LIST OF TABLE
Table 1: Summary of some PAHs and their uses. (ATSDR, 2010)…………………………20

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 SUMMARY

Soil is an important environmental matrix to support the life of all organisms directly or

indirectly. Despite being the ultimate sink for all pollutants, it has been neglected for long, which

has negatively affected the quality of the soil. Disposal of pollutants has resulted in changes in

properties of soils and introduction of toxicity into it. The presence of heavy metals, pesticides,

polychlorinated biphenyls and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) affects all forms of life

since these chemicals have associated toxicity, mutagenicity, and carcinogenicity.

PAHs are typical pollutants of soil which result in alteration in grain size, porosity and water

holding capacity of soil and affect diversity/population of microbes adversely. Significant

changes in permeability, volume, plasticity, etc., are also brought about resulting in poor quality

of contaminated soils. Considering the toxicity and global prevalence of PAHs, remediation of

contaminated soils has become a challenge. Therefore, it is important to understand the detailed

mechanism of physical, chemical or biological changes in soil. Simultaneously, it becomes

pertinent to identify the environmentally sustainable treatment options for remediation of

contaminated sites. Whereas physical and chemical treatment methods are either cost, chemical,

or energy prohibitive, the biological treatment is emerging as an efficient and effective option

which employs microorganisms for mitigation. Microorganisms are known for their enzyme

Catalyzed catabolic activity when degradation/mineralization of a pollutant is aimed at and can

prove useful in degradation of PAHs. Therefore, the present study reviews the effects of PAHs

on soil properties, different remediation techniques and the role of microorganisms in

remediating contaminated sites.