Chitosan: A Chitinous Biopolymer For The Treatment Of Crude Oil Polluted Water

Abstract

The level of crude oil pollution of Taabaa village stream in Ogoni, Rivers State, Nigeria and the effectiveness of snail shells waste chitosan in the treatment of crude oil polluted water were investigated. Triplicate samples of crude oil polluted water were treated with varying concentrations (0.1,02 and0.3mg/L) of chitosan. Results indicated that untreated crude oil polluted water samples had a brown colour, hydrocarbon taste and odour and a high turbidity value of 17.00 units Hazen. The water also contained high levels of lead (0.10mg/L), arsenic (0.34mg/L), and iron (0.84mg/L), and had a total plate count of 31OCfU/mL, coliform count of 150CFU/mL and E. coli count of 25CFU/mL, Chitosan treated water sample was clear, colourless, tasteless and odourless with a 100% reduction in turbidity. Chitosan treatment at 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3mg/L concentrations produced 80 and 90% reductions in lead and reduced the arsenic content from 0.34mg/L to 0.04mg/L. Similarly, chitosan treatment produced 100% reduction in E. coli, while the total plate and coliform counts were reduced to WHO acceptable levels. The results showed that the Taabaa village stream was highly contaminated with crude oil and also indicated the potential use of chitosam in the treatment of crude oil polluted water