Testing of Water Hyacinth Compost as Green Bioabsorbent Material for Oilfield Operations in the Niger Delta, Nigeria

Abstract

There is growing interest in developing sustainable green bioabsorbent materials for cost-effective oilfield applications. This study evaluated the potential of water hyacinth compost (WHC), produced under controlled laboratory conditions, as a green bioabsorbent in the Niger Delta of Nigeria. Key properties of the WHC included a viable total heterotrophic bacterial count of 2.3×10⁸ CFU/g, a viable hydrocarbon-utilizing bacterial count of 1.12×10⁴ CFU/g, bulk density of 0.0225 g/cc, surface area of 6.6 m²/g, and positive buoyancy in water. Remarkably, 1 g of WHC absorbed approximately 95% of crude oil within 24 hours, equivalent to roughly eight times its weight, and exhibited hydrophobic behavior as determined by biphasic partitioning. These findings demonstrate that locally sourced WHC is a highly effective, nature-based bioabsorbent, aligning with principles of a circular economy and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG).