QU researchers find ways to clean polluted soil from oil spillage

Oil pollution has occurred in limited specific areas in Qatar but extensive weathering caused by the harsh weather in Qatar has led to oil in these areas being at different stages of oxidation. Qatar University (QU) researchers have discovered that microbial remediation, which is the use of microorganisms to break down and therefore reduce toxic pollutants, has proved to be an attractive strategy to ‘clean’ polluted soil. Led by Professor of Environmental Sciences at QU’s College of Arts and Sciences, Prof. Nabil Zouari, says ‘Qatar, has limited soil and groundwater resources that are impacted by hydrocarbon contamination that occurs during the extraction, transport and processing of oil and natural gas. Remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater is vital to minimize the effects of accidental hydrocarbon releases and to protect this limited water resource.’ Prof. Nabil alongside his team from QU, Dr. Nasser Al-Kaabi, as a PhD student, Prof. Mohammad Al Ghouti, Prof. Samir Jaoua and many graduate and undergraduate students, investigated two areas in Qatar with harsh weather and weathered oil-polluted soils and found that soil at both sites had harsh chemical compositions and low nitrogen contents.