EFFECT OF SPENT OIL (ENGINE OIL) ON THE PHYSIOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL

ABSTRACT
Spent/used oil is any oil that has been refined from crude oil, or any synthetic oil that has been used and, as a result of that use, is contaminated by physical or chemical impurities. Examples of used oil include: used motor oil, used hydraulic fluid, used electrical insulating oil, used transmission fluid, used compressor oils, used cutting oils and used coolants. Waste from automobile workshops such as lead acid batteries, gasoline, used asbestos, spent engine oil etc. are discharged indiscriminately in open free land, sewers and gutters and this is channeled to inland and water bodies which affects the growth of plants and microbial diversity when it seeps to the groundwater and also aquatic lives are not spared. In the view of the foregoing, this study therefore seeks to examine the concentration of heavy metals in the automobile workshop in Amawbia. The aim of this research is to ascertain the effect of spent oil on the physiochemical properties of soil. Survey design and laboratory analysis of soil samples were used. Laboratory analysis were used to elicit information from the workers in the automobile workshops which include mechanics, panel beaters, electricians, painters and vulcanizers, in the study area and also from people living around automobile workshops. A total of (five) 5 automobile workshops were randomly selected and studied. A total of 5 soil samples were collected from the 5 workshops; one sample from Kentz mechanic workshop, All stars workshop, U. C. workshop, Tony’s mechanic workshop and A-Z mechanic workshop. Result showed that heavy metals concentrations in the soil samples were higher in the automobile workshop than the control. Low PH was recorded for the soil from the automobile workshops in comparison to control and it was below the neutral level 6.5 indicating that the soils from the automobile workshops are acidic. High copper concentrations were recorded for the study area in comparison to the control sites and it also exceeded WHO standard for copper in soil. From the researcher’s observation the researcher choose this topic because automobile workshop/mechanic village should be sited far from residential and farmland areas to avoid the transfer of these metals into the food chain and also for easy monitoring.

Statement of the Problem
Spent oil sometimes referred to as waste engine oil is seen and get from automobile mechanic shops and mechanical or electrical engine repairers’ shops after servicing the vehicles engines, generating set and other types of engines.
The problem associated with metal contamination of soils, particularly those of automobile workshop, where there is also problem of heavy metal contamination to grapple with, leave much to be desired. Pollution is one of the most important problem around the world today which thousands of millions of word inhabitants suffer health problems related to industry and atmospheric pollution. In recent years, significant attention is being paid to environmental contamination by chemical pollutant including heavy metals (Adies and Osibanjo, 2018). Concentration of heavy metals in soil are very important because soil is the link in the food chain, therefore it has a determining effect on the element translocation to plant and animals.

Amawbia in Awka South local government area, Anambra state is a large industrial and commercial sub-urban community that hosts a variety of artisans and auto mechanics whose activities are the major route through which heavy metals are introduced into the soil, determining the level of concentration of heavy metals in the soil become relevant. There have been little studies carried out on the concentration of heavy metals on Amawbia automobile workshop. The deleterious effects of pollutants on the environment are alarming and this gives room for concern. Wastes from automobile workshops such as lead acid batteries, gasoline, used asbestos, spent engine oil etc. are discharged indiscriminately in open free land, sewers and gutters and this is channeled to inland/coastal water bodies. Heavy metals and wastes from automobile workshops are aesthetically unpleasant, it affect the growth of plant and microbial diversity and when it seeps to groundwater, it renders it polluted and unfit for domestic purpose. Aquatic lives are not spared of this trend as there abound a tendency for drop in fish population, bio accumulation and bio magnificent.
In the view of the foregoing this study therefore seeks to examine the concentration of heavy metals in the automobile workshop Amawbia. It is in view of this that the researcher intends to investigate the effect of spent oil on the physiochemical properties of soil.

1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study
The main objective of this study is to ascertain the effect of spent oil on the physiochemical properties of soil. But for successful completion of the study; the researcher intend to achieve the following objectives to;
i. Ascertain the effect of spent oil on the physiochemical properties of soil
ii. Investigate the impact of spent oil on soil fertility
iii. Ascertain the relationship between spent oil and the chemical properties of the soil
iv. Ascertain the impact of spent oil on soil degradation