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Remediation of Hydrocarbon Impacted Soil Using Clogen

Received: 15 September 2026     Accepted: 4 October 2026     Published: 23 October 2026
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Abstract

Hydrocarbon pollution of soil remains one of the most critical environmental challenges in oil-producing regions such as the Niger Delta, where crude oil exploration, transportation, and refining activities frequently result in environmental contamination. This study investigated the remediation of hydrocarbon-impacted soil using CLOGEN, a locally developed electro-ionic biopolymer formulated by Andelsta Ltd. and approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria under Patent No. R.16273. Laboratory and field investigations were conducted to evaluate the efficiency of CLOGEN in reducing Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) in contaminated soils. Site characterization revealed that the soil lithology consisted of sand, sandy clay, silty clay, coarse sand, and fine sand, with the site predominantly classified as a clay-based soil. The fine-grained clay structure exhibited low effective porosity and a high affinity for petroleum hydrocarbons due to strong adsorption characteristics. The nitrate concentration in the soil ranged from 10.06 mg/kg to 27.42 mg/kg, while ammonium concentration reached a maximum value of 11.018 mg/kg, indicating low nitrogen availability and the need for nutrient supplementation during remediation to maintain an optimum carbon: nitrogen: phosphorus (C:N:P) ratio for microbial activity. Initial TPH concentrations ranged from 454 mg/kg to 8,528 mg/kg, exceeding the permissible limit of 1,000 mg/kg established by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) and the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA). Soil samples were analyzed before and after treatment to determine changes in physicochemical properties and microbiological activity. The results revealed a substantial reduction in TPH concentrations, with remediation efficiency reaching up to 96%, thereby reducing contamination levels to within regulatory standards. Furthermore, the remediation process enhanced microbial population density and improved soil nutrient balance, indicating the capability of CLOGEN to restore ecological functionality in hydrocarbon-impacted soils. Overall, the findings demonstrate that CLOGEN is an effective and environmentally sustainable remediation agent for petroleum-polluted environments in the Niger Delta.

Published in American Journal of Chemical Engineering (Volume 14, Issue 5)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajche.20261405.13
Page(s) 169-177
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

CLOGEN, TPH, HYPREP, NOSDRA, Niger Delta, Remediation

References
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[3] Kakde, U. B., and Sharma, D. (2024). Microbial bioremediation of petroleum-contaminated soil: Structural complexity, degradation dynamics, and advanced remediation techniques. International Journal of Microbiology, 2024, 1–15.
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[5] Odokuma, L. O. and Dickson, A. A. (2003). Bioremediation of a crude oil-polluted tropical rain forest soil. Global Journal of Environmental Sciences, 2(1), 29–40.
[6] Okoh, A. I. (2003). Biodegradation of bonny light crude oil in soil microcosm by some bacterial strains isolated from crude oil flow stations saver pits in Nigeria. African Journal of Biotechnology, 2(5), 104–108.
[7] Chikere, C. B., Omoni, V. T. and Chikere, B. O. (2009). Bioreactor-based bioremediation of hydrocarbon-polluted Niger Delta marine sediment, Nigeria. 3 Biotech, 9(7), 1–12.
[8] Okerentugba, P. O., and Ezeronye, O. U. (2003). Petroleum degrading potentials of single and mixed microbial cultures isolated from rivers and refinery effluent in Nigeria. African Journal of Biotechnology, 2(9), 288–292.
[9] Agarry, S. E., and Ogunleye, O. O. (2012). Box-Behnken design application to study enhanced bioremediation of soil artificially contaminated with spent engine oil using biostimulation strategy. International Journal of Energy and Environmental Engineering, 3(1), 1–11.
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[15] Aa, I., Op, A., Ijah, U. J. J., & Bankole, M. T. (2022). A critical review of oil spills in the Niger Delta aquatic environment: Causes, impacts, and bioremediation assessment. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 194, 816.
[16] Omenna, E. C., Omage, K., & Ezaka, E. (2023). Tolerance, taxonomic and phylogenetic studies of some bacterial isolates involved in bioremediation of crude oil polluted soil in the southern region of Nigeria. Heliyon, 9(4), e15639.
[17] Wojtowicz, K., Steliga, T., Kapusta, P., & Brzeszcz, J. (2023). Oil-contaminated soil remediation with biodegradation by autochthonous microorganisms and phytoremediation by maize (Zea mays). Molecules, 28(16), 6104.
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[19] Omenna, E. C., Omage, K., Ezaka, E., et al. (2024). Bio-augmentation and bio-stimulation with kenaf core enhanced bacterial enzyme activities during bio-degradation of petroleum hydrocarbon in polluted soil. Scientific Reports, 14, 8.
[20] Ehis-Eriakha, C. B., & Chikere, C. B. (2024). A comparative assessment of biostimulants in microbiome-based ecorestoration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon polluted soil. Brazilian Journal of Microbiology, 56, 203–224.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Kenyas, A. B., Dagde, K. K., Amadi, T. N., Zina, J. (2026). Remediation of Hydrocarbon Impacted Soil Using Clogen. American Journal of Chemical Engineering, 14(5), 169-177. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajche.20261405.13

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    ACS Style

    Kenyas, A. B.; Dagde, K. K.; Amadi, T. N.; Zina, J. Remediation of Hydrocarbon Impacted Soil Using Clogen. Am. J. Chem. Eng. 2026, 14(5), 169-177. doi: 10.11648/j.ajche.20261405.13

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    AMA Style

    Kenyas AB, Dagde KK, Amadi TN, Zina J. Remediation of Hydrocarbon Impacted Soil Using Clogen. Am J Chem Eng. 2026;14(5):169-177. doi: 10.11648/j.ajche.20261405.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajche.20261405.13,
      author = {Abowei Bright Kenyas and Kenneth Kekpugile Dagde and Titus Ndiele Amadi and Jaja Zina},
      title = {Remediation of Hydrocarbon Impacted Soil Using Clogen},
      journal = {American Journal of Chemical Engineering},
      volume = {14},
      number = {5},
      pages = {169-177},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajche.20261405.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajche.20261405.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajche.20261405.13},
      abstract = {Hydrocarbon pollution of soil remains one of the most critical environmental challenges in oil-producing regions such as the Niger Delta, where crude oil exploration, transportation, and refining activities frequently result in environmental contamination. This study investigated the remediation of hydrocarbon-impacted soil using CLOGEN, a locally developed electro-ionic biopolymer formulated by Andelsta Ltd. and approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria under Patent No. R.16273. Laboratory and field investigations were conducted to evaluate the efficiency of CLOGEN in reducing Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) in contaminated soils. Site characterization revealed that the soil lithology consisted of sand, sandy clay, silty clay, coarse sand, and fine sand, with the site predominantly classified as a clay-based soil. The fine-grained clay structure exhibited low effective porosity and a high affinity for petroleum hydrocarbons due to strong adsorption characteristics. The nitrate concentration in the soil ranged from 10.06 mg/kg to 27.42 mg/kg, while ammonium concentration reached a maximum value of 11.018 mg/kg, indicating low nitrogen availability and the need for nutrient supplementation during remediation to maintain an optimum carbon: nitrogen: phosphorus (C:N:P) ratio for microbial activity. Initial TPH concentrations ranged from 454 mg/kg to 8,528 mg/kg, exceeding the permissible limit of 1,000 mg/kg established by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) and the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA). Soil samples were analyzed before and after treatment to determine changes in physicochemical properties and microbiological activity. The results revealed a substantial reduction in TPH concentrations, with remediation efficiency reaching up to 96%, thereby reducing contamination levels to within regulatory standards. Furthermore, the remediation process enhanced microbial population density and improved soil nutrient balance, indicating the capability of CLOGEN to restore ecological functionality in hydrocarbon-impacted soils. Overall, the findings demonstrate that CLOGEN is an effective and environmentally sustainable remediation agent for petroleum-polluted environments in the Niger Delta.},
     year = {2026}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Remediation of Hydrocarbon Impacted Soil Using Clogen
    AU  - Abowei Bright Kenyas
    AU  - Kenneth Kekpugile Dagde
    AU  - Titus Ndiele Amadi
    AU  - Jaja Zina
    Y1  - 2026/10/23
    PY  - 2026
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajche.20261405.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajche.20261405.13
    T2  - American Journal of Chemical Engineering
    JF  - American Journal of Chemical Engineering
    JO  - American Journal of Chemical Engineering
    SP  - 169
    EP  - 177
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-8613
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajche.20261405.13
    AB  - Hydrocarbon pollution of soil remains one of the most critical environmental challenges in oil-producing regions such as the Niger Delta, where crude oil exploration, transportation, and refining activities frequently result in environmental contamination. This study investigated the remediation of hydrocarbon-impacted soil using CLOGEN, a locally developed electro-ionic biopolymer formulated by Andelsta Ltd. and approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria under Patent No. R.16273. Laboratory and field investigations were conducted to evaluate the efficiency of CLOGEN in reducing Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) in contaminated soils. Site characterization revealed that the soil lithology consisted of sand, sandy clay, silty clay, coarse sand, and fine sand, with the site predominantly classified as a clay-based soil. The fine-grained clay structure exhibited low effective porosity and a high affinity for petroleum hydrocarbons due to strong adsorption characteristics. The nitrate concentration in the soil ranged from 10.06 mg/kg to 27.42 mg/kg, while ammonium concentration reached a maximum value of 11.018 mg/kg, indicating low nitrogen availability and the need for nutrient supplementation during remediation to maintain an optimum carbon: nitrogen: phosphorus (C:N:P) ratio for microbial activity. Initial TPH concentrations ranged from 454 mg/kg to 8,528 mg/kg, exceeding the permissible limit of 1,000 mg/kg established by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) and the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA). Soil samples were analyzed before and after treatment to determine changes in physicochemical properties and microbiological activity. The results revealed a substantial reduction in TPH concentrations, with remediation efficiency reaching up to 96%, thereby reducing contamination levels to within regulatory standards. Furthermore, the remediation process enhanced microbial population density and improved soil nutrient balance, indicating the capability of CLOGEN to restore ecological functionality in hydrocarbon-impacted soils. Overall, the findings demonstrate that CLOGEN is an effective and environmentally sustainable remediation agent for petroleum-polluted environments in the Niger Delta.
    VL  - 14
    IS  - 5
    ER  - 

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