Synergistic Effect of Mixtures of Water Saturated Fractions of Benzene, Toluene and Hexane on the Biochemical Properties of Algal Culture

Denise, E. M.^*, Anyadike, M. C. & Enang, A. E.

Department of Botany and Ecological Studies, University of Uyo, P.M.B. 1017, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Denise, E. M., Department of Botany and Ecological Studies, University of Uyo, P.M.B. 1017, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

Keywords: Synergistic Effect; Water Saturated Fraction (WSF); Bioassay; Dissolved Oxygen; Biochemical Oxygen Demand

Abstract

The synergistic effect of mixtures of Water Saturated Fraction (WSF) of benzene, toluene and n-hexane on the biochemical properties of algal culture was investigated in the laboratory in a four weeks’ bioassay using the Winkler Technique. Synergistic analysis of 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% reveals that the mixtures of Water saturated fractions of benzene, toluene and n-hexane has a significant effect on the Dissolved Oxygen (DO) content of the algal culture with respect to change in concentrations (P < 0.05), but there was no significant effect on the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) content of the algal culture (P > 0.05). However, the lowest concentration of WSF recorded the highest amount of DO towards the terminal period of the experiment. During the synergistic analysis, there was consistent decrease in the values of DO as the culture aged. The Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) followed the same pattern as the DO of the culture but there was an inconsistent decrease in the values of BOD as the culture aged. The result of the study could be used in determining the health or quality of water body polluted with crude oil hydrocarbons.

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