Green Synthesis Of Nanoparticles For The Remediation Of Crude Oil Contaminated Soil And Water- A Review

Oil exploration and production areas are prone to crude oil contamination and conventional remediation techniques are usually toxic, time consuming and expensive. Nanoparticles have emerged as an effective, rapid, and efficient alternative with the green synthesized ones more environmentally friendly and cost-effective. This review looks at the common sources and constituents of crude oil contamination, available conventional remediation technologies and the dynamics associated with utilizing nanotechnology in the remediation of crude oil contaminated soils and water as an alternative. Chemically synthesized nanoparticles have successfully been used for remediation of both crude oil contaminated soil and water though associated with subsequent environmental pollution. Iron nanoparticles standout since they are able to remove a number of contaminants. Whereas green synthesis involves the use of either plant extracts or microbes in the reduction of metal salts, plant extracts are more effective and their kinetics equivalent to chemical synthesis. There is need to evaluate the applicability of green synthesized nanoparticles in the field by understanding their fate and potential toxicity in the environment using multimedia fate models for simulation and life cycle assessment.