Evaluation on Bioremediation Kinetics of Petroleum- Contaminated Soils Using Plant-Based Amendments

Year : 2026 | Volume : 13 | 01 | Page :
    By

    Achinike Okogbule-Wonodi,

  • Umah Matthew Kingdom,

  1. Lecturer, Department of Agric and Environmental Engineering, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
  2. Lecturer, Department of Chemical/Petrochemical Engineering, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract

The effectiveness of bioremediation processes is strongly influenced by environmental conditions, reactor design parameters, microbial characteristics, and pollutant properties. This study investigates the combined effects of environmental-related factors, reactor design considerations, organism- related characteristics, and pollutant properties on the degradation of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in swampy and clay soils amended. Laboratory-scale remediation experiments were conducted over an 84-day period using amendment dosages ranging from 20 to 100 g. The impacts of temperature, pH, nutrient availability, moisture content, electron acceptors, and mass transfer limitations on microbial activity and hydrocarbon degradation were evaluated. Results showed that optimized environmental conditions significantly enhanced microbial metabolism, leading to substantial TPH removal efficiencies. Maximum TPH degradation values of 97.78%, 97.38%, 98.50%, and 97.69% were achieved in mango leaf-treated swampy soil, mango leaf-treated clay soil, respectively, after 42 days. Degradation trends indicated faster TPH removal in clay soils during the first 3 weeks, while swampy soils exhibited superior performance in the later remediation stages. Kinetic analysis using first-order, second-order, and Michaelis–Menten models revealed that the first- order kinetic model provided the most reliable prediction of TPH degradation over time. The findings demonstrate that bioremediation efficiency is governed by the interplay of environmental control, reactor design optimization, microbial adaptability, and pollutant characteristics. The study confirms the viability of plant-based amendments as sustainable, low-cost alternatives for the remediation of petroleum-contaminated soils.

Keywords: Bioremediation, environmental factors, kinetic modeling, plant-based amendments, total petroleum hydrocarbons

How to cite this article:
Achinike Okogbule-Wonodi, Umah Matthew Kingdom. Evaluation on Bioremediation Kinetics of Petroleum- Contaminated Soils Using Plant-Based Amendments. Emerging Trends in Chemical Engineering. 2026; 13(01):-.
How to cite this URL:
Achinike Okogbule-Wonodi, Umah Matthew Kingdom. Evaluation on Bioremediation Kinetics of Petroleum- Contaminated Soils Using Plant-Based Amendments. Emerging Trends in Chemical Engineering. 2026; 13(01):-. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/etce/article=2026/view=237751


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Ahead of Print Subscription Original Research
Volume 13
01
Received 30/01/2026
Accepted 02/02/2026
Published 27/02/2026
Publication Time 28 Days
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