Research Article
Determination of Monod Kinetic Parameters for Petroleum Hydrocarbon, Heavy Metals and BTEX Co-Contaminated Groundwater During Biosparging
Leton Agatha Kabari*,
Kenneth Kekpugile Dagde
,
Emmanuel Odianyegbuehua Ehirim,
Patience Nne Ikenyiri
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 6, December 2026
Pages:
195-204
Received:
12 October 2026
Accepted:
22 October 2026
Published:
11 November 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.ajche.20261406.11
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Abstract: This study investigated the determination of kinetic parameters for the treatment of groundwater co-contaminated with total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), heavy metals, and benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) using laboratory-scale biosparging. The experimental setup consisted of five bioreactors designed for pH adjustment, heavy-metal treatment, PAH removal, TPH removal, and BTEX treatment. Contaminant concentrations were monitored over 15 days, and the specific reaction rates and reciprocal concentration relationships were evaluated using linearized Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The results showed that TPH concentration decreased from 0.870 to 0.269 mg/L, corresponding to 69.08% removal, while PAH concentration decreased from 2.780 to 1.449 mg/L, representing 47.88% removal. For BTEX, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene removal efficiencies were 82.49%, 77.34%, 72.75%, and 76.90%, respectively. The estimated maximum reaction rates (Rₘₐₓ) were 0.0929, 0.171, 0.234, and 0.165 mg/L/day for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene, respectively. However, the linearized kinetic estimates for TPH and PAH produced negative parameters, indicating limitations in the linear regression approach. The findings demonstrate the potential of biosparging for reducing petroleum-related contaminants in groundwater, although nonlinear regression and further validation are required to improve the reliability of the kinetic parameters. Heavy-metal reduction should be evaluated separately because metals cannot be biodegraded. The study provides a basis for improving kinetic modelling and optimizing biosparging treatment for co-contaminated groundwater.
Abstract: This study investigated the determination of kinetic parameters for the treatment of groundwater co-contaminated with total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), heavy metals, and benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) using laboratory-scale biosparging. The experimental setup consisted of five bioreacto...
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