The integration of first and second order kinetic model in parameter estimation for the degradation pattern of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) in spent lubricating petroleum oil (SLPO) over a four-month period was the subject of the present investigation. Study design considered four treatment microcosms notably; sewage sludge (SB), monitored natural recovery (MNR), surfactant (SA) and control (SO). The rate of TPH degradation using sewage sludge as amendment material depicted effective TPH removal within ten weeks. A maximum allowable concentration of residual TPH (4300 mg kg-1) was obtained through an amendment with sewage sludge. Degradation constant (k) produced by both first and second order rates significantly demonstrated the performance of sewage sludge biomass over the other three treatments applied, however, experimental data adequately fitted into the first order kinetics (k = 0.27 d-1, t½ = 3.0 d). TPH removal efficiency of sewage sludge and detergent were 96.0% and 81.0% respectively. The use of sewage sludge biomass significantly (p < .05) improved soil biological characteristics and produced optimum dehydrogenase activity (DHA ≥ 8.8 TPFg-1 d), germination index (%IG ≥ 88%), and chlorophyll content (chl ≥ 100 µg cm-2), thus, recommended for field scale application in soil hydrocarbon pollution remediation.
Keywords: Kinetic model; hydrocarbon; monitored natural recovery; sewage sludge biomass; surfactant.