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The combined effects of surfactant solubilization and chemical oxidation on the removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon from soil
Citation:
Li, Y., X. Liao, Scott G. Huling, T. Xue, Q. Liu, H. Cao, AND Q. Lin. The combined effects of surfactant solubilization and chemical oxidation on the removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon from soil. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT. Elsevier BV, AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, 647:1106-1112, (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.07.420
Impact/Purpose:
Chemical oxidation treatment systems involving contaminant transformations is widely used to support EPA programs that require remediation of contaminated soil and ground water in the US. These treatment systems often rely on aqueous phase oxidative transformation of recalcitrant compounds. Surfactant enhanced solubilization of hydrophobic compounds is one method that may be useful to increase treatment efficiency and effectiveness. In this study, surfactant enhanced chemical oxidation of PAH compounds was investigated. This information is useful to help identify treatment options for sites where hydrophobic compounds exists above acceptable concentrations and require further treatment. Overall, the results of this study will be useful to identify treatment options that could achieve lower cleanup levels in soil in groundwater and is of interest to environmental programs in which EPA has regulatory responsibilities including CERCLA, RCRA, UST.
Description:
A method for the remediation of PAHs contaminated soils was proposed involving a combination of surfactant-aided soil washing and chemical oxidation by activated persulfate (SP). In this study, Triton X-100 (TX-100) and SP was applied to the soil, either concurrently or sequentially. Results indicated that surfactant followed by amendment with a solution of SP, TX-100+SP(l), was most effective in decreasing PAHs concentrations in a loam soil (SS) and a silty clay soil (NS) from 1220 mg/kg and 2730 mg·kg-1 to 414 mg·kg-1 and 180 mg·kg-1, respectively. Compared with extraction alone and oxidation alone, TX-100+SP(l) increased the removal of PAHs by 10-20%. TX-100 improved the degradation of 3-4 ring PAHs (M-PAHs) and 5-6 ring PAHs (H-PAHs) in SS, by approximately 8%-11%. The oxygenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (oxy-PAHs) including furans and xanthene exhibited greater reductions in soil when amended with the TX-100 and SP, than under TX-100 extraction or SP oxidation alone. Overall, increased removal of PAHs in contaminated soil can occur through simultaneous application of TX-100 and SP, relative to the sole use of TX-100 or SP. The sequential combination of surfactant and oxidant was most effective for the elimination of PAHs, especially for M-PAHs and H-PAHs in sandy loam contaminated soils.
URLs/Downloads:
DOI: The combined effects of surfactant solubilization and chemical oxidation on the removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon from soil
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