Solubilization of naphthalene and pyrene by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and polyoxyethylenesorbitan monooleate (Tween 80) mixed micelles

Solubility Enhancement of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Using Synergistically Interacting Gemini-Conventional Surfactant Systems

The aqueous solubility of otherwise slightly soluble organic substances can be enhanced by the incorporation of surfactant micelles. In this research, the water solubility enhancements of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) viz. naphthalene, anthracene and pyrene, by micellar solutions at 30 ºC using gemini-conventional (ionic and nonionic) surfactants in their single and binary systems have been measured and compared. The solubilization capabilities of gemini surfactant butanediyl-1,4-bis(dimethylcetylammonium bromide) (G4) with cationic cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), anionic sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate (AOT) and nonioinic polyoxyethylene (20) cetyl ether (Brij 58) have been quantified in terms of molar solubilization ratio (MSR), partition coefficient (K m) and free energy of solubilization (ΔG s 0) of the PAHs. The order of solubilizing power of pure surfactants is Brij 58 > G4 > CTAB > AOT and in binary systems G4-Brij 58 > G4-CTAB > G4-AOT.

Surfactant-enhanced remediation of organic contaminated soil and water

Surfactant based remediation technologies for organic contaminated soil and water (groundwater or surface water) is of increasing importance recently. Surfactants are used to dramatically expedite the process, which in turn, may reduce the treatment time of a site compared to use of water alone. In fact, among the various available remediation technologies for organic contaminated sites, surfactant based process is one of the most innovative technologies. To enhance the application of surfactant based technologies for remediation of organic contaminated sites, it is very important to have a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in this process. This paper will provide an overview of the recent developments in the area of surfactant enhanced soil and groundwater remediation processes, focusing on (i) surfactant adsorption on soil, (ii) micellar solubilization of organic hydrocarbons, (iii) supersolubilization, (iv) density modified displacement, (v) degradation of organic hydrocarbon in presence surfactants, (vi) partitioning of surfactants onto soil and liquid organic phase, (vii) partitioning of contaminants onto soil, and (viii) removal of organics from soil in presence of surfactants. Surfactant adsorption on soil and/or sediment is an important step in this process as it results in surfactant loss reduced the availability of the surfactants for solubilization. At the same time, adsorbed surfactants will retained in the soil matrix, and may create other environmental problem. The biosurfactants are become promising in this application due to their environmentally friendly nature, nontoxic, low adsorption on to soil, and good solubilization efficiency. Effects of different parameters like the effect of electrolyte, pH, soil mineral and organic content, soil composition etc. on surfactant adsorption are discussed here. Micellar solubilization is also an important step for removal of organic contaminants from the soil matrix, especially for low aqueous solubility organic contaminants. Influences of different parameters such as single and mixed surfactant system, hydrophilic and hydrophobic chain length, HLB value, temperature, electrolyte, surfactant type that are very important in micellar solubilization are reviewed here. Microemulsion systems show higher capacity of organic hydrocarbons solubilization than the normal micellar system. In the case of biodegradation of organic hydrocarbons, the rate is very slow due to low water solubility and dissolution rate but the presence of surfactants may increase the bioavailability of hydrophobic compounds by solubilization and hence increases the degradation rate. In some cases the presence of it also reduces the rate. In addition to fundamental studies, some laboratory and field studies on removal of organics from contaminated soil are also reviewed to show the applicability of this technology.