Soil washing using various nonionic surfactants and their recovery by selective adsorption with activated carbon

Selective removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from soil washing effluents using biochars produced at different pyrolytic temperatures

Wheat straw biochars produced at 400, 600 and 800°C (BC400, BC600 and BC800) were used to selectively adsorb PAHs from soil washing effluents. For soil washing effluents contained Phenanthrene (PHE), Fluoranthene (FLU), Pyrene (PYR) and Triton X-100 (TX100), biochars at 2 (for BC800) or 6 g L(-1) (for BC400 and BC600) can remove 71.8-98.6% of PAHs while recover more than 87% of TX100. PAH removals increase with increasing biochar dose. However, excess biochar is detrimental to the recovery of surfactant. For a specific biochar dose, PAH removal and TX100 loss increase with increasing pyrolytic temperature. For BC400 and BC600, PAH removal follows the order of PHE>FLU>PYR, while the order is reversed with PYR>FLU>PHE for BC800. Biochars have much higher sorption affinity for PAHs than for TX100. It is therefore suggested that biochar is a good alternative for selective adsorption of PAHs and recovery of TX100 in soil washing process.

Influence of soil and hydrocarbon properties on the solvent extraction of high-concentration weathered petroleum from contaminated soils

Petroleum ether was used to extract petroleum hydrocarbons from soils collected from six oil fields with different history of exploratory and contamination. It was capable of fast removing 76-94 % of the total petroleum hydrocarbons including 25 alkanes (C11-C35) and 16 US EPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from soils at room temperature. The partial least squares analysis indicated that the solvent extraction efficiencies were positively correlated with soil organic matter, cation exchange capacity, moisture, pH, and sand content of soils, while negative effects were observed in the properties reflecting the molecular size (e.g., molecular weight and number of carbon atoms) and hydrophobicity (e.g., water solubility, octanol-water partition coefficient, soil organic carbon partition coefficient) of hydrocarbons. The high concentration of weathered crude oil at the order of 10(5) mg kg(-1) in this study was demonstrated adverse for solvent extraction by providing an obvious nonaqueous phase liquid phase for hydrocarbon sinking and increasing the sequestration of soluble hydrocarbons in the insoluble oil fractions during weathering. A full picture of the mass distribution and transport mechanism of petroleum contaminants in soils will ultimately require a variety of studies to gain insights into the dynamic interactions between environmental indicator hydrocarbons and their host oil matrix.

Adsorption of fluoranthene in surfactant solution on activated carbon: equilibrium, thermodynamic, kinetic studies

Adsorption of fluoranthene (FLA) in surfactant solution on activated carbon (AC) was investigated. Isotherm, thermodynamic, and kinetic attributes of FLA adsorption in the presence of the surfactant on AC were studied. Effects of AC dosage, initial concentration of TX100, initial concentration of FLA, and addition of fulvic acid on adsorption were studied. The experimental data of both TX100 and FLA fitted the Langmuir isotherm model and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model well. Positive enthalpy showed that adsorption of FLA on AC was endothermic. The efficiency of selective FLA removal generally increased with increasing initial surfactant concentration and decreasing fulvic acid concentration. The surface chemistry of AC may determine the removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The adsorption process may be controlled by the hydrophobic interaction between AC and the adsorbate. The microwave irradiation of AC may be a feasible method to reduce the cost of AC through its regeneration.

Selection of surfactant in remediation of DDT-contaminated soil by comparison of surfactant effectiveness

With an aim to select the most appropriate surfactant for remediation of DDT-contaminated soil, the performance of nonionic surfactants Tween80, TX-100, and Brij35 and one anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) in enhancement of DDT water solubility and desorption of DDT from contaminated soil and their adsorption onto soil and ecotoxicities were investigated in this study. Tween80 had the highest solubilizing and soil-washing ability for DDT among the four experimental surfactants. The adsorption loss of surfactants onto soil followed the order of TX-100 > Tween80 > Brij35 > SDBS. The ecotoxicity of Tween80 to ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) was lowest. The overall performance considering about the above four aspects suggested that Tween80 should be selected for the remediation of DDT-contaminated soil, because Tween80 had the greatest solubilizing and soil-washing ability for DDT, less adsorption loss onto soil, and the lowest ecotoxicity in this experiment.

Influence of solubilizing agents (cyclodextrin or surfactant) on phenanthrene degradation by electro-Fenton process--study of soil washing recycling possibilities and environmental impact

One of the aims in soil washing treatment is to reuse the extracting agent and to remove the pollutant in the meantime. Thus, electro-Fenton (EF) degradation of synthetic soil washing solutions heavily loaded with phenanthrene was suggested for the first time. Two solubilising agents hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HPCD) and Tween 80(®) (TW 80) were chosen as cyclodextrin (CD) and surfactant representatives, respectively. In order to reuse HPCD and to degrade the pollutant simultaneously, the following optimal parameters were determined: [Fe(2+)] = 0.05 mM (catalyst), I = 2000 mA, and natural solution pH (around 6), without any adjustment. Only 50% of TW 80 (still higher than the critical micelle concentration (CMC)) can be reused against 90% in the case of HPCD while phenanthrene is completely degraded in the meantime, after only 180 min of treatment. This can be explained by the ternary complex formation (Fe(2+)-HPCD-organic pollutant) (equilibrium constant K = 56 mM(-1)) that allows OH to directly degrade the contaminant. This confirms that Fe(2+) plays an important role as a catalyst since it can promote formation of hydroxyl radicals near the pollutant and minimize HPCD degradation. After 2 h of treatment, HPCD/phenanthrene solution got better biodegradability (BOD5/COD = 0.1) and lower toxicity (80% inhibition of luminescence of Vibrio fischeri bacteria) than TW 80/phenanthrene (BOD5/COD = 0.08; 99% inhibition of V. fischeri bacteria). According to these data, HPCD employed in this integrated (soil washing + EF degradation) approach gave promising results in order to be reused whereas the pollutant is degraded in the meanwhile.

Extraction agents for the removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from soil in soil washing technologies

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil have been recognised as a serious health and environmental issue due to their carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic properties. One of the commonly employed soil remediation techniques to clean up such contamination is soil washing or solvent extraction. The main factor which governs the efficiency of this process is the solubility of PAHs in the extraction agent. Past field-scale soil washing treatments for PAH-contaminated soil have mainly employed organic solvents or water which is either toxic and costly or inefficient in removing higher molecular weight PAHs. Thus, the present article aims to provide a review and discussion of the alternative extraction agents that have been studied, including surfactants, biosurfactants, microemulsions, natural surfactants, cyclodextrins, vegetable oil and solution with solid phase particles. These extraction agents have been found to remove PAHs from soil at percentages ranging from 47 to 100% for various PAHs.

Removal and Degradation of Phenanthrene and Pyrene from Soil by Coupling Surfactant Washing with Photocatalysis

In this study, two environmental remediation technologies, surfactant washing and photocatalytic oxidation, have been investigated to remove and decompose phenanthrene (Phe) and pyrene (Pry). Aqueous solutions containing the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) and the nonionic surfactant Tween-80 (TW-80) were used to extract the contaminants from the soil samples. The effects of concentration of surfactant, washing time and temperature on the desorption efficiency of the contaminants from soil samples were studied. The photocatalytic oxidation treatment of the obtained washing wastes, performed in the presence of Fenton-TiO2 suspensions irradiated with a 250W high pressure mercury lamp, showed an effective abatement of the two kinds of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) due to the relevant concentrations of organics in the waste. This study demonstrates the two-stage progress process can be an effective treatment method for PAHs not only desorption by soil washing but also degradation by photocatalytic oxidation.

Comparative effects of several cyclodextrins on the extraction of PAHs from an aged contaminated soil

The objective of the present study was to characterise the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) content of an aged contaminated soil and to propose remediation techniques using cyclodextrins (CDs). Four CDs solutions were tested as soil decontamination tool and proved more efficient in extracting PAHs than when an aqueous solution was used; especially two chemically modified CDs resulted in higher extraction percentages than natural β-CD. The highest extraction percentages were obtained for 3-ring PAHs, because of the appropriate size and shape of these compounds relative to those of the hydrophobic cavities of the CDs studied. A detailed mechanistic interpretation of the chemical modification of CDs on the extraction of the different PAHs has been performed, and connected with the role that the different hydrophobicities of the PAHs play in the extraction behaviour observed for the 16 PAHs, limiting their accessibility and the remaining risk of those PAHs not extractable by CDs.

Remediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and metal-contaminated soil by successive methyl-β-cyclodextrin-enhanced soil washing-microbial augmentation: a laboratory evaluation

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and metal-polluted sites caused by abandoned coking plants are receiving wide attention. To address the associated environmental concerns, innovative remediation technologies are urgently needed. This study was initiated to investigate the feasibility of a cleanup strategy that employed an initial phase, using methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MCD) solution to enhance ex situ soil washing for extracting PAHs and metals simultaneously, followed by the addition of PAH-degrading bacteria (Paracoccus sp. strain HPD-2) and supplemental nutrients to treat the residual soil-bound PAHs. Elevated temperature (50 °C) in combination with ultrasonication (35 kHz, 30 min) at 100 g MCD L(-1) was effective in extracting PAHs and metals to assist soil washing; 93 % of total PAHs, 72 % of Cd, 78 % of Ni, 93 % of Zn, 84 % of Cr, and 68 % of Pb were removed from soil after three successive washing cycles. Treating the residual soil-bound PAHs for 20 weeks led to maximum biodegradation rates of 34, 45, 36, and 32 % of the remaining total PAHs, 3-ring PAHs, 4-ring PAHs, and 5(+6)-ring PAHs after washing procedure, respectively. Based on BIOLOG Ecoplate assay, the combined treatment at least partially restored microbiological functions in the contaminated soil. The ex situ cleanup strategy through MCD-enhanced soil washing followed by microbial augmentation can be effective in remediating PAH and metal-contaminated soil.

Desorption of selected PAHs as individuals and as a ternary PAH mixture within a water-soil-nonionic surfactant system

Remediation of soil contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is a major environmental concern due to the toxic and carcinogenic properties of these compounds. Desorption and partitioning of anthracene, fluorene and pyrene within soil-aqueous systems in the presence of the nonionic surfactants, Triton X-100 and Tween 80,were studied. The results showed that the addition of Tween 80 solution at 10 g/L initial concentration enhanced the desorption of PAHs by 49.6%, 10.7% and 70.2% for anthracene, fluorene, and pyrene, respectively, from soil into aqueous phase at 72 h equilibration, while the addition of Triton X-100 could enhance the desorption of PAHs from soil by 59.5%, 17.4% and 86.3% for anthracene, fluorene and pyrene, respectively, at similar experimental conditions. The desorption behaviour of the tested PAHs in a ternary mixture was changed relatively since, in the presence of less hydrophobic solutes, the solubility of more hydrophobic solutes was increased leading to a higher desorption rate. The results showed that hydrophobicity is the primary property that controls PAH desorption from soil and surfactant sorption onto the soils (Qm) in which the latter were found to be 3.75 x 10(-6) and 4.82 x 10(-6) mol/g for Triton X-100 and Tween 80, respectively.

Extraction of phenanthrene and fluoranthene from contaminated sand using palm kernel and soybean oils

Experimental extraction tests are conducted to investigate feasibility of saturated palm kernel oil (PKO) and unsaturated soybean oil (SO) to extract polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from contaminated sand. The extraction rates and efficiencies for lowly contaminated (LC) and highly contaminated (HC) sands at temperatures of 30 °C and 70 °C are evaluated using empirical first order kinetic dissolution models. In LC sand, the extraction is dominated by the diffusion of PAHs adsorbed onto particle surfaces and the direct dissolution of PAH phase. In HC sand, a rapid diffusion of PAHs adsorbed onto particle surfaces and a direct dissolution of PAH phase occur followed by a slower diffusion of PAHs entrapped within the pores and micropores. Larger diffusion resistance during HC sand extractions results in an average 10.8% reduction in extraction efficiencies compared to LC sand. Increased temperature generally increases the mass transfer rates and extraction efficiencies. Additionally, the physicochemical properties of both oils and PAHs also determine the extent of PAH extraction into oil.

Potential benefit of surfactants in a hydrocarbon contaminated soil washing process: fluorescence spectroscopy based assessment

Soil washing is an ex situ soil remediation treatment process. The purpose of soil washing is to clean the major gravel and sand fractions, concentrating contamination into the fine silt and clay fractions. The addition of surfactants can improve the efficiency of this method. Here we report the use of UV fluorescence spectroscopy to assess the hydrocarbon cleaning process as a rapid and cost effective alternative to gas chromatography. Three wash solutions were tested on a total petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated soil: water, Sea Power 101 (SP101) at 1% (v/v) and Tween80 at 0.5% (w/v). The most effective to wash the gravel and sand was SP101 (54 and 65% improvement over the water only wash, respectively) which moved contamination to the silt fraction (94% of contaminants). Tween80 appeared not to enhance TPH removal efficiency from the gravel and sand fractions but did concentrate TPH in the effluent (95% more than water wash). In addition to TPH removal from gravel and sand, SP101 also showed potential benefit in the soil washing sedimentation process, enhancing sludge/water volume separation by 10% over the water only wash. In summary, fluorescence spectroscopy proved an effective technique to compare TPH removal efficiencies as part of soil washing laboratory based treatability testing.

Simultaneous mobilization of macro- and trace elements (MTEs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds from soil with a nonionic surfactant and [S,S]-ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (EDDS) in admixture: PAH compounds

A laboratory study was conducted to assess the feasibility of a washing process with nonionic surfactant in combination with EDDS for the simultaneous mobilization of MTEs and PAH compounds from a field-contaminated soil. Unit processes consisting of complexometric extraction and surfactant-assisted mobilization were combined with reagent regeneration and detoxification steps to generate innocuous products. Thirty minutes of ultrasonic mixing of the soil with a combination of 20 mL L(-1) surfactant suspension and a sparing quantity (2 mmol) of EDDS mobilized virtually all of the benzo[α] pyrene (B(a)P) and chrysene (Cry) and an appreciable portion of the burdens of Cd, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn, lesser amounts of the As and Cu, but only small quantities of Al and Fe. Relative to individual reagents, combinations of surfactant (Brij98), with EDDS increased the recovery of B(a)P but seemingly did not influence Cry extraction efficiencies perceptibly. Nine sequential washes with the same initial dosage of mobilization aids decreased the quantities of both PAHs to levels in the soil that conformed to recommended maxima. What resulted was a soil that had been cleaned and a limited quantity of innocuous wash water.

Peroxymonosulfate-Co(II) oxidation system for the removal of the non-ionic surfactant Brij 35 from aqueous solution

The non-ionic surfactant Brij 35 was effectively removed from concentrated aqueous solution by the peroxymonosulfate/Co(II) system, using oxone (2KHSO(5)·KHSO(4)·K(2)SO(4)) as a source of peroxymonosulfate. At pH=2.3 and initial Brij 35 concentration in the range 680-2410 mg L(-1), 86-94% removal was achieved after 24 h, using Co(II)=15 μM and oxone=5.9 mM. The effectiveness of removal did not change when initial pH was in the range 2.3-8.2. After five subsequent additions of Co(II) and oxone to the solution, COD and TOC removals increased up to 64% and 33%, respectively. Radical quenching tests confirmed that sulfate radical was the dominant radical species in the system. The main identified by-products from surfactant degradation were: (a) low molecular weight organic acids; (b) aldehydes and formates with shorter ethoxy chain than Brij 35; (c) alcohol ethoxylates carrying hydroxyl groups bonded to ethoxy chain. By-products identification allowed to hypothesize the pathways of Brij 35 degradation.

Enhancing p-cresol extraction from soil

Soil washing is a potential technology for rapid removal of organic hydrocarbons sorbed to soils. In this work, p-cresol desorption with different non-ionic surfactants (Tween 80, Brij 30 and Triton X-100) was compared to cyclodextrine and citrate as solubilizer. A series of batch extraction experiments were conducted at 20°C using the field soil with different extracting solutions at various concentrations to investigate the removal efficiency and to optimize the concentration of the extractant. The use of the different extracting agents was very selective to p-cresol extraction, minimizing soil organic matter releasing and maintaining the natural pH of the soil. The highest asymptotic values of desorption percentages were obtained for Tween 80 and Brij 30 at 48 h. However, Brij 30 ecotoxicity (EC(50)=0.5 mgL(-1)) is in the same order of that obtained for p-cresol, being this surfactant clearly ruled out. Liquid to solid ratio of 2.5 mLg(-1) presented the best extraction results, while concentrations higher than 1 gL(-1) for Tween 80 and Citrate did not produce any significant effect on the desorption efficiency. p-Cresol extraction efficiencies higher than 70% and 60% for Tween 80 and Citrate, respectively.

Recycling of solvent used in a solvent extraction of petroleum hydrocarbons contaminated soil

The application of water washing technology for recycling an organic composite solvent consisting of hexane and pentane (4:1; TU-A solvent) was investigated for extracting total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) from contaminated soil. The effects of water volume, water temperature, washing time and initial concentration of solvent were evaluated using orthogonal experiments followed by single factor experiments. Our results showed that the water volume was a statistically significant factor influencing greatly the water washing efficiency. Although less important, the other three factors have all increased the efficacy of water washing treatment. Based on a treatment of 20 g of contaminated soil with a TPH concentration of 140 mg g(-1), optimal conditions were found to be at 40°C, 100 mL water, 5 min washing time and 660 mg g(-1) solvent. Semi-continuous water extraction method showed that the concentration of the composite solvent TU-A was reduced below 15 mg g(-1) d.w. soil with a recovery extraction efficiency >97%. This finding suggests that water washing is a promising technology for recycling solvent used in TPH extraction from contaminated soils.

Enhanced molar sorption ratio for naphthalene through the impregnation of surfactant into chitosan hydrogel beads

Surfactants in their impregnated forms in chitosan beads (CBs) were used for sorption of naphthalene (NAP) from aqueous solutions. Three different surfactants, Triton X-100 (TX100), cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), were selected for this study. The results showed that surfactant-impregnated CS beads (SICBs) in the form of a separate phase surfactant were very effective for NAP sorption. The calculated molar sorption ratio (MSR(B) mol NAP/mol surfactant) of the surfactant impregnated into SICBs was much greater than the intrinsic molar solubilization ratio (MSR) in liquid phase. The high MSR(B) value could be explained by favorable configurations of surfactants in beads, such as micelles in sorbed form. The equilibrium isotherm did not follow Langmuir or Freundlich models, but followed Chapman sigmoidal equation, indicating co-operative sorption of solutes. Using SICBs as a separate phase surfactant may be a valuable tool for remediation of groundwater contaminated with hydrophobic organic compounds.

Surface solubilization of phenanthrene by surfactant sorbed on soils with different organic matter contents

The effect of sorbed surfactant on the distribution of hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) during soil washing was investigated using a mathematical model. Phenanthrene (PHE) as an HOC and Triton X-100 (TX100) as a nonionic surfactant were used with two soils with low (SS) and high (BS) organic matter contents. The available carbon fraction (f(A,soil)(*)) after surfactant sorption was determined from surfactant coverage by measuring soil surface area using a methylene blue method. The sorbed surfactant was greatly effective as a sorbent for PHE, with an effectiveness factor (epsilon(soil)) in the range of 10.9-117.2 for SS and 39.7-121.3 for BS. Surface molar solubilization ratio (MSR(s)) and epsilon(soil) decreased with increasing TX100 dose. The MSR(s) decrement was lower for BS than for SS probably due to stronger affinity of PHE on organic matter in BS than in SS, which cause lower efficiency of soil washing than estimated by intrinsic sorption of PHE. These results suggest that soil washing in the field using surfactant for soils with high organic matter contents may give much lower efficiency than expected due to additional adsorption of HOC onto sorbed surfactant.

Remediation of polluted soil by a two-stage treatment system: desorption of phenanthrene in soil and electrochemical treatment to recover the extraction agent

In this study, the feasibility of a two-stage treatment process for the remediation of soil contaminated with phenanthrene as a model polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) has been assessed at laboratory scale. The initial stage of the process involved contacting contaminated soil with a solution of Tween 80 to enhance the desorption of phenanthrene from soil. In order to simulate a flushing process this initial stage was carried out in a washing packed-bed soil column. At the optimised conditions the total phenanthrene removal attained a value of almost 65% after 3 days. The second stage of the suggested treatment involved regeneration of the washing solution via phenanthrene degradation. The use of an electrochemical treatment was proposed for surfactant recovery and degradation of contaminants present in the solution collected. This oxidation was accomplished via an electrochemical cell by using graphite as electrode material. The phenanthrene was almost totally degraded in 3 days, reaching a degradation of about 96%. In addition, a test in which this regenerated solution was employed in the washing process was carried out in shake flask and washing column. The results demonstrate that selective degradation of pollutants by electrochemical treatment is potentially effective in reusing surfactant in another polluted soil treatment.

Remediation of soils contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are carcinogenic micropollutants which are resistant to environmental degradation due to their highly hydrophobic nature. Concerns over their adverse health effects have resulted in extensive studies on the remediation of soils contaminated with PAHs. This paper aims to provide a review of the remediation technologies specifically for PAH-contaminated soils. The technologies discussed here include solvent extraction, bioremediation, phytoremediation, chemical oxidation, photocatalytic degradation, electrokinetic remediation, thermal treatment and integrated remediation technologies. For each of these, the theories are discussed in conjunction with comparative evaluation of studies reported in the specialised literature.

Laboratory and pilot scale soil washing of PAH and arsenic from a wood preservation site: changes in concentration and toxicity

Soil washing of a soil with a mixture of both polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and As was evaluated in laboratory and pilot scale, utilizing both single and mixtures of different additives. The highest level of decontamination was achieved with a combination of 0.213 M of the chelating agent MGDA and 3.2 x CMC* of a non-ionic, alkyl glucoside surfactant at pH 12 (Ca(OH)(2)). This combination managed to reach Swedish threshold values within 1 0 min of treatment when performed at elevated temperature (50 degrees C), with initial contaminant concentrations of As=105+/-4 mg/kg and US-EPA PAH(16)=46.0+/-2.3mg/kg. The main mechanisms behind the removal were the pH effect for As and a combination of SOM ionization as a result of high pH and micellar solubilization for PAHs. Implementation of the laboratory results utilizing a pilot scale equipment did not improve the performance, which may be due to the shorter contact time between the washing solution and the particles, or changes in physical characteristics of the leaching solution due to the elevated pressure utilized. The ecotoxicological evaluation, Microtox, demonstrated that all soil washing treatments increased the toxicity of soil leachates, possibly due to increased availability of contaminants and toxicity of soil washing solutions to the test organism.

Coagulation of soil suspensions containing nonionic or anionic surfactants using chitosan, polyacrylamide, and polyaluminium chloride

Effective coagulation and separation of particles in a soil-washed solution is required for a successful soil washing process. The effectiveness of chitosan (CS), a polycationic biodegradable polymer, as a coagulant was compared to polyacrylamide (PAA) and polyaluminium chloride (PAC) for the coagulation of a soil suspension (5 gL(-1)). The effect of surfactants in the coagulation process was investigated using Triton X-100 (TX-100), a nonionic surfactant, and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), an anionic surfactant. CS (5 mgL(-1)) removed 86% and 63% of the suspended soil in the presence of TX-100 (5 gL(-1)) and SDS (5 gL(-1)), respectively, after 30 min at a pH of 6. The results prove that coagulation in the presence of TX-100 is more effective than with SDS. CS was found to be more efficient compared to PAA and PAC under all coagulation conditions. The optimum concentration of CS required for maximum coagulation of soil suspension was 5 mgL(-1). PAA and PAC could not achieve the same degree soil removal as CS even after increasing their concentrations up to 50 mgL(-1). Maximum levels of 50% and 60% soil removal were achieved using PAA (50 mgL(-1)) and PAC (50 mgL(-1)), respectively, after 30 min from a 5 gL(-1) suspension containing TX-100 (5 gL(-1)). The soil coagulation process was found to decrease with an increase in the pH of the suspension, and maximum coagulation was achieved with an acidic pH.

Mathematical evaluation of activated carbon adsorption for surfactant recovery in a soil washing process

The performances of various soil washing processes, including surfactant recovery by selective adsorption, were evaluated using a mathematical model for partitioning a target compound and surfactant in water/sorbent system. Phenanthrene was selected as a representative hazardous organic compound and Triton X-100 as a surfactant. Two activated carbons that differed in size (Darco 20-40 mesh and >100 mesh sizes) were used in adsorption experiments. The adsorption isotherms of the chemicals were used in model simulations for various washing scenarios. The optimal process conditions were suggested to minimize the dosage of activated carbon and surfactant and the number of washings. We estimated that the requirement of surfactant could be reduced to 33% of surfactant requirements (from 265 to 86.6g) with a reuse step using 9.1g activated carbon (>100 mesh) to achieve 90% removal of phenanthrene (initially 100mg kg-soil(-1)) with a water/soil ratio of 10.