The potential for solubilizing agents to enhance the remediation of hydrophobic organic solutes in soil-water suspensions. [Quarterly report]

Technical Report · Fri Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1991

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10137445· OSTI ID:10137445

Laha, S; Liu, Z; Edwards, D; Luthy, R G

This paper discusses the feasibility for use of surfactant solubilizing agents to enhance the solubility and the rate of microbial degradation of hydrophobic organic solutes in soil-water suspensions. Hydrophobic organic contaminants are strongly sorbed to soil or sediment material, and as a consequence the rate of microbial degradation may depend greatly on the desorption of the sorbed-phase contaminant and the accessibility of the contaminant to soil microorganisms. Chemical solubilizing agents may enhance the rate of hydrophobic organic solute degradation by increasing the rate of solute desorption from soil and the extent of solute partitioning to the aqueous phase. The presentation will review on-going research on: surfactant solubilization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds in clean water, and in soil-water suspensions; and experiments to assess if the addition of surfactant to soil-water suspension results in faster rate of mineralization of PAH compounds in soil.

• Research Organization: Carnegie-Mellon Univ., Pittsburgh, PA (United States). Dept. of Civil Engineering
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: FG22-90PC90303
• OSTI ID: 10137445
• Report Number(s): DOE/PC/90303--T1; ON: DE92011416
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540250
550700
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ANTHRACENE
BIODEGRADATION
CARBON 14
LAND RECLAMATION
MICROBIOLOGY
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC WASTES
PHENANTHRENE
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
PROGRESS REPORT
PYRENE
REMEDIAL ACTION
SITE RESOURCE AND USE STUDIES
SOLUBILITY
SURFACTANTS
SUSPENSIONS