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Sorption of nonionic organic compounds in soil-water systems containing a micelle-forming surfactant

Conference ·
OSTI ID:491086
; ;  [1]
  1. Montana State Univ., Bozeman, MT (United States). Dept. of Plant, Soil and Environmental Science

The solubility enhancement of nonionic organic compounds (NOCs) by surfactants may represent an important tool in chemical and biological remediation of contaminated soils. In aqueous systems, the presence of dissolved surfactant emulsions or micelles may enhance the solubility of NOCs by acting as a hydrophobic partitioning phase for the NOCs. However, most environmental remediation efforts involve soil-water or sediment-water systems, where surfactant molecules may also interact with the solid phase. An understanding of the effect of surfactants on the sorption and distribution of NOCs in soil or sediment environments will provide an essential basis for utilizing surfactants in environmental remediation. In this study, the authors examined the effect of a micelle-forming surfactant (Triton X-100) on the sorption of 2,2{prime},4,4{prime},5,5{prime}-PCB, 1,1-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-2,2,2-trichloroethane (p,p{prime}-DDT) and 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (1,2,4-TCB). A conceptual model, which accurately describes the functional dependence of K* on Triton X-100 concentration, was developed based on the partition coefficients of these NOCs by soil, soil-surfactant, surfactant monomer and surfactant micelle phases. This model can be further modified to provide quantitative prediction of K* of a given NOC at different surfactant concentrations.

OSTI ID:
491086
Report Number(s):
CONF-9406250--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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