Surfactant-enhanced solubility and mobility of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil

Conference · Wed Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1997

OSTI ID:585743

Sun, X; Puri, R K ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Missouri, Rolla, MO (United States). Environmental Trace Substances Lab.

The role of some selected nonionic, anionic and cationic surfactants was investigated in solubilizing and mobilizing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from soil. The data from the batch experiment showed that Brij 30 (a nonionic surfactant) started transporting the PAHs from soil to water at concentrations well below its apparent critical micelle concentration (ACMC). At its high concentrations, however, Brij 30 transported more PAHs to the aqueous phase. Thus, it showed a great potential in remediation of PAH-contaminated soils. The tested anionic and cationic surfactants did not show the solubilization effect until the concentrations reached their ACMCs. The experiment showed that the decomposition of the surfactants was more significant than tat of the PAHs with the passage of time. A considerable portion of the solubilized PAHs was either re-adsorbed by the soil particles or was hanging in the mobile phase after 170 days, depending on the nature and concentration of the individual surfactants. The data showed that the solubilized portion of the PAHs became more persistent in the soil-water system, and its transport is proportional to the concentration and nature of the surfactants studied.

• OSTI ID: 585743
• Report Number(s): CONF-9705104--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
REMEDIAL ACTION
SOILS
SOLUBILITY
SURFACTANTS