Effects of surfactants on extraction of phenanthrene in spiked sand

Problems associated with polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contaminate d site in environmental media have received increasing attention. To resolv e such problems, innovative in situ methods are urgently required. This wor k investigated the feasibility of using surfactants to extract phenanthrene on spiked sand in a batch system. Phenanthrene was spiked into Ottawa sand to simulate contaminated soil. Six surfactants, Brij 30 (BR), Triton X-100 (TR), Tergitol NP-10 (TE), Igepal CA-720 (IG), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS ) and hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (HTAB) were used. Adjusting the extraction time, mixing speed and surfactant concentration yielded the opti mum extracting conditions. The concentration of phenanthrene was identified with HPLC. Under the experimental conditions, results indicated that those surfactants were highly promising on site remediation since the residual p henanthrene concentration was effectively reduced. The optimum operating co nditions were obtained at 30 min, 125 rpm and surfactant concentrations in 4%. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.