Application of enhanced electrokinetic remediation by coupling surfactants for kerosene-contaminated soils: Effect of ionic and nonionic surfactants

Abstract

Electrokinetic (EK) by coupling surfactants is an enhanced promising remediation technology to eliminate hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) from low-permeable soils. It is also applied to remediate kerosene-contaminated soils using anionic (SDS) and non-ionic (Tween 80) surfactants at different concentrations. There was negligible removal efficiency (40%) of kerosene during traditional EK without any enhancement technique. In the present study, the application of 0.005M and 0.01M SDS in EK-SDS-1 and EK-SDS-2 improved the removal efficiency to 50 and 55%, respectively towards the anode. Furthermore, the use of Tween 80 in EK-Tw80-1 and EK-Tw80-2 at 0.1 and 1% concentrations was able to raise kerosene removal gradually from 45% to 52% towards the cathode. These findings suggest that higher concentrations of SDS and Tween 80 contribute to the more effective elimination of kerosene. Thus, in EK-SDS-Tw80-V1.5 and EK-SDS-Tw80-V2, SDS and Tween 80 were used simultaneously at higher concentrations, which led to 63 and 67% kerosene removal, respectively. Considering the maximum removal in EK-SDS-Tw80-V2, the energy consumption in EK-SDS-Tw80-V2 was 178 KWh/m3 due to the higher voltage gradient; whereas without increased voltage in EK-SDS-Tw80-V1.5, this amount was decreased to 84 KWh/m3. It is to be mentioned that the electro-osmotic flow (EOF) played a significant role in minimizing kerosene concentration during the EK process, particularly when combined with surfactants.