Degradation of BTX in Contaminated Soil by Using Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) and Potassium Permanganate (KMnO4)

Abstract

This work aims to evaluate the efficiency of the degradation of BTX in soil contaminated with oil effluent by chemical oxidation using hydrogen peroxide and potassium permanganate. The initial concentration of BTX in soil was: benzene, 41.4 μg kg−1; toluene, 30.9 μg kg−1; xylene, 1,522.7 μg kg−1 and in water was: benzene, 18.6 μg mL−1; toluene, 18.0 μg mL−1; xylene, 565.8 μg mL−1. The results showed an elevated efficiency in the degradation of BTX by using these compounds, removing 95.2%, 93.5%, and 95.5% of benzene, toluene, and xylene, respectively, with a solution of hydrogen peroxide and 89.3%, and 94.4% of toluene and xylene, respectively, with a solution of potassium permanganate at 4.5%. Benzene was not degraded in potassium permanganate solution.