Effectiveness of Air, N2 (gas), Fe+3 and Fe3O4 Nanoparticles on the Sonication of Less and More Hydrophobic Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and Toxicity

Abstract

In this study, the effects of 1 h aeration, nitrogen gas N2(g) sparging (15 and 30 min) and increasing ferric ions (Fe+3) as FeSO4 (10, 20 and 50 mg L−1) and Fe3O4 nanoparticles (1, 2 and 4 g L−1) concentrations on three less hydrophobic and three more hydrophobic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and toxicity removals from a petrochemical industry in Izmir (Turkey) were investigated in a sonicator with a power of 650 W and an ultrasound frequency of 35 kHz; 1 h aeration increased the yields in benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene and benzo[a]pyrene PAHs (less hydrophobic) from 62% to 67% to around 95–97% after 150 min sonication at 60°C. However, 1 h aeration did not contribute to the yields of more hydrophobic PAHs (indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, dibenz[a,h]anthracene, benzo[g,h,i]perylene). The maximum yields were obtained at acidic and alkaline pH for more and less hydrophobic PAHs, respectively, after 60 and 120 min sonication at 30°C; 30 min N2(g) sparging, 50 mg L−1 Fe+3 increased the yields of less hydropobic PAHs after 150 min sonication at 60°C. Two milligrams per liter of Fe3O4 nanoparticles increased both less (87–88%) and more (96–98%) hydrophobic PAH yields. The Daphnia magna acute toxicity test showed that the toxicity decreased significantly with an hour aeration, 30 min N2(g) sparging, 50 mg L−1 Fe+3 and 2 g L−1 Fe3O4 nanoparticles at 60°C after 120 and 150 min sonications. Vibrio fischeri was found to be more resistant to the sonicated samples than D. magna. Significant correlations were found between the physicochemical properties of sonicated PAHs and acute toxicities both organisms.