Performance Evaluation of Diethylamine to the Removal of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) from Polluted Soils with Sunlight

Abstract

In the present study, the removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds from contaminated soil with solar radiation was investigated. In this context, the effect of diethylamine (DEA) as a photo-sensitizer on the photodegradation of PAH was examined, and the ring distributions of the PAHs were determined. DEA was added to samples at the doses of 1%, 10%, and 20% of dry weight of soil, and samples were kept in ambient air for 24 hours. Concentrations of Σ12PAH in soil samples were detected with Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrophotometer (GC-MS) as 4382 ng/g dry matter (DM). The total PAH content of the soil decreased by 45% in the presence of sunlight without using DEA. Σ12PAH removal efficiency was at the maximum level of 76% with the addition of 1% DEA to the soil. The increase in the dose of DEA adversely affected the PAH elimination process, and minimum removal ratio (32%) was obtained in the sample containing 20% DEA. The use of DEA has contributed to the elimination of most 3-ring PAH species. Heavy species, 5-6 ring compounds, have not been removed in the presence of sunlight.