Predicting surfactant modified soil/water distribution coefficients using micellar HPLC

Abstract

Soil water/distribution coefficients (K d) have been measured for the partitioning of naphthalene, phenanthrene and pyrene between aqueous surfactant solutions and a clean soil. The surfactants used are ABA block copolymers constructed from ethylene oxide (the monomer used to synthesise the hydrophilic A blocks) and propylene oxide (used for the manufacture of the hydrophobic B block). Three of these surfactants comprising the same size propylene oxide block but different ethylene oxide/propylene oxide ratios were investigated. Increasing amounts of surfactant in the system result in a progressive decrease in the K d values signifying an increasing tendency for the hydrophobic solutes to be dispersed in aqueous solution due to the action of the surfactant. More significantly for equal surfactant doses the most hydrophobic surfactant possessing the lowest ethylene oxide/propylene oxide ratio reduces K d by the greatest amount whereas the most hydrophilic surfactant reduces K d the least. Finally micellar HPLC using the above surfactants and hydrophobic solutes was undertaken. Interpolated capacity factors evaluated for particular surfactant doses correlated well with K d values calculated for the same surfactant doses. The relationship between K d and capacity was found to be log-linear and the correlation line could be fitted to the data obtained for all three surfactants. It is therefore concluded that micellar HPLC may be used for preliminary evaluations of the effectiveness of particular surfactants proposed for contaminated soils restoration schemes.