Remediation of Diesel-contaminated soil using zero-valent nano-nickel and zero-valent nano copper particles-stabilized Tween 80 surfactant foam

Abstract

This paper uniquely reports the remediation of diesel-contaminated desert soil by aqueous Tween 80 (TW80) surfactant foams stabilized by zero–valent nickel (Ni0) and zero–valent copper (Cu0) nanoparticles (NPs). The sizes of synthesized nanoparticles, ∼21 nm (Cu0), ∼20 nm (Ni0), are determined by XRD and FE-SEM. The impact of these NPs (1 mg, 2 mg concentrations) on foaming characteristics, remediation of diesel-contaminated soils is explored at 2 vol% TW80 surfactant concentration. With 2 mg concentration of Ni0, Cu0 NPs and 2 vol% TW80 surfactant, it is found that 98.73 and 99.38 % diesel contaminants are removed.