Remediation of PAH-contaminated sediments by chemical oxidation

Abstract

The aim of this experimental investigation was to assess the feasibility of using chemical oxidation to degrade sorbed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in case of old date sediment contamination. For this purpose several bench scale laboratory tests were performed, with the following liquid reactants: hydrogen peroxide, modified Fenton's reagent, activated sodium persulfate, potassium permanganate, as well as a combination of potassium permanganate and hydrogen peroxide, and a combination of activated sodium persulfate and hydrogen peroxide. The main target of the study was to find out what liquid oxidant was more effective in reducing the pollutant content and to assess the optimal reactant doses. The initial total PAH concentration in sediment samples was about 2800 mg/kg SS (light PAHs about 1600 mg/kg SS, heavy PAHs about 1200 mg/kg SS) and a 95% degradation was required to meet the remediation goals. Based on the results of this study, chemical oxidation proved to be an effective remediation technology, amenably applicable for the ex situ remediation of the sediments of concern. Different reactants resulted however in different removal efficiencies. The best remediation performances were achieved with the use of modified Fenton's reagent, hydrogen peroxide and potassium permanganate, with oxidant dosages about 100 mmols per 30 g sediment sample. In all these cases the residual heavy PAH concentration in the treated samples was below 100 mg/kg SS. The optimal oxidant dosages determined in this study were quite high, as sorbed PAH mineralization requires very vigorous oxidation conditions, especially for soils and sediments with high organic matter content. The results indicated that the optimal oxidant dose must be carefully determined under site-specific conditions. In fact, if the oxidation conditions are not strong enough, the reactants cannot be able to attack the most recalcitrant compounds, while also too high oxidant doses can result in a decrease in the oxidation efficiency, thus failing in meeting the remediation goals.