Abstract
Selective removal of petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs) from soil washing effluents is the key to the surfactant-enhanced soil washing technology. In this study, the diatomite was modified by nonionic surfactant TX-100 and applied in the selective adsorption of PHCs in the soil washing effluents. The modified diatomites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption/desorption and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy respectively. The adsorption process followed the pseudo-second-order model and the adsorption isotherms indicated that the interaction between PHCs and modified diatomite was monolayer adsorption. The important operating factors such as TX-100 dosage, adsorbent dosage, time and temperature were optimized. With the participation of the low-cost adsorbent TX3-Db with high adsorption capacity, the recovery efficiency of the washing effluents was still up to 78.9% after three cycles. A selective adsorption mechanism, based on steric hindrance and electrostatic repulsion, was proposed to explain the removal of PHCs from washing effluents.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
