Surfactant-Enhanced Insitu Biodegradation of Strongly Sorbing Organic Substances in Soil Environments
Abstract
Slightly soluble, high molecular weight chemicals and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH), are common pollutants of concern in the remediation of oil spill sites. Low volatility, coupled with hydrophobic characteristics, make them more persistent in nature. In-place biological transformation is believed to be the most effective process for their removal. The hydrophobic nature of the contaminants results in a partition onto the soil matrix. In most cases this can account for 95-99% of the total contaminant mass. This limits the biological transformation by reducing the soluble concentration, therby, making them unavailable on the microbial population. Thus a well-designed bioremodiation process should consider a way of mobilizing the contaminants from the soil surface to make them available to the microbial population. Surfactants have been found to be effective in mobilizing hydrophobic contaminants from soil surface. Mobilization of contaminants by surfactants depends on the surfactant- soil-contaminant interactions. Edwards et al., (1991) developed a model for the prediction of the mobilization of low solubility organic contaminants by surfactants in soils.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 31, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA266408
Entities
People
- Peter R. Jaffe
Organizations
- Princeton University