Application of non-ionic surfactant in the remediation of PAHs contaminated soil

In the present study, the efficiency of phenanthrene removal from artificially contaminated soil by nonionic Rokanol NL8 was investigated. The experiments were performed under static conditions, at constant soil to solution ratio m/V = 1/5), and under dynamic conditions, using a column reactor at flow rate of 2 mL/min. Three series at 0.1%, 0.5% and 1% Rokanol NL8 concentration were conducted. At concentration 0.1%, the efficiency of phenanthrene removal did not exceed 2% in both conditions. In static conditions, at 0.5% and 1% Rokanol NL8, the process efficiency was about 41.72% and 70.46%, respectively. In dynamic conditions, at 0.5% and 1% of surfactant concentration, the phenanthrene removal from soil increased through the time and reached 93.30% regardless of surfactant concentration.