Polychlorinated biphenyls-contaminated soil washing with mixed surfactants enhanced by electrokinetics

On the basis of comparing the adsorption loss of different surfactants[single nonionic surfactant sorbitanmonooleatepolyoxyethylene ether(Tween 80), anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate(SDBS), and mixed surfactants Tween 80/SDBS(3:2), Tween 80/SDBS(4:1)] and their performance in the enhancement of polychlorinated biphenyls(PCBs) desorption from soil, the impact of electric field intensity on the desorption of PCBs and the transport of surfactants in washing resulted solution were investigated in this study. With regard to the remediation cost, 1000 mg/L mixed Tween 80/SDBS(3:2) was recognized as an optimum concentration in the remediation of PCBs-contaminated soil, because Tween 80/SDBS(3:2) had the highest washing capacity and relatively low adsorption loss onto soil. Electrokinetics can enhance the washing efficiency of PCBs-contaminated soil by Tween 80/SDBS(3:2) effectively and safely at an electric field intensity of 1.5 V/cm for 10 d, for the desorption of PCBs was 1.57 times more than that without electrokinetics, and the most of organic residue in washing resulted solution was removed in an electrical field to avoid the possible secondary contamination risk.