Date of Award
8-2010
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Geological and Environmental Sciences
First Advisor
Dr. Daniel Cassidy
Second Advisor
Dr. Carla Koretsky
Third Advisor
Dr. Duane Hampton
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Campus Only
Abstract
A soil contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) was treated in laboratory slurry reactors with three chemical oxidants: modified Fenton chemistry (MFC) with hydrogen peroxide, MFC with calcium peroxide, and sodium persulfate activated with Fe chelated using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Samples of slurry filtrate were tested to quantify emulsification of PAH and concentrations of bulk surfactants, using the critical micelle dilution method. All three oxidants produced surfactants reaching levels above the critical micelle concentration (CMC). The surfactants emulsified the PAH, and resulted in greater overall removal of 5- and 6-ring PAH than biodegradation alone. To characterize surfactants, samples of untreated and treated slurry were ran on a gas chromatographer/mass spectrometer (GC/MS). The surfactants were mostly benzoic acid with small amounts of alcohols and alkanes. The high molecular weight PAHs were degraded to less harmful compounds, however, low molecular weight PAHs such as naphthalene and anthracene, were not entirely degraded.
Recommended Citation
Gryzenia, Joy T., "Production, Accumulation and Characterization of Surfactants Produced During the Chemical Oxidation of PAH Contaminated Soil" (2010). Masters Theses. 357.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/357