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Granulometry and Surfactants, Key Factors in Desorption and Biodegradation (T. versicolor) of PAHs in Soil and Groundwater

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Abstract

High hydrophobicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is the most limiting factor for the remediation of polluted soils and aquifers. The present study analyzes the effect of three nonionic surfactants (Tween 80, BS-400, and Gold Crew) and the granulometry of soil (1 %, 5 %, 10 %, and 20 % of clay and silt) on desorption of a PAH mixture (fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, and pyrene). As a general trend, decrease of fine material content and increase of surfactant concentration raises desorption. However, some particularities have to be considered depending on granulometry together with the surfactant applied. Furthermore, increase of fine material content tends to reduce the importance of the PAH properties, e.g., K ow and solubility, in desorption. To complete the remediation process, biodegradation by Trametes versicolor was tested with the surfactant Tween 80. Results indicate that a high concentration of surfactant does not affect the efficiency of fungus bioremediation. Nevertheless, high fine material content in soil/aquifer can reduce the degradation rate. Moreover, desorption and biodegradation used synergically guarantee better overall results in the remediation of soils polluted by PAH mixtures than other methods that separate desorption and remediation.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financed by the CICYT projects CGL2008-06373-C03-01 and CGL2011-29975-C04-01 from the Spanish Government, and projects 2009SGR00103 and 2009SGR1199 from the Catalan Government.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. D’Enginy Biorem, Carrer Madrazo 68, 08006, Barcelona, Spain

    P. Rodríguez-Escales

  2. Unitat de Geodinàmica Externa i Hidrogeologia, Departament de Geologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain

    P. Rodríguez-Escales & A. Folch

  3. Departament d’Enginyeria Química, Escola d’Enginyeria, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain

    P. Rodríguez-Escales, E. Borràs & M. Sarra

  4. GHS, Departament d’Enginyeria del Terreny, Cartogràsfica i Geofísica, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech, Jordi Girona 1-3, Modul D-2, 08034, Barcelona, Spain

    P. Rodríguez-Escales & A. Folch

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  1. P. Rodríguez-Escales
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  2. E. Borràs
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Correspondence to A. Folch.

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Rodríguez-Escales, P., Borràs, E., Sarra, M. et al. Granulometry and Surfactants, Key Factors in Desorption and Biodegradation (T. versicolor) of PAHs in Soil and Groundwater. Water Air Soil Pollut 224, 1422 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-012-1422-z

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