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Evaluation of the Effects of Zero-Valent Iron Nanoparticles in the Treatment of Soils Polluted with Refinery Effluent Hydrocarbons

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Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are major environmental concerns due to their high carcinogenic properties and resistance to decomposition. These substances accumulate in the soil and reach living organisms through agriculture/leaching or dust sources. Zero-valent iron nanoparticles (ZVI NPs) have high regenerative power to remove environmental pollutants (such as PAHs) due to their extremely small size, specific surface area, and high reactivity. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of ZVI NPs on the removal of PAHs. The refinery effluent sample, control soil, and two soil samples in the effluent path were collected, followed by measuring the type and percentage of aromatic hydrocarbons and comparing the amount of pollution and its effect on the soil. PAH health risk assessment showed that the risk of carcinogenesis is higher through skin contact. The incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) was possible in terms of carcinogenic risk (10−5–10−6). Next, two samples of the soil contaminated with iron NPs at three concentrations of 2.5, 5, and 10 g of NPs per 100 g of the soil were mixed. Then, each treatment was tested at 24, 48, and 72 h, and the amount of PAHs was obtained using a chromatogram. The results showed that the refinery effluent caused soil pollution in the route, and the concentration of 10% nanomaterials more than other concentrations led to a decrease in PAHs. In addition, the longer the iron NPs are in contact with the soil, the lower the amount of PAHs, and in some cases, it has reached zero.

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Data Availability

The datasets used and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Funding

This work is financially supported by Behbahan Bidboland Gas Refinery under research grant contract No. 195286 dated 3 August 2021.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Marine Natural Resources, Khorramshahr University of Marine Science and Technology, Khorramshahr, Iran

    Zeinab Babaei Ab Alvan

  2. Department of Environment, College of Marine Natural Resources, Khorramshahr University of Marine Science and Technology, Khorramshahr, Iran

    Hossein Mohammad Asgari & Hakimeh Amanipoor

  3. Department of Chemistry, College of Marine and Oceanic Sciences, Khorramshahr University of Marine Science and Technology, Khorramshahr, Iran

    Foad Buazar

  4. Environmental Engineering, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran

    Sadegh Motaghed

  5. Development and Technology Research, Behbahan Bidboland Gas Refinery, Behbahan, Iran

    Sadegh Motaghed

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  1. Zeinab Babaei Ab Alvan
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Contributions

Zeinab Babaei Ab Alvan conducted the experiments. Hossein Mohammad Asgari designed the study. Hossein Mohammad Asgari and Zeinab Babaei Ab Alvan analyzed the results. Hakimeh Amanipour and Fouad Bouazar reviewed and edited the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Hossein Mohammad Asgari.

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Alvan, Z.B.A., Asgari, H.M., Amanipoor, H. et al. Evaluation of the Effects of Zero-Valent Iron Nanoparticles in the Treatment of Soils Polluted with Refinery Effluent Hydrocarbons. Water Air Soil Pollut 234, 40 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-022-06041-6

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