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Feasibility of treating aged polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)-contaminated soils using ethyl lactate-based Fenton treatment via parametric and kinetic studies

Environmental Science and Pollution Research volume 22, pages 329–342 (2015)Cite this article

Abstract

This study focuses on the feasibility of treating aged polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)-contaminated soils using ethyl lactate (EL)-based Fenton treatment via a combination of parametric and kinetic studies. An optimised operating condition was observed at 66.7 M H2O2 with H2O2/Fe2+ of 40:1 for low soil organic carbon (SOC) content and mildly acidic soil (pH 6.2), and 10:1 for high SOC and very acidic soil (pH 4.4) with no soil pH adjustment. The desorption kinetic was only mildly shifted from single equilibrium to dual equilibrium of the first-order kinetic model upon ageing. Pretreatment with EL f c = 0.60 greatly reduced the mass transfer coefficient especially for the slow desorbed fraction (k slow) of high molecular weight (HMW) PAHs, largely contributed by the concentration gradient created by EL-enhanced solubility. As the major desorption obstacle was almost fully overcome by the pretreatment, the pseudo-first-order kinetic reaction rate constant of PAHs degradation of aged soils was statistically discernible from that of freshly contaminated soils but slightly reduced in high SOC and high acidity soil. Stabilisation of H2O2 by EL addition in combination with reduced Fe2+ catalyst were able to slow the decomposition rate of H2O2 even at higher soil pH.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Research Innovation Services of the University of Nottingham, UK under the grant no. NRF4318. The Faculty of Engineering at the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus is also acknowledged for its support towards this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Jalan Broga, 43500, Semenyih, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

    Chiew Lin Yap & Suyin Gan

  2. Department of Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering, The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Jalan Broga, 43500, Semenyih, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

    Hoon Kiat Ng

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  1. Chiew Lin Yap
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  2. Suyin Gan
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  3. Hoon Kiat Ng
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Correspondence to Suyin Gan.

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Responsible editor: Roland Kallenborn

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Yap, C.L., Gan, S. & Ng, H.K. Feasibility of treating aged polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)-contaminated soils using ethyl lactate-based Fenton treatment via parametric and kinetic studies. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 329–342 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3199-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3199-7

Keywords

  • Ageing
  • Ethyl lactate
  • Fenton
  • Kinetic
  • Parametric
  • Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
  • Soil