Removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHS) from ındustrial soil with solar and UV light

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare the efficiencies of solar/UV based processes for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) removal from soils with and without additives. This study provided some useful information to understand the remediation of PAH-contaminated soils by photocatalytic techniques. Soil samples were taken from an industrial area, and PAH removal processes were applied to the samples for 24 h in ambient air conditions. Also, UV experiments (UVA and UVC) were conducted in a specially designed apparatus. TiO(2)and H(2)O(2)were used as additives at the doses of 1%, 10%, and 20% of dry soil weight during ambient air experiments. Only 35% n-ary sumation (12)PAH removal from soil was obtained in ambient air conditions. This value was calculated as 90% and 86% for UVA and UVC applications, respectively. Results indicated that the use of additives contributed to the photodegradation of PAHs under real conditions. The most efficient doses were 20% for TiO2(89% PAH removal) and 1% for H2O2(88% PAH removal). When the removal efficiencies were evaluated in terms of compounds, it was observed that the removal ratios were elevated for both lighter and heavier PAH compounds with the addition of additives. 3-ring and 4-ring PAH compounds were removed at higher ratios in comparison with 5-,6-ring ones for samples with and without additives.