Surfactant assisted removal of engine oil from synthetic soil

Abstract

Effectiveness of surfactants SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate), AOT (sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate) and Brij 35 (polyoxyethylene lauryl ether) in removing residual oil from soils have been determined. Experimental results indicated that oil desorption efficiencies with surfactants are 7 to 18 times higher than using water alone. 0.6% Brij 35 at was the most effective surfactant to remove oil from soil, and it did not display any significant change in oil desorption with pH changes. A comparison study also showed that pore volume was a more significant parameter than soil washing flow rate to improve oil desorption