Evaluation of surfactant efficiency in remediation on non aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) contaminated soils

This study represents a possible approach for the determination of the parameters characterizing the efficiency of surfactant mix for the remediation of soil and aquifers contaminated by entrapped non aqueous phase liquid (NAPL). The method incorporates the performance of two sets of experiments and their appropriate analysis. In one set, called the “vessel experiments”, the CMC of the surfactant mix is determined. The second set of experiments is called the “flow experiments”. In this set of experiments soil columns are contaminated by entrapped NAPL. Water flows through these columns with various types of surfactant mix solutions. According to the soil permeabilityvariation and the dissolved NAPL concentration in the water leaving the soil column, the effect of the surfactant mix on the coefficient of mass transfer is determined.