Solubilization of hydrocarbons from oil sludge by synthetic surfactants

✍ Scribed by K. L. Janiyani; S. R. Wate; S. R. Joshi

• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 2007
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 371 KB
• Volume: 56
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0268-2575
• DOI: 10.1002/jctb.280560314

✦ Synopsis

Disposal of oil sludges poses an environmental pollution problem due to the presence of high molecular weight hydrocarbons which are hydrophobic and hence non-biodegradable in nature. In-situ transformation of hydrophobic hydrocarbons into hydrophilic moieties using surfactants and further degradation of solubilized hydrocarbons by microorganisms could be the viable solution for disposal of these sludges. Treatment of oil sludge with the synthetic surfactant polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate indicated the release of hydrocarbons in the aqueous phase. Increase in soluble chemical oxygen demand with increase in concentration of surfactant and contact time was observed indicating enhancement in solubility of hydrocarbons in the aqueous phase. The optimum ratio of sludge to surfactant was found to be 10: 1. While a two-fold increase in solubility of hydrocarbons was observed due to agitation of sludge samples, variation in pH did not affect the solubilization.