A Continuous Process of Persulfate Oxidation and Citric acid Washing for the Treatment of Complex-Contaminated Soil Containing Total Recoverable Petroleum Hydrocarbons and Heavy Metals
A continuous process of persulfate oxidation and citric acid washing was investigated for ex-situ remediation of complex contaminated soil containing total recoverable petroleum hydrocarbons (TRPHs) and heavy metals (Cu, Pb, and Zn). The batch experiment results showed that TRPHs could be degraded by Fe2+ activated persulfate oxidation and that heavy metals could be removed by washing with citric acid. For efficient remediation of the complex contaminated soil, two-stage and three-stage processes were evaluated. Removal efficiency of the two-stage process (persulfate oxidation - citric acid washing) was 83% for TRPHs and 49%, 53%, 24% for Cu, Zn, and Pb, respectively. To improve the removal efficiency, a three-stage process was also tested; case A) water washing - persulfate oxidation - citirc acid washing and case B) persulfate oxidation - citric acid washing (1) - citric acid washing (2). In case A, 63% of TRPHs, 73% of Cu, 60% of Zn, and 55% of Pb were removed, while the removal efficiencies of TRPHs, Cu, Pb, and Zn were 24%, 68%, 62%, and 59% in case B, respectively. The results indicated that case A was better than case B. The three-stage process was more effective than the two-stage process for the remediation of complex-contaminated soil in therms of overall removal efficiency.