Evaluation of soil flushing potential for clean-up of desert soil contaminated by industrial wastewater.
The flushing potential of a desert loess soil contaminated by the flame retardant Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), chloride (Cl(-)) and bromide (Br(-)) was studied in undisturbed laboratory column experiments (20 cm diameter, 45 cm long) and a small field plot (2 x 2 m). While the soluble inorganic ions (Cl(-) and Br(-)) were efficiently flushed from the soil profile after less than three pore volumes (PV) of water, about 50% of the initial amount of TBBPA in the soil was also flushed, despite its hydrophobic nature. TBBPA leaching was made possible due to a significant increase in the pH of the soil solution from 7.5 to 9, which increased TBBPA aqueous solubility. The remaining TBBPA mass in the soil was not mobilized from its initial location in the topsoil due to the decrease in pH at this horizon. In situ soil flushing demonstrated that this method is a feasible treatment for reducing soil contamination at this site.
Arnon
Shai
S
Department of Environmental Hydrology and Microbiology, Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, J. Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede-Boqer Campus 84990, Israel. s-arnon@northwestern.edu
Ronen
Zeev
Z
Yakirevich
Alexander
A
Adar
Eilon
E
D003889:Desert Climate; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D012995:Solubility; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*
D005411:Flame Retardants; D007220:Industrial Waste; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; C020806:tetrabromobisphenol A