The impact of ultrasonic power and time for the removal of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon from low permeability contaminated soils

Abstract

Ultrasonic was widely studied in soil or sediment with several types of contaminants, both heavy metals and organic matter. Ultrasonic may enhance the desorption or leaching of contaminants from the soil and play an important role in the formation of radicals (•OH) that involved in the oxidation of hydrocarbon contaminants in the soil. This research has consisted of a tube reactor made from stainless steel in 21 cm × 21 cm × 18 cm of volume. According to previous research, ultrasonic power not only increases the desorption process or leaching contaminants from the soil but also plays an important role in the formation of radicals (•OH) which are oxidizers involved in the oxidation process. The main reactor has a dimension of 21 cm × 21 cm × 18 cm. The system used was a bath system, where the transducer was attached under the bath (reactor) so that it indirectly produces sonication. Contaminated soil has low permeability and obtained from conventional petroleum mining in Grobogan Regency, Central Java. Initial concentrations of TPH was 334100 mg / kg. Based on the optimum time experiment, it can be seen that the TPH removal was significant at the initial 15 minutes of sonication. At optimum conditions, TPH efficiency removal at 160 watts of power, 48 kHz of frequency, 1: 9 (gr/ml) of soil / liquid ratio was 61.03%.