Enhanced remediation of diesel-contaminated soils using a novel biopolymer-based emulsion
Sabyrbay B. Davarzani D. Colombano S. Omirbekov S. Kodebay I. Lorthioy M. Krimissa M. Dicharry C.
15 July 2025Elsevier B.V.
Journal of Hazardous Materials
2025#492
Conventional in-situ light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) remediation techniques often face challenges of high costs and limited efficiency, leaving residual hydrocarbons trapped in soil pores. This study investigates the efficiency of an alcohol-in-biopolymer emulsion for enhancing diesel-contaminated soil remediation. The emulsion, formulated with xanthan gum biopolymer, sodium dodecyl sulfate surfactant, and the oil-soluble alcohol 1-pentanol, was evaluated through rheological tests, interfacial tension measurements, and one-dimensional sand-column experiments under direct injection and post-waterflooding scenarios. The emulsion exhibited non-Newtonian shear-thinning behavior with high viscosity, ensuring stable propagation and efficient delivery of 1-pentanol to mobilize trapped diesel ganglia. It achieved 100 % diesel recovery within 1.2 PV during direct injection, outperforming shear-thinning polymer-only and polymer-surfactant solutions, which achieved recovery factors of 83.4–92.9 %. Post-waterflooding experiments also demonstrated 100 % diesel recovery within 1.3 PV, regardless of initial diesel saturation. Key mechanisms include reduced interfacial tension, diesel swelling and mobilization induced by 1-pentanol, and uniform displacement facilitated by the emulsions viscosity. Additionally, the emulsion required lower injection pressures compared to more viscous alternatives, enhancing its injectability into the soil and reducing energy demands. These findings highlight the emulsions potential to overcome conventional remediation limitations, offering a highly effective and sustainable solution for diesel-contaminated soils and groundwater.
Biopolymer xanthan gum , Diesel , Emulsion , Enhanced soil remediation , Oil-swelling alcohol , Porous media , Surfactant
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BRGM, F-45060, Orléans, 45100, France
EDF R&D, LNHE, Chatou, 78400, France
Université de Pau et des Pays de lAdour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, LFCR, Pau, 64013, France
National Laboratory Astana, Nazarbayev University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
BRGM
EDF R&D
Université de Pau et des Pays de lAdour
National Laboratory Astana
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