potassium-permanganate and pyrene

Potassium permanganate, widely used in water treatment, has shown its applicability to reduce PAH contamination in groundwater and soils. The first stage to design a treatment at the site scale is the feasibility study at the bench scale, generally performed by means of batch experiments. The aim of the present contribution was to investigate the influence of two factors on PAH degradation in spiked soils, following the method of factorial designs. These factors were the weight ratio KMnO(4)/PAH and the reaction time. Three factorial designs were performed and batch experiments were run to study the degradation of phenanthrene and pyrene on soils spiked at different concentrations, between 700 and 2100 mg kg(-1). We showed that treatment with potassium permanganate significantly reduced PAH concentration, but pyrene was more recalcitrant than phenanthrene. Both variables had negative main effects and a positive two-factor interaction effect: increasing the weight ratio or the reaction time enhanced PAH degradation but the reduction produced by the two factors was lower than the sum of the individual contributions. The comparison of these results with results that we published previously under comparable conditions showed that Fenton's reagent was more efficient than potassium permanganate.

Topics: Feasibility Studies; Oxidation-Reduction; Phenanthrenes; Potassium Permanganate; Pyrenes; Soil Pollutants

Oxidation treatment helps to reduce the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) load in contaminated soils but it may also have an effect on the soil quality. The impact of permanganate and Fenton oxidation on soil quality is investigated. Soil quality is restricted here to the potential for plant growth. Soil samples were collected from an agricultural field (S1) and a former coking plant (S4). Agricultural soil was spiked with phenanthrene (PHE) and pyrene (PYR) at two concentrations (S2: 700 mg PHE kg(-1), S3: 700 mg PHE kg(-1) and 2100 mg PYR kg(-1)). Soils were treated with both oxidation processes, and analyzed for PAHs and a set of agronomic parameters. A plant germination and growth test was run with rye-grass on treated soils. Results showed that both treatments produced the expected reduction of PAH concentration (from 64% to 97%). Besides, a significant loss of organic C and N, and strong changes in available nutrients were observed. Permanganate treatment increased the specific surface area and the cation exchange capacity in relation to manganese dioxide precipitation, and produced a rise in pH. Fenton oxidation decreased soil pH and increased the water retention capacity. Plant growth was negatively affected by permanganate, related to lower soil permeability and aeration. Both treatments had an effect on soil properties but Fenton oxidation appeared to be more compatible with revegetation.

Topics: Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Oxidation-Reduction; Phenanthrenes; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; Potassium Permanganate; Pyrenes; Soil; Soil Pollutants