Adsorption of mixed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surfactant solutions by activated carbon

The adsorption behavior of three polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in TX100 solution by activated carbon was studied aiming at surfactant recovery. Adsorption experiments were conducted in batch and column models. The adsorption data fitted well with the Langmuir isotherm model, Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherm models and pseudo-second-order kinetics model. Regarding column adsorption, the exhausting time of TX100 was shorter than the breakthrough time of PAH in the fixed AC column. This finding indicates the feasibility of reusing surfactants from soil-washing solutions. The total costs can reduce about $ 0.57 per 10 L washing solution with AC adsorption.