Enhanced molar sorption ratio for naphthalene through the impregnation of surfactant into chitosan hydrogel beads

Surfactants in their impregnated forms in chitosan beads (CBs) were used for sorption of naphthalene (NAP) from aqueous solutions. Three different surfactants, Triton X-100 (TX100), cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), were selected for this study. The results showed that surfactant-impregnated CS beads (SICBs) in the form of a separate phase surfactant were very effective for NAP sorption. The calculated molar sorption ratio (MSRB mol NAP/mol surfactant) of the surfactant impregnated into SICBs was much greater than the intrinsic molar solubilization ratio (MSR) in liquid phase. The high MSRB value could be explained by favorable configurations of surfactants in beads, such as micelles in sorbed form. The equilibrium isotherm did not follow Langmuir or Freundlich models, but followed Chapman sigmoidal equation, indicating co-operative sorption of solutes. Using SICBs as a separate phase surfactant may be a valuable tool for remediation of groundwater contaminated with hydrophobic organic compounds.