Low-Temperature Thermal Desorption of Phenanthrene and Pyrene from Oil-Contaminated Soil: Modeling of Removal Using Response Surface Methodology

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

1 School of Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

2 Water Research Institute, Ministry of Energy Water Research Institute, Tehran, Iran

3 Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran

Abstract

Petroleum hydrocarbons are toxic to humans and other organisms, and some are carcinogenic. Various remediation techniques have been developed to address this issue sustainably, including thermal methods. Low-temperature thermal desorption (LTTD) is a treatment technology that offers an environmentally sustainable approach to removing contaminants from solid media by volatilizing them with heat but without combustion of the media. This study is aimed at evaluating the efficiency of LTTD to remove phenanthrene and pyrene, and their mixture from contaminated soils. The soil samples were contaminated with these compounds at three concentration levels, including 2000, 4000, and 8000 mg kg-1 at different temperatures (i.e., 100, 200, and 300 oC) and retention times (i.e., 30, 60, and 90 min). The compounds were extracted using an ultrasonic bath and analyzed with HPLC. Analysis of the findings obtained by the Taguchi method indicated that increased concentration, temperature, and retention time led to a higher efficiency in removing the compounds from contaminated soils. The results indicate that increasing temperature, retention time, and contaminant concentration positively influence removal efficiency, with the highest desorption rates reaching over 88%. These findings suggest that LTTD is a promising solution for addressing soil contamination by petroleum hydrocarbons, offering an efficient and eco-friendly approach for remediation. Therefore, LTTD could be a highly effective and sustainable solution for removing pollutants from contaminated soil, as well as in severe contamination.

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Sustainable Earth Trends

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 07 September 2025

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