Sorption-Desorption of Pyrene for Colombia and New Mexico Soils

The adsorption and availability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the environment is an important factor to be considered for potential bioremediation processes. If desorption of the organic occurs, it could imply that remediation technologies such as microbial degradation may be feasible for PAH contaminated soils. Conversely no, or partial, desorption would indicate that the components may persist in the environment due to their decreased bioavailability. The sorption-desorption of pyrene in conjunction with two different soils was studied to determine the feasibility of bioremediation as an effective treatment. The measured distribution coefficient (K d ) for the Colombia and New Mexico soils using a 4:40 soil:liquid ratio was 1956 and 526 L/kg, respectively. When the soil:liquid ratio was reduced to 1:40, the K d values were 4294 L/Kg for the Colombia, and 1141 L/Kg for the New Mexico soil.