Effect of pH in evaluating phosphate-dependent degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in contaminated soil leachate

The effect of pH on the ability of sodium phosphate (Na3PO4) in degrading polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in contaminated soil was studied. Results obtained from Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy (GC/MS) analyses indicated that 23% of 2-methylnaphthalene was degraded as the overall highest polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon at pH 2.0 using 2 g Na3PO4, while acenaphthene (1.7%) was the least overall degraded polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon at pH 2.0 using 4 g Na3PO4 powder. An increase in PAHs degraded trend was observed using 4 g Na3PO4 as the pH was increased from 2.0 to 4.0.

Author(s): Luke N. Ukiwe, Ugochukwu U. Egereonu, Christopher I. A. Nwoko

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