Absorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by a highly absorptive polymeric medium

Abstract

The efficacy of a lightly cross-linked polymeric bead to absorb polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from the surface of fresh- and salt-water in a simulated oil-spill scenario was assessed in this study. A layer of PAHs at the water surface was created by first preparing the PAHs in hexane and then carefully spiking this mixture onto the surface of water. Beads were then applied to the surface of the organic phase and the amount of hydrocarbons absorbed by the beads was examined at prescribed time intervals and at different temperatures. Absorption of PAHs into the beads was exhaustive with ∼86 ± 4% being selectively removed from the organic phase by 120 s. First order reaction rates best described the uptake kinetics and absorption rates ranged from 0.0085 (naphthalene) to 0.0325 s-¹ (dibenzo[a,h]anthracene). Absorption of PAHs into the beads was driven by molecular volume (A³). Uptake rates increased markedly for PAHs with molecular volumes between 130 A³ and 190 A³. Beyond this molecular volume there was no apparent change in the rate of uptake. This study shows that these polymeric beads have a high affinity for PAHs and can be used under various environmental conditions with negligible difference in absorptive efficacy.

Keywords: Absorption; Oil-spill; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Polymeric beads; Remediation; Uptake rates.