A remediation approach for the petroleum industry using optimized biodegradable single-use SDS-surfactant in the treatment of soil contaminated with domestic-purpose-kerosene

Surfactants are known to aid in removing organic contaminants from soil. However, selecting a suitable surfactant for mitigating hydrocarbon pollution is an important environmental consideration during remediation. Previous studies report surfactant mixtures with a remediation focus on petroleum products, other than kerosene. This study focuses on applying an optimized biodegradable single-use sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) surfactant in treating domestic-purpose-kerosene (DPK)-contaminated soil. Soil quality indicators (pH, conductivity, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, organic carbon, organic matter, soil texture, and heavy metals), total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) levels (as kerosene), and optimization protocols were determined using standard methods. Simulating soil with 10 % DPK increased TPH by 22,800.8 % (from 8.64 ppm to 1978.63 ppm) and affected soil quality indicators, except for heavy metals and soil texture. The optimization protocol yielded conditions (optimal SDS concentration of 2 % for soil treatment at pH 4.5, under ambient temperature) that can guide practical field-scale soil remediation strategies. TPH was significantly reduced, with a remediation rate of 84.65 % after 8 h of treatment. Most of the affected soil properties improved after treatment. The kinetics of the treatment process followed Pseudo-First order, with a rate constant of 0.215 h-1 and a calculated half-life of 3 h, 13 min, and 12 s. The associated advantages of this technique, especially in terms of efficiency and versatility, make it ideal for real field challenges. The observed remediation effectiveness from using SDS alone provides a viable option as a single-use surfactant for kerosene decontamination from soil, without the need for combination with other surfactants or remediation techniques, thereby reducing dependence on more expensive and complex multi-step techniques.