Remediation of soil contaminated with hydrocarbons using oil-water surfactant systems in Yaracal, Estado Falcón, Venezuela
Keywords:
soil contamination, hydrocarbons, environmental engineering, chemical products, resource recoveryAbstract
Soil contamination caused by hydrocarbon spills during the exploitation, production, and refining phases represents a critical environmental problem that requires efficient and sustainable technological solutions. This research evaluated the capacity of Surfactant-Oil-Water (SOW) systems for the removal of crude oil from contaminated soils, using the Yaracal area in Falcón State as a case study. The methodology consisted of conducting one-dimensional formulation scans using the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), employing the concentration of sodium chloride (NaCl) as the main formulation variable. The objective was to determine the most effective configuration and the optimal formulation to maximize system performance under different operating conditions, such as variations in flow rate and treatment solution volume. Unlike conventional methods, this system was designed to increase removal efficiency without the application of external energy, relying instead on the reduction of interfacial tension. The results demonstrated satisfactory performance of the SOW system, achieving a removal efficiency of 89.46% ± 0.01%. It is concluded that the removed crude oil has high recovery potential, the soil reaches significant levels of remediation, and the chemical formulation can be reused in subsequent cycles. These findings demonstrate the technical feasibility of the proposed system as a low-cost, high-impact alternative for restoring ecosystems degraded by oil industry activities, while promoting circular economy principles within the hydrocarbon sector.
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