Cloud-point extraction of phenanthrene by nonionic surfactants

Extraction and preconcentration of the model polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), phenanthrene, in aqueous solutions by two different kinds of nonionic ethoxylated alcohols, Tergitol 15-S-7 and Neodol 25-7, as extractants was studied at ambient temperature (22°C). Both surfactants have almost the same numbers of hydrocarbons and ethylene-oxide (EO) units, but differ in the location of the alcohols. Neodol 25-7 is a primary alcohol, while Tergitol 15-S-7 is a secondary one. The extraction process is based on the clouding phenomena of these two nonionic surfactants. Addition of sodium sulfate or sodium phosphate could decrease the cloud point temperatures of the surfactant solutions below the ambient temperatures, so that the cloud-point extraction process could be facilitated. Increasing the salt concentration or decreasing the surfactant concentration could improve the preconcentration factor, which is attributable to the decrease in the volume of surfactant-rich phase. Consequently, the recovery efficiency higher than 96% was achieved for phenanthrene in aqueous solution.