Advances in surfactant-enhanced remediation of NAPLs-contaminated soil

The advances in researches concerning remediation NAPLs in contaminated soil by surfactant in China and abroad are reviewed, and the mechanisms of the remediation and its influencing factors are primarily discussed. Results of the studies have comfirmed that surfactants cause the NAPLs to desorb from soil strongly and enhances the transferability of NAPLs through soil by improving their dissolution in liquid and fluid ability in soil. So the efficiency of pump-treat method can be improved by the surfactants. Surfactant also can influence the biodegradation of NAPLs. The variety and concentration of surfactant, heterogeneity, cations and temperature are important factors on the efficiency of surfactant.