Surfactants
Why implement surfactants in bioremediation techniques?
Hydrocarbon contamination attaches itself to soil particles, which reduces the bioavailability of the contaminant and the efficiency of bioremediation. Extractions can be performed on the contaminated soil by adding surfactants in order to leach the hydrocarbons from the soil matrices and make them more readily available to bacteria, fungi, and algae.
Surfactants are especially useful in extraction techniques because they can penetrate into pores and solid phases.
How do surfactants help loosen hydrocarbons from soil particles?
Surfactants are able to dissolve organics from exchange sites on soil particles via micellar solubilization. The surfactants are comprised of a hydrophobic head and a hydrophilic tail. The hydrophobic surface of the hydrocarbon is hydrated by the surfactant, and the solubility of the contamination is increased.
How are surfactants implemented?
Surfactants can be added directly to contaminated sites in order to free the hydrocarbon molecules. Hydrocarbons are then degraded abiotically via sunlight and oxygen, or through other bioremediation techniques that implement microorganisms and/or fertilizers.
SOURCES: Thiele-Bruhn