Enhanced removal of lead from contaminated soil by polyol-based deep eutectic solvents and saponin

• Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are used for the first time for soil remediation.
• Saponins are used to enhance DESs performances for lead (Pb) removal.
• Polyol based DESs formed with choline chloride examined in details.
• Up to 76% Pb was removed with a combination of DES-glycerol and saponin.
• Soil corrosion by DES washing is negligible.

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are a class of green solvents analogous to ionic liquids, but less costly and easier to prepare. The objective of this study is to remove lead (Pb) from a contaminated soil by using polyol based DESs mixed with a natural surfactant saponin for the first time. The DESs used in this study were prepared by mixing a quaternary ammonium salt choline chloride with polyols e.g. glycerol and ethylene glycol. A natural surfactant saponin obtained from soapnut fruit pericarp, was mixed with DESs to boost their efficiency. The DESs on their own did not perform satisfactory due to higher pH; however, they improved the performance of soapnut by up to 100%. Pb removal from contaminated soil using mixture of 40% DES-Gly and 1% saponin and mixture of 10% DES-Gly and 2% saponin were above 72% XRD and SEM studies did not detect any major corrosion in the soil texture. The environmental friendliness of both DESs and saponin and their affordable costs merit thorough investigation of their potential as soil washing agents.

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