Coupling extraction and enzyme catalysis for the removal of anthracene present in polluted soils

• A novel soil remediation process for removing PAHs with a vegetable oil is proposed.
• Pomace olive oil (POO) is an effective solvent to extract anthracene from spiked soil.
• Laccase oxidized efficiently anthracene in a two phase partitioning bioreactor (TPPB).
• Regenerated POO showed high efficiency in extracting anthracene from spiked soil.
• The oil and aqueous phase could be reused in several batches of operation in the TPPB.

In this study, a novel system for removing anthracene from polluted soils using biodegradable vegetable oil was investigated. The process consisted of the extraction of anthracene from the soil (1004 mg/kg) by pomace olive oil followed by its degradation in a surfactant-assisted two phase partitioning bioreactor (TPPB), operated with a laccase-mediator system. The main outcomes of this study showed high extraction efficiency for both fresh and regenerated pomace olive oil (higher than 84%) and almost complete removal of anthracene in the TPPB after 48 h. Finally, the feasibility of reusing both the aqueous and organic phases of the TPPB in successive batches of anthracene degradation in the bioreactor was also demonstrated.