Application of biosurfactants and non-ionic surfactants for removal of organic matter from metallurgical lead-bearing slime

The paper presents evaluation of different extracting solutions used for removal of organic matter, especially polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), from slime produced in copper smelting. A series of extraction experiments was conducted using biosurfactants and non-ionic surfactant solutions of various concentrations. The results showed that the efficiencies of organic matter removal by biosurfactants were at the level of 20-30% and depended on the type of the used biosurfactant. Biolen Biogrease L, and mixture of alkylobenzenesulfonic acid and oxyethylene fatty alcohol were effective for removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (above 50%), whereas Zymbiose-enz. was ineffective. Non-ionic surfactants were found to be more effective in removing organic matter than biosurfactants. In the case of non-ionic surfactants the removal efficiencies depended on the concentration. Increase of Tween 80 concentration caused decrease in the efficiency of organic matter removal. The similar results were obtained for Nonoxynol 14. By contrast, the increase of Nonoxynol 10 concentration resulted in increase of organic matter removal efficiency.