Use and comparison of the non-ionic surfactants Poloxamer 407 and Nonidet P40 with HP-β-CD cyclodextrin, for the enhanced electroremediation of real contaminated sediments from PAHs

• Nonidet and Poloxamer were used for enhanced sediment electroremediation.
• Their efficiency in removing mainly PAHs and secondarily heavy metals was assessed.
• Their removal efficacy was compared with that of HPCD cyclodextrin and Tween 80.
• The newly introduced surfactants demonstrated a SUM PAHs removal of 43–48%.
• Heavy metal removal was only partially obtained by the use of these surfactants.

Real contaminated sediments often come with the simultaneous existence of heavy metals and PAHs requiring, thereby, appropriate choice of flushing agents when subjected to electroremediation. The application and efficiency evaluation of the innovative non-ionic surfactants octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol (Nonidet P40) and 2-methyloxirane (Poloxamer 407), in comparison with the already known Tween 80 and HPCD cyclodextrin, were examined during enhanced electrokinetic remediation of surficial sediments, mainly from PAHs. Heavy metal removal was also assessed. The results indicated a removal efficacy for SUM PAHs of approximately 48% and 43% with the use of Nonidet P40 and Poloxamer 407 respectively, which was far better than the ones taken from both the cyclodextrin and Tween 80. Furthermore, removal percentages for individual PAHs, e.g. fluorene and chrysene, reached almost 83% or 92%, respectively. As far as heavy metals are concerned, unenhanced treatment was the only one demonstrating a removal efficacy in all metals examined, however, giving “poor to medium” percentages (5% for Zn to 43% for Cr). On the other hand, the enhanced runs exhibited sufficient removal only in some of the metals examined, e.g. Zn and As, indicating that although surfactants favor the removal of PAHs are not suitable for all heavy metals.