Solubilization of 4,4′-dibromodiphenyl ether under combined TX-100 and cosolvents

This paper is focused on the selection of cosolvents in the remediation of contaminated soils. The aim of this study was to investigate the combined effects of Triton X-100 (TX-100) and different cosolvents on the solubilization behavior of 4,4′-dibromodiphenyl ether (BDE-15) and the washing of BDE-15 from a contaminated soil. 1 H NMR spectroscopies were used to elucidate the interactions among TX-100, cosolvents, and BDE-15 in aqueous micellar solution. Results showed that the solubility of BDE-15 was enhanced by the observed synergism among TX-100, BDE-15, and cosolvents, and the TX-100/dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) system exhibited the best performance in the solubilization of BDE-15. Similar synergism was further evidenced in the washing of BDE-15 from a contaminated soil. With 10 % ( v / v ) DMSO and 6.4 mM TX-100 solution added, considerable synergistic effect was achieved in TX-100/DMSO system, leading to the highest removal efficiency (92.9 %) of BDE-15 from the soil, relative to that of 67.3 % with TX-100 alone at the same concentration.