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This research investigates the equilibrium solubilization behavior of naphthalene and phenanthrene from multicomponent nonaqueous-phase liquids (NAPLs) by five different polyoxyethylene nonionic surfactants. The overall goal of the study was to achieve an improved understanding of surfactant-aided dissolution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from multicomponent NAPLs in the context of surfactant-enhanced remediation of contaminated sites. The extent of solubilization of the PAHs in the surfactant micelles increased linearly with the PAH mole fraction in the NAPL. The solubilization extent and micelle-water equilibrium partition coefficient of the PAHs increased with the size of the polar shell region of the micelles rather than the size of the hydrophobic core of the micelle. The presence of both PAHs in the shell region of the micelles was confirmed by 1H NMR analysis. This is an important observation because it is commonly assumed that in multi-solute systems the solutes with relatively greater hydrophobicity are solubilized only in the micellar core. A comparison of the 1H NMR spectra of pure surfactant solutions and solutions contacted with various NAPLs demonstrated that the distribution of PAHs between the shell and the core changed with the concentration of PAHs in the micelles and in the NAPL. Competitive solubilization of the PAHs was observed when both PAHs were present in the NAPL. For example, in surfactant solutions of Brij 35 and Tween 80, the solubilization of phenanthrene was decreased in the presence of naphthalene as compared to systems that contained phenanthrene as the only solute. In contrast, with micellar solutions of Tergitol NP-10 and Triton X-100, phenanthrene solubilization was enhanced in the presence of naphthalene. The activity coefficients of the PAHs in the micellar phase were generally found to increase with PAH concentrations in the micelle.

Hydrogen sulfide generation in oil production is a constant cause of concern. In several cases this phenomenon occurs due to the action of sulfate-reducing bacteria. Various methods, including biocides and nitrate addition, have been used to control the activity of these microorganisms, but they are expensive and have side effects. Other inhibition methods, such as the use of molybdate, have received much less attention. This study performed a kinetic test for the inhibition of sulfate reduction, and shortterm tests to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration of molybdate in liquid medium containing 10.4 and 20.8 mM of sulfate (1000 mg L -1 and 2000 mg L -1 ), respectively. An inoculum was prepared from a microbial consortium of sulfate-reducing bacteria dominated by Desulfovibrio vulgaris enriched from produced water from oil wells of the Reconcavo Basin, Brazil. The indicators of bacterial activity used were: sulfate reduction, sulfide production, culture medium color, pH, and redox potential. The tests show that, regardless of the concentration of molybdate, sulfate reduction is inhibited after the first hours of the start of the test. The conversion of sulfate in the kinetic experiment without molybdate is 78%, whereas the average conversion in the experiment with molybdate is approximately 30% in 216 h. The short-term test results show that 0.08 mM (12.8 mg L -1 ) molybdate, a molar ratio molybdate/sulfate of 0.004, is sufficient to inhibit the activity of sulfate-reducing bacteria for 168 h.

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