RESUMO
The objectives of this study were investigating the photodegradation of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in modified petroleum impregnated bentonite mulch through solar radiation, determining PAHs' translocation in the soils that underlay the mulch and finding a solution to prevent the uncontrolled release of petroleum into the environment. For this research, various formulated mulches were prepared: mulch no. 1 was a mixture of 5:1 sandy soil: natural bentonite + petroleum; mulch no. 2 composed a mixture of 5:1 sandy soil: modified bentonite + natural bentonite + petroleum; and mulch no. 3 composed a mixture of 5:1:0.5 ratio of sandy soil: natural bentonite: modified bentonite mixed with petroleum at a ratio of 1:1. PAHs in surface mulches and subsurface sandy soil were monitored over 5, 20, 40 and 80 days. The results demonstrated that PAHs undergo numerous changes over time because of sunlight. Photodegradation is the most dominant process for low molecular weight (LMW) PAHs (≤ 3 fused aromatic rings) and high molecular weight (HMW) PAHs (≥ 4 fused aromatic rings). HMW PAHs could be sequestrated strongly within the soil particles because of their higher aromaticity and lower polarity; they were more resilient in the soil matrices than LMW PAHs. Mulch no. 2 retained more PAHs compounds (p > 95%) than mulch nos. 1 and 3, which could be attributed to the retention of numerous PAHs in its interlayers, preventing its movement into the underlying soil, environment and atmosphere.
