Trichloroethylene solubilization using a series of commercial biodegradable ethoxylated fatty alcohol surfactants

BACKGROUND Although certain pollutants are prohibited or heavily regulated, particularly in Europe and the USA, contaminated sites still represent a serious threat to the environment and health. The physical and chemical properties of ‘dense non‐aqueous phase liquid’ (DNAPL) pollutants such as trichloroethylene (TCE), including their low solubility, high specific density and tendency to remain adsorbed to organic materials, make their removal...