Cationic Surfactant-Enhanced Sorption and Nonionic Surfactant-Enhanced Solubilization of Hydrophobic Organic Contaminants in Groundwater

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the feasibility of using surfactants to immobilize and recover contaminants from groundwater. Before such a remediation method can be employed in the field, a understanding of the complex transport, partitioning behavior, and interactions of the surfactants and in a dynamic groundwater system is required. Batch, column and box aquifer model experiments conducted to investigate the proposed remediation strategy. Also, numerical modeling tools were developed to predict the coupled cationic/nonionic/HOC transport behavior within a dynamic groundwater. Experimental results show that it is feasible to create a stationary cationic surfactant-enhanced in situ within an aquifer. The main criteria for sorbent zone development are a relatively high exchange capacity, a low carbon content, and a relatively homogeneous and permeable aquifer. Numerical simulation results indicate that mass-transfer limiting desorption of the cationic surfactant will likely occur within an enhanced sorbent zone.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1997
Accession Number
ADA356125

Entities

People

  • David R. Burris
  • Joel S. Hayworth

Organizations

  • Applied Research Associates (United States)

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Engineered Resilient Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Aqueous Solutions
  • Chemistry
  • Dispersions
  • Equations
  • Experimental Data
  • Flow Rate
  • Groundwater
  • Liquids
  • Mass Transfer
  • Materials
  • Measurement
  • Simulations
  • Solid Phases
  • Stainless Steel
  • Surface Active Substances
  • Water Resources

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Electrochemical Engineering/ Fuel Cell Technologies
  • Groundwater Contamination Remediation.