Edible Oil Barriers for Treatment of Chlorinated Solvent Contaminated Groundwater
Abstract
The emulsified oil technology can be an effective approach to quickly stimulate biodegradation of recalcitrant organic compounds, particularly chlorinated ethenes and ethanes, and perchlorate in groundwater to less toxic forms. The technology involves the introduction of a long-lasting, natural, time-released organic substrate composed principally of emulsified edible oil, sometimes supplemented with nutrients and/or additives, into a contaminated aquifer to enhance reductive dechlorination of these solvents or bioconversion of other contaminants susceptible to anaerobic microbial metabolic processes. This evaluation of the emulsified oil technology was funded by the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP Project No. ER-0221). The project was designed as a pilot test to monitor and describe the effectiveness of a commercially available emulsified oil substrate (EOS ) for enhancing the biodegradation of chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) in contaminated groundwater and aquifer material in a treatment cell. The project was conducted at a small area within Solid Waste Management Unit (SWMU) 17 at the Charleston Naval Weapons Station, Charleston, SC. The cell selected for the test was characterized by elevated concentrations of trichloroethene (TCE) in soil (up to 16,000 g/kg) and groundwater (over 20,000 g/L). The pilot test design utilized a 20 foot (ft) by 20 ft grid to represent cleanup of a typical source cell. The saturated zone containing contaminated groundwater was silty clayey sand extending generally between 8 and 18 feet below ground surface (ft bgs). The groundwater gradient was low and tidally influenced, resulting in fluctuating groundwater flow directions. Based on aquifer characterization tests, groundwater flow velocity was estimated to be less than 10 ft/yr. The volume of contaminated aquifer material within the pilot test cell was 4,000 ft3 (148 yd3).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA604024
Entities
People
- M. T. Lieberman
- Robert C. Borden