Stability and Migration Characteristics of SDS and Colloidal Gas Aphron and Its Removal Efficiency for Nitrobenzene-Contaminated Aquifers
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 149, Issue 4
Abstract
The instability of colloidal gas aphrons (CGAs) in aquifers is one of the major obstacles influencing the remediation efficiency of CGAs-flushing. In this study, hydrophobic () was utilized to enhance the stability of CGAs. The batch experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of hydrogeochemical conditions on the stability of stabilized CGAs in aquifers, such as ions, pH, and nitrobenzene (NB); 2-D tank experiments designed with various injection velocities and medium particle sizes were conducted to determine the factors influencing the migration of CGAs in the aquifer; and 1-D column experiments were established to evaluate the remediation efficiency of stabilized CGAs flushing for NB removal. The results indicated that had a favorable effect on the stability of CGAs, which enhanced the half-life of CGAs from 328 to 1,050 s. particles formed a shell film on the gas-liquid interface of CGAs to slow down the gas escape and drainage velocity. The stability of CGAs decreased while or , whereas this was enhanced with the addition of 0.1 wt.% NaCl. The 2-D tank experiments demonstrated that the stabilized CGAs had better stability when they flowed in aquifers compared to sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) CGAs. The fine medium and high injection velocity facilitated CGAs forming the larger radius remediation area. The injection pressure was inversely proportional to the medium grain sizes, whereas directly proportional to the injection velocities. In addition, column experiments demonstrated the remediation efficiency of stabilized CGAs (81.7%) flushing for NB removal was higher than that of SDS CGAs (61.4%) flushing. Therefore, in comparison with SDS CGAs, stabilized CGAs were more efficient reagents for NB removal. CGAs-flushing technique using stabilized CGAs is feasible to remedy the contaminated aquifers.
Practical Applications
The contamination caused by dense nonaqueous phase liquids in aquifers has a great threat to ecosystems and human health. Colloidal gas aphron (CGA) flushing has been proposed as an effective remediation technology for dense nonaqueous liquids contaminated aquifers. However, the instability of colloidal gas aphrons in aquifers is one of the major obstacles influencing remediation efficiency. In this work, the hydrophobic was used to improve its stability. Besides, the migration of colloidal gas aphron generated with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and was investigated, and the remediation efficiency for nitrobenzene removal of colloidal gas aphrons flushing was evaluated. had a favorable effect on the stability of colloidal gas aphrons, enhancing the half-life of colloidal gas aphrons from 328 to 1,050 s, and the enhancement effect was more evident with the increasing concentration. The tank experiment results indicated that colloidal gas aphron had fine migration performance and wide applicability in aquifer environments. In addition, column experiments demonstrated the remediation efficiency of hydrophobic stabilized colloidal gas aphrons flushing for nitrobenzene removal was higher than that of SDS colloidal gas aphrons flushing. Therefore, the colloidal gas aphron flushing technique using colloidal gas aphrons is feasible to remedy the contaminated aquifers.
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Data Availability Statement
All data included in this study are available upon request by contact with the corresponding author.
Acknowledgments
This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 42077167). The authors gratefully acknowledge the suggestions and comments provided by the editor and reviewers.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 149 • Issue 4 • April 2023
Copyright
© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 7, 2022
Accepted: Nov 30, 2022
Published online: Feb 9, 2023
Published in print: Apr 1, 2023
Discussion open until: Jul 9, 2023
ASCE Technical Topics:
- [Inorganic compounds]
- Aerodynamics
- Business management
- Chemical processes
- Chemical properties
- Chemicals
- Chemistry
- Colloids
- Continuum mechanics
- Dynamics (solid mechanics)
- Engineering mechanics
- Environmental engineering
- Flow (fluid dynamics)
- Fluid dynamics
- Fluid mechanics
- Fluid velocity
- Flushing
- Hydrologic engineering
- Material mechanics
- Materials engineering
- Mitigation and remediation
- Nanomechanics
- Organic compounds
- Particle velocity
- pH
- Practice and Profession
- Silica
- Solid mechanics
- Water and water resources
- Water treatment
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