Lime Treatment for Containment of Source Zone Energetics Contamination: Mesocosm Study
Publication: Practice Periodical of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste Management
Volume 11, Issue 1
Abstract
This research examined basic and applied aspects of the application of an alkaline source to soil in order to reduce the source zone contamination on live fire ranges and contaminant transport into groundwater. Mesocosms were prepared using soil contaminated with hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX), 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), and octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX) at 38, 11, and , respectively, in order to evaluate removal using several alkaline materials. Alkaline application methods examined included topical, well-mixed, and aqueous. These studies were supported by microbiological and toxicological assessments. Well-mixed soil–lime systems yielded high soil pH and complete removal of TNT, RDX, and HMX from both soil and leachate by 2, 4, and 18 weeks, respectively. The pH of soil and leachate of topical application systems remained similar to the control (pH 5–6). The occurrence of RDX degradation products and anoxic leachate indicated that anaerobic biodegradation had occurred in several of the topical application mesocosms and contributed to explosive removal. The efficacy of the alkaline hydrolysis reaction in soil is indicated by the initial soil pH, and the degree of base saturation.
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Acknowledgments
The writers gratefully acknowledge the contribution of Dr. Laura Inouye, ERDC Vicksburg. In addition, they acknowledge the construction and sampling assistance provided by Tim Ruff, Mary LeeAnn Riggs, and Brenda O’Neal. The Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP), Project No. CU-1230, provided funding for this research.
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Published In
Practice Periodical of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste Management
Volume 11 • Issue 1 • January 2007
Pages: 11 - 19
Copyright
© 2007 ASCE.
History
Received: Jul 1, 2005
Accepted: Apr 6, 2006
Published online: Jan 1, 2007
Published in print: Jan 2007
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