Microscopic Visualization Technique to Predict the Permeation of Organic Solvents through PVC Pipes in Water Distribution Systems
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 137, Issue 2
Abstract
Organic contaminants may permeate through plastic pipes in water distribution systems and adversely affect the quality of drinking water. In this study, we developed a microscopic visualization technique to investigate the permeation of common organic contaminants (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and trichloroethene) through polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes. By observing the propagation of organic moving fronts in the pipe materials with a light microscope, the technique was able to predict the permeation breakthrough times through PVC pipes that were determined in the pipe-bottle test. The advance of an organic moving front was found to be linearly dependent on the square-root of time and the propagation rate increased with an increase in the external organic chemical activity. Permeation of organic mixtures into PVC pipes was found to be additive in proportion to the permeation rates and volume percents of each component. In combination with a 2-year pipe-bottle test for PVC pipes exposed to premium gasoline, mathematical extrapolations based on the microscopic visualization tests predicted that PVC pipe are likely to resist permeation by commercial gasoline for the service life of the pipe.
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Acknowledgments
The writers thank the Water Research Foundation (formerly AwwaRF) for its financial and administrative assistance in funding and managing the project. The comments and views detailed herein may not necessarily reflect the views of the Water Research Foundation, its officers, directors, affiliates, or agents.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 137 • Issue 2 • February 2011
Pages: 137 - 145
Copyright
© 2011 ASCE.
History
Received: Jan 12, 2010
Accepted: Jul 13, 2010
Published online: Jul 16, 2010
Published in print: Feb 2011
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