Organoclays as Variably Permeable Reactive Barrier Media to Manage NAPLs in Ground Water
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 138, Issue 2
Abstract
Three commercial organoclays were evaluated as media for a variably permeable reactive barrier (VPRB) to manage coal-tar creosote, a non-aqueous-phase liquid (NAPL) consisting primarily of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Organoclays and organoclay-sand mixtures having at least 25% organoclay had NAPL conductivities of less than , whereas hydraulic conductivities to water were on the order of . Water migration was negligible in organoclays solvated with NAPL, but PAHs were released to the aqueous phase when the solvated clay contacted deionized water. Sorption isotherms for aqueous-phase PAHs are convex upward within the range of concentrations of environmental interest, and greater sorption occurs when the aqueous phase contains multiple PAHs. In column tests, breakthrough occurred for only naphthalene (lowest ) and for only one organoclay (lowest organic carbon content) for tests on 100% organoclay and organoclay-sand mixtures conducted for 208–276 pore volumes of flow (PVF). Breakthrough predicted with solute transport analyses conducted using batch isotherm parameters as input occurred later than observed in the column test because isotherm models fit to the batch test data overpredicted sorption at low concentrations. The findings indicate that organoclays should be effective media for VPRBs to manage creosote NAPL and associated PAHs dissolved in groundwater. They block NAPL advection, readily permit the flow of water with dissolved PAHs, and sorb dissolved PAHs from water flowing through the clays.
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Acknowledgments
Financial support for this study was provided by CH2M Hill and Benson’s Wisconsin Distinguished Professorship. Thomas Hutchinson of CH2M Hill was the project manager. Ören was also supported in part by Grant BIDEP-2219 from the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK).
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Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 138 • Issue 2 • February 2012
Pages: 115 - 127
Copyright
© 2012 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 8, 2010
Accepted: May 24, 2011
Published online: May 26, 2011
Published in print: Feb 1, 2012
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