Optimizing the use of biosurfactants to remove diesel contamination in porous media
- Univ. of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK (United States). Environmental Technology Lab.
It has been demonstrated that biosurfactants can be used to successfully enhance the removal of hydrocarbon contamination from soils. The Environmental Technology Laboratory (ETL) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks is currently involved in a multiyear study of surfactant usage in oil spill remediation in cold climates. Funding for this work is provided by the National Science Foundation, Petroleum Environmental Services, Inc., the Alaska Department of Conservation, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks. In the Summer of 1993, researchers from ETL successfully used a biologically derived surfactant to remove weathered crude oil contamination remaining from the Exxon Valdez oil spill. This same technology may be applicable to other hydrocarbon-contaminated sites. Subsequent laboratory studies are being performed using soil columns to quantify the interaction between surfactant usage and soil characteristics. Specifically, the amount of surfactant applied, the method of application, the level of diesel contamination, and the type of soil matrix are being investigated. Diesel fuel has been chosen as a common type of hydrocarbon contamination. Adsorption of the surfactant on particle surfaces within the soil matrix can increase the cost of surfactant application and potentially diminish oil recovery. Four soil types are being used in these studies; a well-sorted, medium-grained sand; a moderately-sorted gravel, a volcanically-derived soil and a silt representative of tundra conditions. All of these soils are frequently encountered in oil spill remediation. This paper focuses on the relationships being identified between the level of contamination, soil matrix type, and the effectiveness of contaminant removal by biologically-derived surfactants.
- OSTI ID:
- 215535
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-951139-; TRN: IM9618%%219
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 16. hazardous waste conference and exhibition: new frontiers in hazardous waste, Washington, DC (United States), 6-8 Nov 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of Superfund 16: Conference and exhibition proceedings. Volume 2; PB: 817 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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