Effects of soil layering and interfacial tension on DNAPL migration in subsurface environments

Conference · Thu Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1999

OSTI ID:20014770

Singletary, M A; Pennell, K D; Ramsburg, A

A series of tetrachloroethene (PCE) infiltration experiments was conducted in 2-dimensional aquifer cells to investigate the effects of soil layering and interfacial tension on dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) infiltration and entrapment in saturated environments. The aquifer cells were packed with a background medium, 20--30 mesh Ottawa sand, and a single low-permeability layer, consisting of either F-70 Ottawa sand or Wurtsmith aquifer material, located near the center of the cell. PCE was introduced approximately 5 cm below the water table at a constant flow rate of 0.05 ml/min. The results of these experiments demonstrate the dramatic effects that interfacial tension reduction can have on DNAPL flow and entrapment in layered subsurface systems. These findings also have implications during field implementation of surfactant enhanced aquifer remediation (SEAR), in which low interfacial tension surfactant formulations may lead to DNAPL migration into fine layers or previously uncontaminated regions of an aquifer.

• Research Organization: Duke Engineering and Services, Inc., Albuquerque, NM (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality; Environmental Protection Agency
• OSTI ID: 20014770
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AQUIFERS
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
PERMEABILITY
SOILS
SURFACE TENSION
SURFACTANTS