Cyclodextrin-enhanced solubilization of organic contaminants with implications for aquifer remediation

Journal Article · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 2000 · Ground Water Monitoring and Remediation

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6592.2000.tb00256.x· OSTI ID:20080498

McCray, J E; Boving, T B; Brusseau, M L

Reagents that enhance the aqueous solubility of nonaqueous phase organic liquid (NAPL) contaminants are under investigation for use in enhanced subsurface remediation technologies. Cyclodextrin, a glucose-based molecule, is such a reagent. In this paper, laboratory experiments and numerical model simulations are used to evaluate and understand the potential remediation performance of cyclodextrin. Physical properties of cyclodextrin solutions such as density, viscosity, and NAPL-aqueous interfacial tension are measured. Their analysis indicates that no serious obstacles exist related to fluid properties that would prevent the use of cyclodextrin solutions for subsurface NAPL remediation. Cyclodextrin-enhanced solubilization for a large suite of typical ground water contaminants is measured in the laboratory, and the results are related to the physiochemical properties of the organic compounds. The most-hydrophobic contaminants experience a larger relative solubility enhancement than the less-hydrophobic contaminants but have lower aqueous-phase apparent solubilities. Numerical model simulations of enhanced-solubilization flushing of NAPL-contaminated soil demonstrate that the more-hydrophilic compounds exhibit the greatest mass-removal relates due to their greater apparent solubilities, and thus are initially more effectively removed from soil by enhanced-solubilization-flushing reagents. However, the relatively more hydrophobic contaminants exhibit a greater improvement in contaminant mass-removal (compared with water flushing) than that exhibited for the relatively hydrophilic contaminants.

• OSTI ID: 20080498
• Journal Information: Ground Water Monitoring and Remediation, Journal Name: Ground Water Monitoring and Remediation Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 20; ISSN 1069-3629; ISSN GWMREV
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AQUIFERS
GROUND WATER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
REAGENTS
REMEDIAL ACTION
SOILS
VOLATILE MATTER