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U.S. Department of Energy
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Treatment of low-level explosives and solvents contaminated groundwater using advanced oxidation processes

Conference ·
OSTI ID:210356
;  [1];  [2]
  1. USAE Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MS (United States)
  2. Woodward-Cycle, Overland Park, KS (United States); and others

This study focused on the evaluation of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) as treatment for groundwater contaminated with organics at a former US Department of Defense facility. The primary contaminants targeted for treatment were trichloroethene (TCE) and hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX). Four candidate AOPs were evaluated: photolysis of hydrogen peroxide (HO) using light emitted by a medium pressure mercury vapor ultraviolet lamp (MPUV-HP), photolysis of ozone with light emitted from a low pressure mercury vapor ultraviolet lamp (LPUV-OZ), photolysis of HO with light emitted from a low pressure mercury vapor ultraviolet lamp (LPUV-HP), and peroxone. The results of the experiments in 1-liter, glass reactors indicated that TCE could be removed to within target goals by all candidate AOPs within 10 minutes of treatment. Peroxone systems had the poorest removal rates. There appears to be a distinct advantage to adding 100 milligram/l of HO rather than 10 milligram/l. The photo-based systems met treatment goals within 20 minutes of treatment; however, there were distinct differences in system performance. The LPUV-HP system had the poorest removal rate due the the narrow ultraviolet spectra emitted and the low adsorption of HO within this band. The MPUV lamp, in comparison, reducted treatment times by over 300 percent.

OSTI ID:
210356
Report Number(s):
CONF-9509139--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English