Vadose Zone Soil Flushing for Chromium Remediation: A Laboratory Investigation to Support Field‐scale Application

Szecsody, James E.; Emerson, Hilary P.; Lawter, Amanda R.; Resch, Charles T.; Rockhold, Mark L.; Mackley, Rob D.; Qafoku, Nikolla P.

doi:10.1111/gwmr.12570

Vadose Zone Soil Flushing for Chromium Remediation: A Laboratory Investigation to Support Field‐scale Application

Journal Article · Mon Feb 20 00:00:00 EST 2023 · Ground Water Monitoring and Remediation

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/gwmr.12570· OSTI ID:3006105

Szecsody, James E. ^[1]; Emerson, Hilary P. ^[1]; Lawter, Amanda R. ^[1]; ^[1]; Rockhold, Mark L. ^[1]; Mackley, Rob D. ^[1]; ^[1]

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Cr(VI) flushing from the vadose zone to the groundwater (with subsequent Cr(VI) removal in groundwater by pump-and-treat system) is a promising remedial technique that has recently been used at field scale. This laboratory study was conducted to provide the technical basis to design a field soil flushing strategy. The objectives were to (1) quantify the relationship between sediment Cr(VI) and Cr(III) mass and release rates and subsequent Cr(VI) leaching; (2) investigate different methodologies to maximize Cr(VI) leaching, and (3) investigate methods to minimize leaching of remaining residual Cr. Characterization of Cr-contaminated sediments (Hanford Site, WA) exhibited Cr(VI) showed that leach rates that were correlated to different Cr surface phases. Sediments with low leachable Cr(VI) (<2 μg/g) leached Cr rapidly, so slow infiltration of water in a single pulse was sufficient to leach most Cr. In contrast, sediments with high Cr (2 to 200 μg/g) released some Cr(VI) quickly but 10 to 50% Cr(VI) slowly (tens to hundreds of hours). Efficient unsaturated leaching of these sediments required a different infiltration strategy that includes: multiple slow leach pulses with time between flushing cycles; the use of a surfactant to increase Cr leaching from low-permeability zones, and the use of a reductant (Na-dithionite or Ca-polysulfide) in the final leach water was highly effective at decreasing residual Cr leaching. This study clearly demonstrated that the methodology of basing laboratory Cr flushing on parameters such as Cr release mass and rates could be used to improve the efficiency of soil flushing at field scale.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 3006105

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA--177981

Journal Information:: Ground Water Monitoring and Remediation, Journal Name: Ground Water Monitoring and Remediation Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 43; ISSN 1069-3629; ISSN 1745-6592

Publisher:: WileyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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