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Title: Treatment of chlorinated ethenes in groundwater with ozone and hydrogen peroxide

Journal Article · · Environmental Progress
 [1]; ;  [2]
  1. IBM Corp., Essex Junction, VT (United States)
  2. Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH (United States); and others

A study was conducted to enhance the performance of an advanced oxidation process in treating chlorinated ethenes in groundwater at IBM`s groundwater treatment system at its Essex Junction, Vermont facility. A model describing the reaction kinetics and mass transfer of a co-current ozone injection process is presented. This model, in conjunction with experiments, demonstrates that the treatment performance of the ozone treatment process at a given ozone/air concentration and ozone mass flowrate cannot be improved by varying process operating parameters such as number of ozone injectors utilized, use of a static mixer, or variation of groundwater flowrate through each injector. This is because dissolved ozone reaches equilibrium with the injected ozone/air mixture within two seconds of initial contact. Also, the Venturi-type ozone injection system presently in use destroys nearly half of the injected ozone. Injection of hydrogen peroxide in conjunction with ozone increases the overall tetrachloroethylene (PCE) treatment efficiency by a factor of four (in comparison to ozone alone) at a H{sub 2}O{sub 2}/O{sub 3} mass ratio of between 1 and 2. Treatment of trichloroethylene (TCE) is enhanced by a factor of two. This enhancement of the oxidative treatment process results in a reduction in solvent mass load to a granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption system located downstream, thus potentially reducing the usage GAC and regeneration of spent GAC. However, residual hydrogen peroxide and/or hydroxyl free radicals from the oxidation process effluent may interact adversely with certain grades of GAC; the causes of this interaction and methods to attenuate it (i.e., the use of more resistant grades of GAC) are discussed. Overall O{sub 3}/H{sub 2}O{sub 2}/GAC system operating costs can potentially be reduced significantly (up to $20K annually). An economic analysis and system operation/cost optimization study are presented. 8 refs., 7 figs., 1 tab.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
482264
Journal Information:
Environmental Progress, Vol. 15, Issue 3; Other Information: PBD: Fal 1996
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English