Vacuum-enhanced pumping to improve DNAPL recovery in a confined aquifer

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:490950

Reisinger, H J; Mountain, S A; Hubbard, P Jr; Carlson, K ^[1]; Montney, P A ^[2]

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1. Integrated Science and Technology, Inc., Marietta, GA (United States)
2. Georgia-Pacific Corp., Newark, NJ (United States)

Dense, nonaqueous-phase liquids (DNAPLs) in the form of chlorinated solvents have been used in various phases of US industry for many years. As a result of their use prior to the advent of standardized handling and disposal regulations, they have found their way into the environment at many active and inactive industrial sites. Because of their unique physiochemical characteristics, DNAPLs present unique challenges in the site remediation process. At one such site in the northeast US, dichloromethane, or methylene chloride, entered a confined aquifer from underground storage tanks (USTs) and became subject to environmental remediation. The initial remediation approach was conventional groundwater extraction and treatment via physical separation and diffused aeration. The expansion of the dichloromethane plume resulted in the need for improved DNAPL recovery and dissolved-phase hydraulic control. Through conceptual analysis and pilot testing, vacuum-enhanced dual-phase recovery was determined to be a feasible remedial alternative. Vacuum-enhanced recovery, using a custom-designed pump, was implemented in this confined aquifer, increasing the volume of methylene chloride impacted groundwater recovered by a factor of nearly three, and hydraulic control of the plume was realized.

• OSTI ID: 490950
• Report Number(s): CONF-950483--; ISBN 1-57477-007-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AQUIFERS
BIODEGRADATION
IN-SITU PROCESSING
METHYLENE CHLORIDE
REMEDIAL ACTION
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
VACUUM EVAPORATION