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Enhance performance of soil vapor extraction

Journal Article · · Chemical Engineering Progress; (United States)
OSTI ID:6165994

Hydrocarbon recovery as a means of soil and groundwater remediation has received considerable attention in the last few years as the shortcomings of groundwater pump-and-treat technologies have become more evident. A previous article covered a wide range of in situ site cleanup technologies and provided guidance on how to choose among them. This article examines one of those technologies, soil vapor extraction (SVE), in more detail and explains how to improve the performance of SVE by combining it with air sparging or steam injection. Air sparging injects air below the groundwater surface to promote the volatilization of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the groundwater into the vadose zone so that the VOCs can be removed via the SVE system. Steam injection injects steam into the vadose zone to increase the subsurface temperatures, thereby volatilizing organic compounds with high boiling points.

OSTI ID:
6165994
Journal Information:
Chemical Engineering Progress; (United States), Journal Name: Chemical Engineering Progress; (United States) Vol. 89:6; ISSN 0360-7275; ISSN CEPRA8
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English