Remediation of contaminated soils by solvent flushing

Technical Report · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:7105771

Augustijn, D C.M.; Jessup, R E; Rao, P S.C.; Wood, A L

Solvent flushing is a potential technique for remediating a waste disposal/spill site contaminated with organic chemicals. This technique involves the injection of a solvent mixture (e.g., water plus alcohols) that enhances contaminant solubility, reduces the retardation factor, and increases the release rates of the contaminants. A simulation model is developed to predict contaminant elution curves during solvent flushing for the case of one-dimensional, steady flow through a contaminated medium. Column experiments are conducted with a Eustis fine sand that is initially equilibrated with an aqueous naphthalene solution, and then eluted with different methanol-water mixtures to remove the naphthalene. The model simulations, based on parameter values estimated from literature data agree well with the measured elution profiles. Solvent flushing experiments, where the soil was initially equilibrated with a solution of naphthalene and anthracene, show that compounds with different retardation factors are separated at low cosolvent contents, while coelution of the compounds occurs at higher contents. (Copyright (c) ASCE 1994.)

• Research Organization: Florida Univ., Gainesville, FL (United States). Dept. of Soil and Water Science
• OSTI ID: 7105771
• Report Number(s): PB-94-162740/XAB; CNN: EPRI-RP-2879-7; EPA-R-820678
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540220* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AROMATICS
EXTRACTION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
REMEDIAL ACTION
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOILS
SOLVENT EXTRACTION