• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.46-52
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• 2008

Oils and chlorinated solvents leaking to the subsurface are entrapped in the soil pore and these are called as nonaqueous phase liquids (NAPL). NAPL entrapped in porous media acts as a continuous source for surface and ground water contamination. This study visualized dissolution of trichloroethylene (TCE) entrapped in porous media and quantified the velocity of TCE dissolution using an image analysis technique. As the water velocity increased, the level of dissolution increased. The results imply that a TCE contaminated region having a high infiltration rate and groundwater velocity may result in severe groundwater contamination. Microscopic images of TCE entrapped in porous media showed that TCE present in the preferential flow paths was easily dissoluted into the water phase. However, TCE present in the stagnant flow region was visualized for long time. The results imply that TCE would be still present in the soil if TCE is detected in goundwater.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.301-306
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• 2001

Column tests were conducted to investigate the optimal condition of surfactant solution pH that can affect the removal efficiency in surfactant-assisted remediation. Toluene and 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene were chosen as the model hydrophobic substances. Two Iowa soils, Fruitfield sand and Webster clay loam, were leached with solutions of 4%(v/v) sodium diphenyl oxide disulfonate (DOSL, trade name Dowfax 8390), or 4%(v/v) trideceth-19-carboxylic acid (TDCA, trade name Sandopan JA36), or 4% (v/v) octylphenoxypoly ethoxyethanol (OPEE, trade name Triton X100). The test results revealed that a maximum removal of toluene and 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene was obtained at pH 10 of surfactant solution, and maximum recoveries of added toluene (94%) or 1 ,2,4- trichlorobenzene (97 %) were obtained for DOSL surfactant solution in Fruitfield sandy soil column. Increased removal efficiency by pH control of both toluene and 1,2,4trichlorobenzene was 16% and 20% for DOSL with Fruitfild sandy soil, respectively. In addition, the maximum recoveries of added toluene or I ,2,4-trichlorobenzene were 89% and 93% for DOSL surfactant solution in Webster clay loam soil column. The maximum increase of toluene and 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene removal was 26% and 19% for DOSL with Webster clay loam soil, respectively. These experimental results indicate that maintaining a high pH surfactant solution in surfactant-assisted remediation is desirable for efficient removal of NAPLs from contminated soils.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.42-52
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• 2011

In this laboratory study, the changes in gas-exposed perchloroethene (PCE) saturation in sand during a PCE removal process were measured using gaseous tracers. The flux of fresh air through a glass column packed with PCEcontaminated, partially water-saturated sand drove the removal of PCE from the column. During the removal of PCE, methane, n-pentane, difluoromethane and chloroform were used as the non-reactive, PCE-partitioning, water-partitioning, and PCE and water-partitioning tracers, respectively. N-pentane was used to detect the PCE fraction exposed to the mobile gas. At water saturation of 0.11, only 65% of the PCE was found to be exposed to the mobile gas prior to the removal of PCE, as calculated from the n-pentane retardation factor. More PCE than that detected by n-pentane was depleted from the column due to volatilization through the aqueous phase. However, the ratio of gas-exposed to total PCE decreased on the removal of PCE, implying gas-exposed PCE was preferentially removed by vaporization. These results suggest that the water-insoluble, PCE-partitioning tracer (n-pentane in this study), along with other tracers, can be used to investigate the changes in fluid (including nonaqueous phase liquid) saturation and the removal mechanism during the remediation process.

• Journal of Korea Soil Environment Society
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.9-24
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• 1997

Surfactant-aided in situ soil flushing has been proposed as an alternative for the expensive and time consuming 'pump and treat' technology in remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater Injected surfactants can effectively solubilize contaminants sorbed to the soil matrix or nonaqueous phase liquids(NAPLs) in residual saturation. The contaminants solubilized in groundwater are recovered and treated further. The theoretical background of the technology and the results of the field operations, mostly in the US. were summarized. In addition, the factors crucial to the successful application of the technology were discussed. Cost analyses and technical limitations in current applications were also discussed. In conclusion, it is likely that in situ surfactant flushing become a viable option for soil remediation in limited cases. Currently, further advances with respect to operation cost and to treatment efficiency are required for more extensive application of the technology. However, the current trends in soil remediation, specially the growing emphasis on risk based corrective action and natural attenuation, will increase the competitiveness of the technology. For example, removal of easily washable contaminants by short term soil flushing followed by long term monitoring and natural attenuation can greatly reduce the operation cost and time.