Transport and Remediation of Subsurface Contaminants

251 Pages·1991·23.176 MB·English

by  David A. Sabatini, Robert C. Knox,

T R
RANSPORT AND EMEDIATION OF
S
UBSURFACE
C
ONTAMINANTS
Coolidal, Interfacial, and
Surfactant Phenomena
E
DITED BY
David A. Sabatini
and Robert C. Knox
ACS Symposium Series 491
Transport and Remediation
of Subsurface Contaminants
In Transport and Remediation of Subsurface Contaminants; Sabatini, D., et al.;
ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1992.
In Transport and Remediation of Subsurface Contaminants; Sabatini, D., et al.;
ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1992.
A CS S Y M P O S I UM SERIES 491
Transport and Remediation
of Subsurface Contaminants
Colloidal, Interfacial, and Surfactant
Phenomena
David A. Sabatini,
EDITOR
University of Oklahoma
Robert C. Knox,
EDITOR
University of Oklahoma
Developed from a symposium sponsored
by the Division of Colloid and Surface Chemistry
of the American Chemical Society
at the 65th Annual Colloid and Surface Science Symposium,
Norman, Oklahoma,
June 17-19, 1991
American Chemical Society, Washington, DC 1992
In Transport and Remediation of Subsurface Contaminants; Sabatini, D., et al.;
ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1992.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Transport and remediation of subsurface contaminants: colloidal,
interfacial, and surfactant phenomena / David A. Sabatini, editor,
Robert C. Knox, editor.
p. cm.—(ACS symposium series, ISSN 0097-6156; 491)
"Developed from a symposium sponsored by the Division of Colloid
and Surface Chemistry at the 65th annual Colloid and Surface Science
Symposium, Norman, Oklahoma, June 17-19, 1991."
Includes bibliographical references and indexes.
ISBN 0-8412-2223-1
1. Hazardous substances—Environmental aspects—Congresses.
2. Water, Underground—Pollution—Congresses. 3. Soil pollution—
Congresses. 4. Transport theory—Congresses. 5. Colloids—Congresses.
6. Surface active agents—Congresses.
I. Sabatini, David Α., 1957- . II. Knox, Robert C. III. American
Chemical Society. Division of Colloid and Surface Chemistry.
IV. Colloid and Surface Science Symposium (65th: 1991: Norman,
Okla.) V. Series.
TD427.H3T73 1992
628.5'2—dc20 92-11468
CIP
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In Transport and Remediation of Subsurface Contaminants; Sabatini, D., et al.;
ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1992.
ACS Symposium Series
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In Transport and Remediation of Subsurface Contaminants; Sabatini, D., et al.;
ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1992.
Foreword
JLHE ACS SYMPOSIUM SERIES was founded in 1974 to provide
a medium for publishing symposia quickly in book form. The
format of the Series parallels that of the continuing ADVANCES
IN CHEMISTRY SERIES except that, in order to save time, the
papers are not typeset, but are reproduced as they are submit
ted by the authors in camera-ready form. Papers are reviewed
under the supervision of the editors with the assistance of the
Advisory Board and are selected to maintain the integrity of the
symposia. Both reviews and reports of research are acceptable,
because symposia may embrace both types of presentation.
However, verbatim reproductions of previously published
papers are not accepted.
In Transport and Remediation of Subsurface Contaminants; Sabatini, D., et al.;
ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1992.
Preface
CHEMICAL RELEASES INTO THE SUBSURFACE are pervasive environ
mental problems. Sources of chemical releases range from abandoned
hazardous waste disposal sites, such as Superfund sites, to leaking under
ground storage tanks at the corner gasoline station. Predicting the trans
port of contaminants in the subsurface and remediation of contaminated
soils and groundwater has proven to be extremely challenging. Accurate
prediction of subsurface contaminant transport is important in assessing
the risk of public exposure to the contaminants and in evaluating various
remediation scenarios. Experience has shown us that an improved under
standing of subsurface contaminant transport mechanisms is needed. For
example, colloidal enhanced contaminant transport may help explain
instances in which contaminants have migrated much further than
predicted when this process was not considered Experience has also
shown us that current remediation efforts are not satisfactory relative to
the time and cost of remediation. For example, remediation is frequently
inhibited by our inability to extract the contaminants from the subsurface
because of the significant sorption of strongly hydrophobic chemicals,
such as polychlorinated biphenyls, or because of the presence of separate
phases of nonaqueous-phase liquids, such as trichloroethylene. The use
of surfactants to enhance the solubility or to mobilize contaminants
appears to be a promising approach that could significantly reduce the
time and cost of remediation for sites contaminated with strongly hydro
phobic or nonaqueous-phase liquid contaminants.
Colloidal, interfacial, and surfactant phenomena are central to reach
ing a more complete understanding of contaminant transport and for
developing and implementing advanced subsurface remediation technolo
gies. This book contains recent research results from leading experts in
subsurface contaminant transport and remediation. An exciting aspect of
this book is that it combines into one volume the results of researchers
from a variety of disciplines that would typically be published in a multi
tude of volumes. Also, the last chapter includes the outcome of a panel
and group discussion on the general topic of "Where do we go from
here?" Thus, this volume combines a timely review of our current under
standing of subsurface contaminant transport and remediation with an
xi
In Transport and Remediation of Subsurface Contaminants; Sabatini, D., et al.;
ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1992.
insightful discussion of critical issues that demand future consideration.
This book will thus be invaluable for scientists and engineers with
research, teaching, consulting, and regulatory and management responsi
bilities.
We thank the cochairmen of the symposium on which this book is
based, John Scamehorn and Jeffrey Harwell, for their assistance in organ
izing the sessions and for their encouragement in producing this volume.
We give special thanks to our two keynote speakers, Suresh Rao and
Walter Weber, Jr., for their timely and informative presentations. We
also thank the presenters at the symposium and the authors of the
chapters in this book for their significant contributions, their timely sub
mittals, and their patience. We acknowledge the members of the discus
sion panel (Robert Puis, John Wilson, Suresh Rao, and John Westall, the
moderator) for helping to make it a most profitable exercise. We thank
the reviewers, who were most cooperative and made valuable contribu
tions to the quality of the chapters despite the short deadlines. We also
thank the School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science and the
University of Oklahoma for being supportive of this activity.
Finally, we thank the ACS Books Department staff, especially Cheryl
Shanks, A. Maureen Rouhi, Anne Wilson, and Paula M. Bérard, for their
assistance, patience, and encouragement in preparing this book and pub
lishing it in a timely manner.
DAVID A. SABATINI
ROBERT C. KNOX
University of Oklahoma
Norman, OK 73019
February 3, 1992
xii
In Transport and Remediation of Subsurface Contaminants; Sabatini, D., et al.;
ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1992.
Chapter 1
Transport and Remediation of Subsurface
Contaminants
Introduction
Robert C. Knox and David A. Sabatini
School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science, University
of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019
Contamination of subsurface soils and ground water formations is a pervasive
environmental problem that has proven to be extremely difficult to remediate.
Cleanup of contaminated subsurface environments is complicated both by the
physical nature of the formation and the behavior of contaminants introduced to
the formation. Soils and many aquifers are porous media comprised of solid
material and pore spaces which are occupied by fluids and/or gases. In addition
to a complex physical structure, subsurface formations are hidden from view and
highly inaccessible. With accessibility limited to localized points (boreholes) or
complete disruption (excavation), remediation of the subsurface environment
represents a formidable challenge.
The myriad of materials that have been introduced to the subsurface
environment have resulted in excessive levels of heavy metals, organic and
inorganic chemicals and bacteriological agents. The contaminant materials can
exist in the subsurface in different phases; attached to the soil solids, dissolved in
the ground water, or occupying the pore spaces as a separate gaseous or liquid
phase. Properties of the phase(s) in which contaminant materials exist in the
subsurface influence the potential mobility of the contaminants. This chapter will
provide introductory comments relative to contaminant transport and fate and
subsurface remediation and background information relative to the book and the
ACS Symposium Session which served as the catalyst.
Transport and Fate Processes
The two basic elements affecting the transport and fate of contaminants in the
subsurface are properties of the subsurface environment itself and physicochemical
and biological properties of the contaminant. Nonreactive (conservative)
chemicals tend to move unimpeded through the subsurface and subjected only to
hydrodynamic processes. Conservative chemicals are not affected by abiotic or
0097-6156/92/0491-OO01$06.00/0
© 1992 American Chemical Society
In Transport and Remediation of Subsurface Contaminants; Sabatini, D., et al.;
ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1992.