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Physical, Chemical and Biological Characterization of Six Biochars Produced for the Remediation of Contaminated Sites
Published on: November 28, 2014
Experimental method for characterizing CVOC removal from fractured clays during boiling
Xiaoling Liu1, Tianwu Tan, Ronald W Falta
1Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634-0905, USA. lxlttb@gmail.com
Journal of Contaminant Hydrology
|July 23, 2013
Summary
This study developed a novel experimental method to investigate thermal remediation of chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) in clay. Boiling effectively removed 1,2-dichloroethane (DCA) from the clay matrix, showing promise for contaminated site cleanup.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Engineering
- Geotechnical Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Conventional remediation methods struggle in fractured media.
- Thermal remediation using CVOC stripping at boiling temperatures shows potential but lacks experimental data.
- High temperatures present challenges for experimental characterization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and demonstrate an experimental method for characterizing thermal remediation of contaminants in clay.
- To investigate the effectiveness of in-situ boiling for removing 1,2-dichloroethane (DCA) from a clay matrix.
- To analyze contaminant transport and removal under simulated subsurface conditions.
Main Methods:
- A 1D physical model using two experimental cells (rigid-wall stainless steel and flexible-wall Teflon) was employed.
- Clay was uniformly contaminated with dissolved 1,2-dichloroethane (DCA) and bromide.
- Columns were heated above 100 °C and depressurized to induce boiling, with outflow condensed and analyzed.
Main Results:
- DCA concentrations in recovered condensate were up to 12 times the initial pore concentration.
- Less than 5% of non-volatile bromide was recovered, indicating selective removal.
- Significant removal of DCA and water occurred throughout the clay column, suggesting matrix boiling.
Conclusions:
- The developed experimental apparatus effectively simulates thermal remediation processes in clay.
- In-situ boiling is a promising method for removing CVOCs like DCA from contaminated clay matrices.
- Further research can build upon this method to optimize thermal remediation strategies.
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