Experimental study of viscosity modification coupled with phase transfer catalysis for enhanced remediation of non-aqueous phase trichloroethene polluted heterogeneous aquifer

Abstract

The degradation of dense non-aqueous phase liquid trichloroethene in low permeability zone is a challenging issue due to limited mass transfer between water-soluble oxidants (i.e., MnO₄^-) and residual phase trichloroethene and the bypassing of amendments in low permeability zone. This work accomplished trichloroethene oxidation enhancement through coupling viscosity modification by using xanthan with phase transfer of MnO₄^- by using phase transfer catalyst (PTC). Experiments were conducted by sand columns and 2D-tanks, and results revealed that after ~11.7 g of trichloroethene was injected in each tank, the mass of trichloroethene degradation was 1.3, 5.9, 6.9 and 8.5 g in MnO₄^-, MnO₄^- + xanthan, MnO₄^- + PTC and MnO₄^- + PTC + xanthan reaction systems, respectively. Combining PTC and xanthan with MnO₄^- increased the rate of continuous formation of Cl^-, reflected in the acceleration of heterogeneous reactions and MnO₄^- transport enhancement in low permeability zone by PTC and xanthan. Moreover, PTC promoted dissolved Mn (Ⅱ) and Mn (Ⅲ) formation in the process of MnO₄^- reduction, and thus effectively inhibited MnO₂ generation. In conclusion, the results revealed that PTC and xanthan could perform their respective contributions to mass transfer and amendment transport for jointly enhanced the remediation of trichloroethene polluted heterogeneous aquifer.

Keywords: Groundwater; In situ chemical oxidation; Mass transfer enhancement; Shear-thinning fluid; Trichloroethene (TCE).