Open AccessField test of single well DNAPL characterization using alcohol injection/extraction
Author(s) -
K.M. Jerome,
B.B. Looney,
M. L. Rhoden,
B. Riha,
S. Burdick
Publication year - 1996
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/468515
Subject(s) - tetrachloroethylene , groundwater , trichloroethylene , extraction (chemistry) , solubility , environmental chemistry , chemistry , aqueous solution , characterization (materials science) , savannah river site , water well , environmental science , chromatography , materials science , organic chemistry , geology , nuclear chemistry , nanotechnology , geotechnical engineering , radioactive waste
Soils and groundwater beneath an abandoned process sewer line in the A/M Area of the Savannah River Site (SRS) contain elevated levels of volatile organic compounds, specifically trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE), two common chlorinated solvents. These compounds have low aqueous solubilities, thus when released to the subsurface in sufficient quantity, tend to exist as immiscible fluids or nonaqueous phase liquids (NAPLs). Because chlorinated solvents are also denser than water, they are referred to by the acronym DNAPLs, or dense non-aqueous phase liquids. Technologies targeted at efficient characterization or removal of DNAPL are not currently proven. The authors performed injection/extraction characterization tests in six existing wells in A/M Area. Water concentrations for TCE and/or PCE in these wells ranged from 0% to 100% of solubility. For each test, small amounts of solubilizing solution were used to try to confirm or deny the presence or absence of DNAPL in the immediate vicinity of the well screen