Open AccessApproaching Brine Spill Remediation from the Surface: A New In Situ Method
Author(s) -
Daigh Aaron L. M.,
Klaustermeier Aaron W.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
agricultural and environmental letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.681
H-Index - 12
ISSN - 2471-9625
DOI - 10.2134/ael2015.12.0013
Subject(s) - environmental remediation , brine , leaching (pedology) , environmental chemistry , environmental science , contamination , soil water , chemistry , soil science , ecology , organic chemistry , biology
Core Ideas In situ remediation of brine spills is possible via surface extraction of salts. A crystallization inhibitor allowed for 29 to 57% of salts to be harvested from the soil surface. Methods for surface extraction of salts can aid in expediting brine spill remediation timelines.Well drilling for energy resources innately produces brine waters. These brines often contain sodium in the 10,000 to >100,000 mg L −1 range. In situ soil remediation of brine spills traditionally consists of diluting salts with organic materials and then infiltrating divalent cations. This leaching technique can require years to centuries, as a function of soil clay content, to remove salts from the root zone. We present a new in situ remediation method that extracts salts from the soil surface and expedites remediation. Surface application of a crystallization inhibitor (ferric hexacyanoferrate) to brine‐contaminated soils followed by an evaporative flux resulted in dendritic crystal growth above the soil surface. This process allowed easy harvest of 29 to 57% of salts within 7 d without mechanical disturbance to the soil. Future studies should include loading‐rate optimization, in‐field testing, evaluation of reaction product fate and transport, and identification of other amendments to rapidly extract salts.