TY - JOUR
T1 - In-situ control of DNAPL density using polyaphrons
AU - Yan, Le
AU - Thompson, Karsten E.
AU - Valsaraj, Kalliat T.
AU - Reible, Danny D.
PY - 2003/10/1
Y1 - 2003/10/1
N2 - Once spilled into soils, dense nonaqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs) such as chlorinated solvents migrate deep into the subsurface because of their high density. Their downward migration typically continues until capillary forces balance gravitational forces or until essentially impermeable strata are reached. Efforts to mobilize the DNAPL for remediation purposes risks driving the contaminants deeper, which has spurred research for modifying buoyancy forces in situ. In this paper, a novel means of controlling the density of a DNAPL phase using polyaphrons is presented. Polyaphrons are a class of high internal phase ratio emulsions (HIPREs) that have unusual properties such as indefinite stability and flow properties through porous media. They provide a means of selectively delivering a light organic phase liquid to the vicinity of the DNAPL phase. Upon destabilization of the polyaphron by a polyvalent cation, the light internal phase mixes with the DNAPL to produce a nonaqueous phase of lower density than the original contaminant. The negative buoyancy of the DNAPL can thus be reversed. This approach holds great promise for manipulating DNAPL densities prior to or during remediation treatments.
AB - Once spilled into soils, dense nonaqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs) such as chlorinated solvents migrate deep into the subsurface because of their high density. Their downward migration typically continues until capillary forces balance gravitational forces or until essentially impermeable strata are reached. Efforts to mobilize the DNAPL for remediation purposes risks driving the contaminants deeper, which has spurred research for modifying buoyancy forces in situ. In this paper, a novel means of controlling the density of a DNAPL phase using polyaphrons is presented. Polyaphrons are a class of high internal phase ratio emulsions (HIPREs) that have unusual properties such as indefinite stability and flow properties through porous media. They provide a means of selectively delivering a light organic phase liquid to the vicinity of the DNAPL phase. Upon destabilization of the polyaphron by a polyvalent cation, the light internal phase mixes with the DNAPL to produce a nonaqueous phase of lower density than the original contaminant. The negative buoyancy of the DNAPL can thus be reversed. This approach holds great promise for manipulating DNAPL densities prior to or during remediation treatments.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0141889968&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1021/es034082d
DO - 10.1021/es034082d
M3 - Article
C2 - 14572105
AN - SCOPUS:0141889968
SN - 0013-936X
VL - 37
SP - 4487
EP - 4493
JO - Environmental Science and Technology
JF - Environmental Science and Technology
IS - 19
ER -