Synthesis and Transport Studies of a Delivery Mechanism for Oxidative In-situ Remediation of Groundwater
Open Access
- Author:
- Laughner, Josh Lee
- Area of Honors:
- Chemistry
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Thomas E Mallouk, Thesis Supervisor
Raymond Lee Funk, Thesis Honors Advisor
Miriam Arak Freedman, Faculty Reader - Keywords:
- environmental chemistry
DNAPL
chlorinated organic
vadose zone - Abstract:
- Chlorinated organic compounds, especially those classified as dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs), are a significant challenge in the remediation of legacy industrial sites. These compounds form insoluble pools that can persist for many years, contaminating the groundwater flowing through that region. Existing methods of treating DNAPL contamination require years to fully remove the pool and rely on expensive engineered systems, including pump-and-treat, barrier, and injection well methods.1–3 We seek to design a method of attacking DNAPLs in-situ that is simple, rapid, and cost efficient. Herein, we discuss two approaches of delivering an oxidizing agent to DNAPL pools using microcapsules as the method of transport. The first uses a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), to create a shell around silica particles. We successfully conjugated PLGA to silica particles, but were unable to obtain a uniform shell. The second method uses solid calcium peroxide as the scaffold to layer a polyanion to improve transport of the particles through soil. We were able to modify the size of the CaO2 particles rather easily through ball milling, and addition of the polyanion was straightforward. However, the CaO2 particles were fully dissolved by the volume of eluent necessary in the study. To allow effective transport, the solubility of the peroxide particles must be reduced.