MIGRATION AND TREATMENT OF A DENSE AQUEOUS CONTAMINANT SOURCE AND PLUME

Over two decades, a chemical processing waste liquor containing substantial concentrations of organic species and ammonium sulfate (up to 38,000 mg/L total organic carbon [TOC] and 85,000 mg/L sulfate), was discharged into shallow trenches adjacent to a manufacturing facility. The waste materials have reacted and migrated in the subsurface domain; a multiphase contaminant plume has resulted. Studies addressing contaminant interaction with treated surfaces and untreated soils have been carried out. It appears that plume movement strongly depends on the physical parameters of the solid matrix, particularly wettability, as well as on the physical properties of the waste. Alteration of surface properties of porous media seem to have a large impact on waste movement. Many different treatment methodologies have been considered. An appropriate system must arrange individual process components to eliminate organic and inorganic species. Results of laboratory scale treatability studies will also be discussed.