Accession Number:

ADA621906

Title:

Enhanced Amendment Delivery to Low Permeability Zones for Chlorinated Solvent Source Area Bioremediation

Descriptive Note:

Final rept. Feb 2009 Oct 2014

Corporate Author:

GSI ENVIRONMENTAL INC HOUSTON TX

Personal Author(s):

• Adamson, David
• Newell, Charles
• Truex, Michael
• Zhong, Lirong

Report Date:

2014-09-01

Pagination or Media Count:

202.0

Abstract:

This project demonstrated the use of shear-thinning fluid based technology to improve treatment within low-permeability low-k zones of heterogeneous subsurface environments. These low-k zones can serve as a long-term secondary source of contamination because transport may be diffusion controlled, yet they are difficult to target using standard injection-based treatment approaches. A shear-thinning fluid can be used to distribute a bioremediation amendment e.g., lactate around an injection well such that the solution was able to better penetrate and deliver the amendments to both high and low-permeability zones. When injected at a relatively high velocity compared to natural groundwater flow velocities, the shear-thinning nature of the solution allows it to flow more readily and cross-flow from high to low-permeability zones is promoted. During the demonstration at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, the shear-thinning fluid improved amendment distribution by approximately 41 with enhanced persistence and treatment effectiveness within the lower-k zones of the heterogeneous aquifer. It is anticipated that permeability contrasts of 1-2 orders of magnitude are amenable to this technology e.g., improving distribution to silt layers within a sand matrix, but not clay layers.

Descriptors:

• *BIODEGRADATION
• *WASTE TREATMENT
• CHLORINATION
• COST EFFECTIVENESS
• GROUND WATER
• INJECTION
• PERMEABILITY
• SOLVENTS
• WATER FLOW

Subject Categories:

• Solid Wastes and Pollution and Control

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE