Document Type
Thesis
Date of Award
Spring 5-31-1997
Degree Name
Master of Science in Chemical Engineering - (M.S.)
Department
Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Environmental Science
First Advisor
Basil Baltzis
Second Advisor
Piero M. Armenante
Third Advisor
Dana E. Knox
Abstract
In this study experiments were performed in order to show feasibility of an integrated air sparging/biofiltration process for cleaning contaminated groundwater. Feasibility was also meant in the sense of meeting regulatory constraints. Using toluene as model compound and changing flowrates for the sparged air, it was shown that despite fluctuations in the toluene concentration at the inlet of the biofilter, the concentrations at the outlet of the unit were essentially constant over long periods of time and remained below the levels dictated by environmental regulations. However an increase in outlet concentrations at levels not meeting regulatory constraints was observed after the first phases of the process. This failure is attributed to poor moisture control in the biofilter bed.
Experiments with the air sparging process alone, aiming at describing the distribution of the pollutant between contaminated water and air sparged through it showed that this distribution is a function of the pollutant concentration in the water and the residence time of the sparged air in the water reservoir. However, efforts to model and mathematically describe this distribution have failed and led to no significant conclusions.
Recommended Citation
Tellez, Armando Mora, "Decontamination of aquifers via air sparging/biofiltration : an experimental study" (1997). Theses. 1041.
https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/theses/1041
