Permeability reductions induced by sorption of surfactant

Abstract

Abstract. Surfactant enhanced aquifer remediation (SEAR) is an attractive alternative to traditional pump and treat methods for remediating aquifers contaminated with nonaqueous phase liquids. However, initial studies indicate that the application of surfactant can reduce aquifer permeability by more than an order of magnitude, limiting the efficiency of SEAR. A series of column experiments using mixtures of medium sand and montmorillonite clay demonstrate that existing permeability reduction models for biofouling and deep-bed filtration poorly predict surfactant induced permeability reductions. An alternative permeability reduction model is proposed which is based on the assumption that the sorbed surfactant effectively increases the volume fraction of the clay. The model is shown to reasonably predict observed permeability reductions, particularly for clay fractions less than 20%. A numerical simulation of surfactant transport that incorporates the effective clay fraction model demonstrates that induced permeability reductions significantly influence the transport of surfactant through an aquifer.

Use of surfactants for the remediation of contaminated soils: A review

“…For instance, the sorption of certain surfactants on the soil particles proved to change the hydraulic conductivity of soils [27]. Toxic surfactants directly incur harmful effects on soil ecosystem.…”

Surfactant–soil interactions during surfactant-amended remediation of contaminated soils by hydrophobic organic compounds: A review

“…Renshaw et al (1997) used a series of column experiments with mixtures of sand and clay to demonstrate and simulate surfactant-induced permeability reductions. They suggest that a model based on the assumption that sorbed surfactant effectively increases the volume fraction of clay reasonably predicts the observed permeability reductions.…”

A general model for bioremediation processes of contaminated soils

“…Moreover, a very similar problem has been studied also in the field of surfactants (SURface ACTive AgeNTS) and their use in soil remediation (SEAR: Surfactant Enhanced Aquifer Remediation), see [35]- [38], for instance. SEAR is a promising technique for remediating aquifers contaminated by NAPLs (non-aqueous phase liquids).…”