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SURFACTANT-ENHANCED EXTRACTION TECHNOLOGY EVALUATION VERSUCHSEININCHTUNG ZUR GRUNDWASSER-UND ALTLASTENSANIERUNG (VEGAS) FACILITY, STUTTGART, GERMANY
Citation:
ARGUS, R., E. BARR, AND S. GEYER. SURFACTANT-ENHANCED EXTRACTION TECHNOLOGY EVALUATION VERSUCHSEININCHTUNG ZUR GRUNDWASSER-UND ALTLASTENSANIERUNG (VEGAS) FACILITY, STUTTGART, GERMANY. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/540/R-07/004 (NTIS PB2008-111720), 2007.
Impact/Purpose:
To demonstrate that the proprietary surfactant was designed to enhance the removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including xylene, from the saturated zone by increasing the partitioning of those compounds into the groundwater phase.
Description:
This innovative technology evaluation report (ITER) summarized the results of an evaluation of a surfactant-enhanced extraction technology. This evaluation was conducted under a bilateral agreement between the United States (U.S.) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE) program and the Federal Republic of Germany Ministry for Research and Technology (BMBF).The surfactant-enhanced extraction system was demonstrated from February 28 through March 5 1998 at the Versuchseinrichtung zer Grundwasser-und Altlastensaierung (VEGAS) research facility in Stuttgart, Germany. Prior to the demonstration, the artificial aquifer was injected with xylene to create a contaminant plume for the technology evaluation. The proprietary surfactant was designed to enhance the removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including xylene, from the saturated zone by increasing the partitioning of those compounds into the groundwater phase. During the demonstration, surfactant was injected into the artificial aquifer, groundwater containing xylene was extracted, and the system was monitored to assess the effectiveness of the technology. The surfactant-enhanced extraction technology demonstrated at the VEGAS facility accelerated the removal of xylene from the artificial aquifer. The concentration of xylene in the extracted groundwater increased by a factor of approximately 15 after the injection of the surfactant solution.