Acoustically Enhanced Remediation of Aquifers Contaminated with Nonaqueous Phase Liquids (TSE03-P)

University Of California-Irvine, Irvine CA

Investigators

Abstract

0329398 Chrysikopoulos The specific aim of this proposal is to experimentally investigate the feasibility of applying acoustic waves toward residual phase NAPLs in saturated porous media to enhance dissolution and cause mobilization. Our proposal seeks to employ pore network and monolayer bead experiments involving residual phase dense NAPL (DNAPL) saturations and ganglia with the addition of acoustic waves to constant background water flow. The reasons for performing network and monolayer bead experiments for this work are three fold. First, both experiments allow direct observation and measurement of DNAPL mobilization due to acoustic waves. Second, direct observation/measurement of the DNAPL water interfacial areas will allow exact determination of mass transfer coefficients, that cannot be determined in column experiments, with and without the addition of acoustic waves. Third and finally, use of pore network and monolayer bead experiments will allow a precise description of fluid flow due to the regular pore geometries employed