Use of mini-sprinklers to strip trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene from contaminated ground water.
Three low-volume mini-sprinklers were tested for their efficacy to strip trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE) from water. Deionized water spiked with TCE and PCE was pumped for approximately 1 h at 0.19 to 0.21 MPa (28 to 30 lb in(-2)) through a mini-sprinkler supported on top of a 1.8-m-tall riser. Water was collected in collection vessels at 0.61 and 1.22 m above the ground on support columns that were spaced at 0.61-m intervals from the riser base, and samples were composited per height and distance from the riser. Overall, air-stripping reduced dissolved concentrations of TCE and PCE by 99.1 to 100 and 96.9 to 100%, respectively, from mean influent dissolved concentrations of 466 to 1675 microg L(-1) TCE and 206 to 940 microg L(-1) PCE. In terms of mass removed, the mini-sprinklers removed TCE and PCE at a rate of approximately 1400 to 1700 and 700 to 900 microg L(-1), respectively, over a 1-h test period. Mini-sprinklers offer the advantages of (i) easy setup in series that can be used on practically any terrain; (ii) operation over a long period of time that does not threaten aquifer depletion; (iii) use in small or confined aquifers in which the capacity is too low to support large irrigation or purging systems; and (iv) use in forests in which the small, low-impact droplets of the mini-sprinklers do not damage bark and in which trees can help manage (via evapotranspiration) excess waste water.
Berisford
Yvette C
YC
Agricultural and Environmental Services Laboratories, Pesticide and Hazardous Wastes Laboratory, Univ. of Georgia, 2300 College Station Road, Athens, GA 30605, USA.
Bush
Parshall B
PB
Blake
John I
JI
Bayer
Cassandra L
CL
D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D012997:Solvents / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D013750:Tetrachloroethylene / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D014241:Trichloroethylene / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D014872:Water Movements; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control*
D012989:Soil Pollutants; D012997:Solvents; D014241:Trichloroethylene; D013750:Tetrachloroethylene