Application of Fenton’s Reagent to Remediate Diesel Contaminated Soils

• Published in: Practice periodical of hazardous, toxic, and radioactive waste management Vol. 10; no. 1; pp. 19 - 27
• Main Authors: Xu, P, Achari, G, Mahmoud, M, Joshi, R. C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Society of Civil Engineers 01-01-2006
• Subjects: TECHNICAL PAPERS
• ISSN: 1090-025X; 1944-8376
• DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)1090-025X(2006)10:1(19)

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation into usage of Fenton’s reagent (a mixture of ferrous salts and hydrogen peroxide) to remediate diesel-impacted soils. A number of process variables such as the presence of iron salts, comparison between ferrous and ferric salts, amount of diesel washed out and mineralized and the use of surfactant to augment the treatment were investigated. Additionally, studies were conducted to evaluate the in-situ injection technique for remediation of diesel-impacted soil using
H2
O2
and also its effect on the hydraulic conductivity of the soil. The results indicate that external amendment of iron is not necessary in soils containing iron, and that concentration and volume of
H2
O2
were important process variables in modified Fenton’s reaction. The hydraulic conductivity of the soil for
H2
O2
was significantly lower than that of water due to generation of gas and other reaction products, which blocked the pores. In some experiments, injection of
H2
O2
into the soil matrix met with resistance due to gas generation and the
H2
O2
moved up along the sides of the injector.