Monitoring the remediation of organic contaminants by colloidal activated carbon: a spectral induced polarization study

A. Almpanis, L. Slater, C. Power

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Colloidal activated carbon (CAC) filters are becoming a popular option to remediate groundwater contaminated by DNAPLs and a real-time monitoring approach is desirable to assess its effectiveness. In this study, the spectral induced polarization (SIP) technique is evaluated for its applicability as a monitoring tool for DNAPL adsorption within CAC-filters. The adsorption of low-concentration (50 mg/L) tetrachloroethylene (PCE) in a CAC-filter was examined using a set of dynamic column experiments combined with SIP monitoring. The initial flushing of CAC into inert porous media was tracked by SIP monitoring, with an increase in both real and imaginary components of the complex conductivity. The CAC was then flushed out of the column via groundwater, leaving behind only carbon particles that will later adsorb the PCE. The process of flushing the CAC by groundwater indicated a decrease in both the SIP real and imaginary conductivities, with the imaginary holding a small amount of polarizability, which is likely associated with the remaining carbon particles. Finally, dissolved phase PCE was injected through the column, with insignificant changes in the simultaneous SIP response. This study suggests that SIP can monitor CAC within porous media but is insensitive to the low concentrations of dissolved phase PCE.

Original languageAmerican English
Title of host publication2nd Conference on Hydrogeophysics 2023, Held at Near Surface Geoscience Conference and Exhibition 2023, NSG 2023
PublisherEuropean Association of Geoscientists and Engineers, EAGE
ISBN (Electronic)9789462824621
DOIs
StatePublished - 2023
Event2nd Conference on Hydrogeophysics 2023, Held at Near Surface Geoscience Conference and Exhibition 2023, NSG 2023 - Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Duration: Sep 3 2023Sep 7 2023

Publication series

Name2nd Conference on Hydrogeophysics 2023, Held at Near Surface Geoscience Conference and Exhibition 2023, NSG 2023

Conference

Conference2nd Conference on Hydrogeophysics 2023, Held at Near Surface Geoscience Conference and Exhibition 2023, NSG 2023
Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
CityEdinburgh
Period9/3/239/7/23

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Earth-Surface Processes
  • Geophysics
  • Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology

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