Groundwater Remediation Using a Chlorine/Ultraviolet Advanced Oxidation Process
Tuesday, May 6, 2014: 1:40 p.m.
Platte River Room (Westin Denver Downtown)
Andrew Boal
,
MIOX Corporation, Albuquerque, NM
Steve Garcia
,
MIOX Corporation, Albuquerque, NM
Curtis Rhodes
,
MIOX Corporation, Albuquerque, NM
Christopher Fennessy
,
Aerojet Rocketdyne, Inc., Sacramento, CA
Peter Kvam
,
Aerojet Rocketdyne, Inc., Sacramento, CA
Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) use a variety of means to generate hydroxyl radicals, potent oxidants which can rapidly degrade a large variety of organic chemicals. AOPs are commonly used in groundwater remediation applications to remove chemicals such as 1,4-dioxane, methyl-
tert-butyl ether (MTBE), or trichloroethylene (TCE) from a contaminated water source. Combining hydrogen peroxide and ultraviolet light (H
2O
2/UV) is the most commonly used AOP, and this process works through the action of UV light on hydrogen peroxide, which produces hydroxyl radicals. While H
2O
2/UV AOPs are effective, they are often costly due to the high price of hydrogen peroxide, the low amounts of hydrogen peroxide actually used in the process, and the need for quenching residual hydrogen peroxide after AOP treatment is complete. Recently, researchers have been exploring the combination of aqueous chlorine and ultraviolet light (Cl
2/UV) as an alternative AOP. Similar to H
2O
2/UV, Cl
2/UV produces hydroxyl radicals from the photolysis of aqueous chlorine. Laboratory testing had indicated that, in some situations, Cl
2/UV AOPs are expected to be far less expensive than a comparable H
2O
2/UV process. Until now, such observations had not been corroborated through field studies, where parameters outside the control of a laboratory setting can impact AOP treatment outcome.
This presentation will describe pilot study results comparing H2O2/UV and Cl2/UV AOPs for the removal of TCE from contaminated groundwater. These studies were conducted on the full scale operations of two Ground Water Extraction and Treatment facilities operated by Aerojet-Rocketdyne, and compared the TCE removal efficacy of the in-place H2O2/UV AOP with Cl2/UV AOP. Data was then used to determine the expected operational costs of a full scale Cl2/UV AOP treatment process. The impact of Cl2/UV AOP on the photolytic removal of N-nitroso-dimethylamine (NDMA) and the acute toxicity of the AOP effluent water were also explored.
Andrew Boal, MIOX Corporation, Albuquerque, NM
Andrew Boal received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from North Carolina State University and Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts, all in chemistry. Prior to entering the water industry, he spent seven years conducting cutting edge research at Sandia National Labs in Albuquerque, New Mexico and the NASA Astrobiology Institute at the University of Hawaii. Boal joined MIOX Corp. in 2008, where he leads research initiatives designed to expand MIOX’s product lines and market access. Currently, his main focus is the commercialization of MIOX’s Integrated Advanced Oxidation technology in the water treatment, remediation, and reuse markets.
Steve Garcia, MIOX Corporation, Albuquerque, NM
Steve Garcia is a Remedial Project Manager with the Superfund Division of EPA Region 8. He has managed numerous Superfund sites, including multiple sites contaminated with chlorinated solvents.
Curtis Rhodes, MIOX Corporation, Albuquerque, NM
Curtis Rhodes graduated from SUNY with a Physics/Mechanical Engineering degree, and started his career as an Engineer for CPAC Corp. in Leicester, New York designing chemical recycle/recovery systems for Kodak and other photo processing labs around the world, eventually becoming the Engineering Manager. He moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1995 to work for Academy Corp. as their System Design Manager, designing foundry equipment and applying newer technologies for Kodak Olympic applications. In 2010, Rhodes joined MIOX Corp., where he currently works as an Engineer.
Christopher Fennessy, Aerojet Rocketdyne, Inc., Sacramento, CA
Christopher Fennessy is the Engineering Manager in Aerojet Rocketdyne’s Environmental Remediation Department. With more than 20 years of experience, he has B.S. and M.S. degrees in Civil Engineering, and is a licensed Professional Civil Engineer and a Certified Water Treatment Plant Operator, both in the state of California. Fennessy is currently responsible for providing strategic direction on the remedial efforts for the Aerojet Rocketdyne Site in Rancho Cordova, California, including identification and evaluation of innovative technologies, which focuses on sustainable remedial technologies for soil and water as well as reductions in cost and Aerojet Rocketdyne’s carbon footprint.
Peter Kvam, Aerojet Rocketdyne, Inc., Sacramento, CA
Peter Kvam is an environmental analyst at Aerojet Rocketdyne, with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He manages the innovation technology program for the Aerojet Rocketdyne groundwater remediation group, helping to develop cost saving technology in water treatment. Prior to Aerojet Rocketdyne, Kvam worked at a large consulting firm as an environmental engineer on groundwater and soil cleanup sites.
