Assessment of sorbent materials for treatment of hydrocarbon contaminated ground water in cold regions

Abstract

In this investigation different sorbent materials (MYCELX coated sand, granular activated carbon (GAC) and surfactant-modifed zeolite (SMZ)) were tested for their suitability for capture of sparingly soluble hydrocarbons in soil water. These materials were assessed for their potential use in permeable reactive barriers in cold regions. Batch sorption tests at 20 °C and 4 °C were performed along with a number of surface characterization techniques, including thermogravimetric analysis, nitrogen adsorption and Fourier transform infrared analysis (FTIR). ionic strength and pH tests were also conducted to determine their impact on hydrocarbon sorption. The results of the surface characterization..