Enhanced Fenton’s destruction of non-aqueous phase perchloroethylene in soil systems

The Fenton’s system is applied to the destruction of perchloroethylene (PCE) present as a dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) in soil slurry systems; the initial concentration of PCE was 45 times higher than its aqueous solubility. Studies were conducted in two matrices: Ottawa sand and soil from Warsaw, IN. In Ottawa sand, a 60–62% decrease in PCE concentration was observed, and Cl− recovery was 47–58%, whereas in Warsaw soil, a 44–49% decrease in PCE concentration and a Cl− recovery of 40–42% were observed after the addition of 600 mM H2O2 and 10 mM dissolved iron. Significantly enhanced destruction resulted during application of N-(2-hydroxyethyl) iminodiacetic acid (HEIDA) to Warsaw soil. For example, in the absence of HEIDA in Warsaw soil, 36% PCE loss and 33% Cl− release were observed at 600 mM H2O2 and 5 mM Fe(III), while 74% PCE loss and 63% Cl− release were achieved at 600 mM H2O2 and 5 mM Fe(III)-HEIDA. For both soils, the catalytic activities of Fe(II) and Fe(III) were nearly equivalent. These findings clearly demonstrate that system design can be optimized with regard to process variables in Fenton’s treatment of DNAPL in soils.