Compatibility of Polymer and Remediation Agents for Enhanced Soil Remediation

Abstract

Polymer flooding, as a promising method, can deliver conventional oil-displacing agents effectively to contaminants distributed within heterogeneous soil. In this study, combinations of polymer (xanthan) and common remediation agents (potassium permanganate and/or sodium persulfate) were used for polymer-enhanced in situ chemical oxidation applications. The concentrations and solution viscosities of remediation agents were utilized as initial measures of compatibility. Chemical reactions were determined between the xanthan and remediation agents within 72 hours. The results showed that the viscosity of solution fell to the lowest at the fourth hour, and it was decreased by more than 55% after 72 h of reaction with sodium persulfate. Furthermore, xanthan consumption in xanthan/remediation agents combinations appeared to be correlated with xanthan concentrations. These advantages such as high viscosity retention, moderate remediation agents demand make xanthan/remediation agents become the most compatible for polymer-enhanced soil remediation.