Controlled Release biodegradable polymers comes as an alternative ISCO technology that demonstrate the promise to be an <i>in situ </i>treatment of subsurface contamination. Polymers such as PVAc (polyvinyl Acetate) are capable of embedding oxidants potassium permanganate (KmnO4) to sustainably deliver it to contaminated subsurface in a controlled and efficient manner. The initial phase of this research was focused on conducting the release characteristics of Controlled Release pellets that contain 60% KmnO4 and 40% of a biodegradable polymer namely PVAc by mass and baked at 120°C for 2 mins within different soil media specifically Sand, Silt and Clay and that through Soil Column studies. Studies showed that the controlled release pellets used in Sand demonstrated an average release percentage of 72.15±9.99 % at pH=8.0 and 73.12±3.36% at pH=6.0. On the other hand, the average release percentage of the same type of Control Release Pellets in clay media was found to be lower with an average percentage release of 58.27± 1.42 % at pH=8.0 and 54.85±0.12 % at pH=6.0. Finally, the lowest average release percentage was found to be in the Silt media with a value of 8.89±2.90 % at pH=8.0 and that of 10.48± 3.09 % at pH=6.0. The second phase of this research was focused on performing modeling studies within a flow tank aquarium that has been filled with sand media and simulating the flow of water within the subsurface. Model simulation demonstrated a significant reduction in release concentrations as well as an acute reduction in the dispersivity of the plume within layer 3 = 5.5 reaching mostly middle points particularly points G3, H3, F3 and P3 along with very low concentrations releases at layer 1= 2 inches and layer 2 = 4 inches, suggesting a difficulty in the release of potassium permanganate from controlled release pellets within low hydraulic conductivity soil media such as clay.

Controlled release pellets embedded in Polyvinyl Acetate (PVAc) to release and model KMnO4 within different soil media

2019 Spring National Meeting

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