Lab-Scale Air/Bio-Sparging Study to Remediate Diesel-Contaminated Soil and Groundwater : The Effect of Air Injection Rate and Pattern

Laboratory-scale two-dimensional aquifer physical model studies were conducted to assess the effect of air injection rate and air injection pattern on the removal of disel contaminated soil and groundwater by air/bio-sparging. The experimental results were represented that the optimal conditions in this experiment were as air injection rate of 1,000 ml/min and pulsed air injection pattern(15 min on/off). The results of the TPH reduction, DO consumption and production indicate the effective biodegradation evidence of diesel. Based on our results, The minimal supply and pulsed air injection pattern could effectively enhance the diesel removal and the pulsing air injection had effect on oxygenation in this system. Thus, the cost of operating air/bio-sparging system will be reduced if optimal air injection rate and pulsed air injection pattern are applied to remediate contaminants.