Team 08
Team Members |
Faculty Advisor |
Riley Mack |
Alexander Agrios Sponsor Loureiro |
sponsored by
Remedial Design of Air Sparge and Soil Vapor Extraction Barrier System for the Treatment Organic Contaminants and Heavy Metals
Groundwater impacts from an active industrial facility are migrating northward toward a nearby surface water body. Contaminants of concern include chlorinated volatile organic compounds (VOCs), heavy metals such as hexavalent chromium, cadmium, and zinc, as well as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). A pump-and-treat system is currently operating to capture and control hexavalent chromium in groundwater. However, the long-term objective is to transition away from pump-and-treat and implement an air sparge and soil vapor extraction (AS/SVE) barrier system to intercept and treat groundwater impacts more sustainably. Several pre-design activities have already been completed, including groundwater delineation, hydraulic evaluations, and laboratory treatability testing. These studies demonstrated that AS/SVE technology has the potential to enhance volatilization and oxidation processes and may also promote the precipitation and immobilization of dissolved metals under certain conditions. The project will focus on the evaluation and design of an AS/SVE barrier system to remediate groundwater impacts. The system introduces air into the subsurface to promote volatilization while extracting vapors through wells, creating a treatment zone where contaminants are removed. Well placement will be guided by hydrogeologic conditions, groundwater flow patterns, contaminant distribution, and groundwater depth to ensure treatment. In addition to primary treatment processes, the project will consider secondary effects such as groundwater chemistry changes that may promote heavy metal precipitation. Long-term performance factors—including mineral scaling, soil permeability changes, and system maintenance—will be discussed. Design tasks will include piping layouts, pump and blower sizing, utility connections, and vapor treatment system selection (if required). Treatment options such as carbon adsorption or catalytic oxidation will also be evaluated.