PERSULFATE DECOMPOSITION KINETICS IN THE PRESENCE OF AQUIFER MATERIALS

Abstract: Persulfate is an emerging oxidant for in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) applications with a high oxidation potential on activation (Eo = 2.6 V). The design of an oxidant remedial system involves a comprehensive understanding of a number of underlying physical and chemical processes. One of these processes, which impacts oxidant efficiency, involves the stability of the oxidant in the presence of natural aquifer materials. To improve our understanding and develop predictive relationships a series of batch experiments were designed to quantify the interaction between persulfate and aquifer materials. Well-characterized aquifer materials collected from seven sites across North America were used in this investigation. The batch experiments, run in triplicates for each aquifer material, were conducted to primarily observe and deriv