Foam-surfactant technology in soil remediation

Recently, the use of gas-liquid foams as a means of delivering chemicals to the subsurface is being considered as an important to in-situ soil remediation. However research in this area has been limited. Column experiments were conducted to investigate the factors that limit the use of foam as an agent for soil flushing. Pressure build up in the soil is an important factor that was studied for foam with different characteristics. In addition, the capability of this technology for the removal of contaminants (Pentachlorophenol, "PCP") from soil and the principal factors that influence the removal efficiency were investigated. The fate and transport of pentachlorophenol, (aromatic pesticide and is mostly used as a wood preservative) was studied in the presence of foam with different properties formed by using two different types of surfactant. TritonX100 and JBR425 were used as representatives of nonionic and anionic surfactants, respectively. The results obtained from this study on a sandy soil showed that foam can be used as a fluid to enhance soil remediation under low pressures compared to other fluids such as liquid surfactant solutions