Evidence for Superoxide Generation in Aqueous Sodium Percarbonate Solution, Effects of Base-Activated Persulfate on Soil Strength, Sodium Persulfate Diffusion Through Consolidometer-Prepared Kaolin Columns

Thesis (Ph.D.), Civil Engineering, Washington State UniversityThe generation of superoxide in a sodium percarbonate system was examined and confirmed. Superoxide is a strong nucleophile and reductant with the capability to degrade contaminants recalcitrant to other technologies. The remediation of toxic compounds is dependent on the ability of the remedial agent to reach the contaminant of concern. Therefor, the mass transport of sodium persulfate in a low-permeabilty soil was examined. In order to prepare clay specimens a consolidation column was designed to consolidate and saturate clay and decrease the preparation time by almost 100 days. Lastly, the soil strength of a sodium persulfate amended soil was analyzed and research indicated that soil strength decreases as pH increases.Civil Engineering, Washington State UniversityBy student request, this dissertation cannot be exposed to search engines and is, therefore, only accessible to Washington State University users