Kinetics of natural oxidant demand by permanganate in aquifer solids

During in situ chemical oxidation with permanganate, natural organic matter and other reduced species in the subsurface compete with the target compounds for the available oxidant and can exert a significant natural oxidant demand. This competition between target and nontarget compounds can have a significant impact on the permeation, dispersal, and persistence of permanganate in the subsurface. The kinetics of natural oxidant demand by permanganate was investigated using a composite sample made up of aquifer material collected from three different sites. The study found that although the depletion of organic carbon increased with increased permanganate dosage and increased reaction period, the mass ratio of MnO4−:OC (wt/wt) was relatively constant over time (11.4 ± 0.9). The reaction order and rate with respect to permanganate were found to decrease with time suggesting a continuum of reactions with the slower reactions becoming more controlling with time. However, the data also suggests that this continuum of reactions can be simplified into short- and long-term kinetic expressions representing fast and slow reactions. An independent first-order kinetic model with separate fast and slow reaction rate constants was used to successfully describe the complete kinetic expression of natural oxidant demand. The kinetic parameters used in the model are easily determined and can be used to better understand the complex kinetics of natural oxidant demand.