Ozonation of diesel fuel in unsaturated porous media

The objectives of this study were to determine the feasibility of ozonation in unsaturated porous media, and consequently to observe its features and to identify possible limiting factors. Diesel fuel was chosen to represent a complex organic contaminant that is widespread in the environment. In this experiment, the effects of several ozonation features were investigated. Sand was spiked with commercially available diesel fuel (17.024 g diesel/kg dry sand), and packed into a column. Ozone was supplied into the column in a downward direction. When the sand was treated for 7 h at 20 mg ozone/l of air, 40% of the diesel was removed. As the ozone concentration increased from 5 to 20 mg ozone/l, the removal efficiency increased. The removal rate varied significantly depending on the ozone concentration and the treatment duration. At higher ozone concentration, significant quantities of ozone were consumed by the intermediates produced by the ozonation process, and therefore, the removal efficiency and the apparent removal rate of diesel became lowered. The low removal efficiency of diesel results from the high concentrations of normal alkanes. Total hydrocarbon concentration (THC) in the effluent gas was measured using a total hydrocarbon analyzer. The THC decreased with the period of exposure and increasing ozone concentration. Ozonation decreased the gas-extractable fraction and accordingly, the THC decreased. Water-extractable fractions formed by the action of ozone were further oxidized by ozone. Due to the reduction of WEOC (water-extractable organic C) caused by ozone treatment, the potential spread of contamination can be reduced.