Dylan Eberle (Massachusetts) co-authored an article entitled "Impact of ISCO Treatment on PFAA Co-Contaminants at a Former Fire Training Area" that was published in the Environmental Science & Technology journal on April 9, 2017.

The paper concerns the effects of an in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) treatment, designed to treat chlorinated VOCs, on perfluoroalkyl acid (PFAA) co-contaminants at a former fire training area at Fort Eustis, Virginia. Despite concerns of ISCO potentially leading to increases in aqueous PFAA concentrations, due to conversion of precursor compounds and/or mobilization from soil, decreases in PFAA concentrations were observed in post-treatment sediment and groundwater samples. Displacement, dilution, and sorption processes were explored but do not appear to explain the decreases in concentration. Overall, the results suggest that PFAA concentrations decreased due to the ISCO treatment.

Dylan's co-authors were Raymond Ball of Enchem Engineering and Thomas Boving of the University of Rhode Island.

Abstract

The effects of an in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) treatment aimed predominantly at remediation of chlorinated volatile organic compounds (cVOCs) and perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) co-contaminants were investigated. Soil and groundwater samples were collected before and after an ISCO pilot-scale field test of a peroxone activated persulfate (OxyZone) technology. Statistically significant decreases in PFAA groundwater concentrations were observed in post-treatment samples. Reductions in PFAA aqueous phase concentrations were also supported by decreases in soil concentrations. Importantly, there was no evidence for increased aqueous PFAA concentrations due to mobilization from soil or conversion of precursors into PFAAs. As indicated by chloride data from inside and outside the treatment zone, displacement and/or dilution could not explain the observed decrease in PFAA concentration. Also, relatively constant pH values, due to using a buffered oxidant solution, did not support increased PFAA removal via soil sorption. Overall, the use of peroxone activated persulfate to treat cVOCs had no discernible negative impacts on PFAA co-contaminants at the Site. Rather, the data suggest that PFAA concentrations decreased due to ISCO treatment.

More Information

For more information regarding the article, visit: Environmental Science and Technology
For more information on the impact of ISCO treatment on PFAA co-contaminants, contact Dylan Eberle at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
To learn more about Dylan see his profile at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylan-eberle-ph-d-8b899350/