US EPA

2651484 

Journal Article 

Application of solid potassium permanganate to oxidize VOC vapours: Batch and column experiments 

Mahmoodlu, MG; Hassanizadeh, SM; Hartog, N; Raoof, A 

2013 

35-42 

WOS:000342640400003 

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may cause major contamination problems in groundwater and soil. Their presence in air can create a hazard to public health. However, limited remedial options exist in controlling the vapour transport of these compounds in the unsaturated zone. In this study, batch and column experiments were carried out to investigate the oxidation of TCE, ethanol, and toluene vapour in air by solid potassium permanganate under different condition. The kinetic of chemical oxidation has been investigated widely for dissolved VOCs in the saturated zone. But, so far there have been few studies on the use of in-situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) of vapour phase contaminants. Results of batch experiments revealed that solid potassium permanganate is able to transform the vapour of these compounds into harmless oxidation products. The oxidation rates for TCE and ethanol were higher than for toluene. The oxidation process was modeled using a kinetic model, linear in the gas concentration of VOC [ML-3] and relative surface area of potassium permanganate grains (surface area of potassium permanganate divided by gas volume) [L-1]. The second-order reaction rate constants (cm s(-1)) for TCE, ethanol, and toluene were found to be equal to 2.0x10(-6), 1.7x10(-7), and 7.0x10(-8), respectively. Column experiments were carried out to study the impact of water saturations on the removal efficiency and longevity of potassium permanganate. Results of column experiments showed that the efficiency and longevity of potassium permanganate increased with water saturations. Results also showed that the efficiency of potassium permanganate depends on the solubility of target compound in water.