| Soil Vapor Extraction (SVE) is a popular in-situ soil remediation technology for gasoline impacted soils. Theoretically, the technology should remediate the subsurface in relatively short periods of time.{09}However, many sites have exhibited periods of prolonged operation with minimal removal, through a phenomenon referred to as "tailing". Traditionally, one-dimensional bench-scale experiments have been used to study the mass transfer limitations causing "tailing". The results are then used to predict field conditions and behaviours that are typically three-dimensional in orientation and subjected to more complex conditions.; A lab-scale radial column was designed, constructed and tested to carry out SVE experiments for two dry soils. Radial column experimental results were compared to one-dimensional column results. Using a numerical modeling program, mass transfer coefficients were calculated for each experiment. For the conditions tested, the flow rates did not cause significant mass transfer limitations. However, the radial column did reveal mass transfer limitations, with both soils behaving differently, indicating further radial experiments are necessary. |
