FIELD-TESTS OF SURFACTANT FLOODING - MOBILITY CONTROL OF DENSE NONAQUEOUS-PHASE LIQUIDS

Surfactants may be used to enhance pump and treat systems by increasing the solubility of organic pollutants and by increasing the mobility of non-aqueous phase liquids. However, increasing the mobility of dense non-aqueous phase liquids creates a potential for spreading of contamination through enhanced downward flow. The risk resulting from the use of surfactants may be minimized if the reduction of interfacial tensions produced by addition of surfactants is minimized. The two field tests described in this paper utilized surfactants selected for good solubilization, without excessive reduction of interfacial tension. Results of the first test indicate that efficient extraction is possible in this manner without excessive vertical mobilization.