Date of Award
12-2008
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Geological and Environmental Sciences
First Advisor
Dr. Duane R. Hampton
Second Advisor
Dr. Alan E. Kehew
Third Advisor
Dr. Dan Cassidy
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Campus Only
Abstract
Spilled gasoline or free product floating on groundwater is being monitored and recovered at many gas stations. Pall Corporation's Schumasoil® well screen is made by melting plastic beads, has small pores, high open area and is hydrophobic. (8) The main questions about this well screen are: 1) What pore size Schumasoil screen is best for a given aquifer grain-size distribution? and 2) How do these screens perform compared to well screens commonly used at free product sites? We performed laboratory experiments using four wells, one of each pore size (200, 80, 40 and 20 microns), in five different sands, filled with water and dyed kerosene.
All of these screens were successful in imbibing kerosene helping them connect better with the kerosene in the aquifer. The 20-micron screen outperformed all other Schumasoil® screens in most sands. This screen's small pores attract kerosene by capillarity, becoming highly saturated. The 200-micron screen did better in two sands, and was best at pumping water.
The 20 and 200-micron Schumasoil® screens were tested alongside wirewrapped PVC and stainless steel screens. The 20-micron screen significantly outperformed both of these and the 200-micron screen.
Recommended Citation
DeFrain, Tamara M., "Laboratory Tests of Schumasoil® Well Screens for Free Product Recovery" (2008). Masters Theses. 193.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/193