Date of Award

8-2013

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Geological and Environmental Sciences

First Advisor

Dr. Daniel Cassidy

Second Advisor

Dr. David Barnes

Third Advisor

Dr. Duane Hampton

Keywords

arctic soils, modified Fenton, soil organic matter, diesel, chelate

Access Setting

Masters Thesis-Open Access

Abstract

Laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate the use of modified fenton chemistry on the treatment of three soils from the Canadian arctic, all with abundant soil organic matter, iron and manganese oxides, and diesel fuel contamination. The purpose of these studies was to (I) to assess modified fenton chemistry as a treatment option for petroleum-contaminated arctic soils, and (2) to evaluate the impact of soil organic matter on the modified fenton treatment of soils. Modified fenton treatment was compared for reactions in which ethylenediaminetetraacetate was added as a chelate vs. reactions in which the native soil organic matter was the only chelate. Treatment performance was determined by monitoring concentrations of diesel fuel and hydrogen peroxide over time, and by quantifying the oxidation of both diesel fuel and soil organic matter in each soil. Using soil organic matter alone as a chelate resulted in significantly more diesel fuel oxidation and greater oxidant efficiency than in reactions with added ethylenediaminetetraacetate.

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