Groundwater is the main source of drinking water and agricultural irrigation in many countries. It is continuously exposed to various anthropogenic pollutants such as nitrate, arsenic, pesticides, and other chemical micropollutants of emerging concern. One option to treat polluted groundwater is to inject an oxidant into the saturated subsurface (in-situ). Typical oxidants for in-situ groundwater remediation are oxygen, permanganate, peroxide and occasionally ozone. The injection can occur either by pumping a liquid solution into an aquifer, or by sparging a gas into a well.
The German-Israeli research project ISCO3 aims to improve the removal of persistent and highly toxic monocyclic hydrocarbons (BTEX) using ozone gas (O3). A novel gas-permeable membrane will be used to deliver ozone into a polluted cross section.
Additional objectives of the project include:
Identification of membrane materials, which are most suitable and effective for ozone delivery via literature-based and experimental assessments
Fundamental characterization of membrane-based ozone mass transfer to groundwater
Investigation of the effect of soil parameters and water quality on ozone transport in the saturated subsurface
Determination of removal efficiencies for indicator pollutants
Improvement of treatment through addition of peroxide (O3/H2O2 AOP)
Detection of oxidation transformation products and assessment of their biodegradability in groundwater ecosystems
| Project leader | Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jörg E. Drewes Dr.-Ing. Uwe Hübner |
| Researcher | Emil Bein, M. Sc. |
| Funding | Bundesministerium für Forschung und Bildung (BMBF) |
