Removal of Aqueous Phase Petroleum Products in Groundwater by Aeration

Abstract : This study evaluated the effectiveness of conventional air stripping for removal of jet fuels (JP-5 and AVGAS) from groundwater, using samples collected near the Patuxent River Naval Air Station fuel farm in NM. Using an air flow rate of 0.3 L/min, fuel contaminants (a mixture of JP-3 and AVGAS) were removed in excess of 97% within 30 minutes. At the same flow rate, 96% of a less volatile fuel contaminant (primarily JP-3) was removed in 30 minutes. These results indicate that even low volatility jet fuel can be removed from groundwater to low levels (<2 mg/L) by air stripping. Iron precipitation during aeration of groundwater could plug packed-bed air strippers unless pre-aeration and iron precipitate removal was implemented before packed-bed air stripping.