1st place winner of Geological Society of Americas’ Engineering & Environmental geology division student research competition, October 20142nd place Winner of Ohio State Denman Research forum 2014, Natural and Mathematical sciences divisionThe implementation of slow release technology with in-situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) using KMnO4 has been recognized as a useful clean-up technology given its cost-effective capabilities for destroying chlorinated solvents in situ. In particular, plume treatment using slow-release technologies has been studied at The Ohio State University. This thesis focuses on geopolymers as a slow release material and aims at enhancing their slow-release performance by increasing the lifespan for permanganate release. It was hypothesized that reducing the size and degree of permanganate crystal connectivity within the matrix would increase lifetime. The investigation involved two sets of experiments: the first set of experiments termed geopolymer curing (GC) series attempted to control matrix porosity by curing at lower temperatures. The second set of experiments called the geopolymer preparation (GP) series attempted to decrease permanganate crystal connectivity by incorporating permanganate into the polymer mixture as either a concentrated solution or crushed permanganate granules. For suitable samples, 1-D column leaching experiments were conducted to observe permanganate release rates. The GC experimental series and sample GP-3 were not successful, producing distorted and soluble polymer samples. Samples prepared using crushed permanganate granules and established curing regimes produced samples ideal for analysis. Sample GP-1 was leached for 8.7 days, losing 48% of its oxidant mass, and concentrations peaking at 800 mg/L. Sample GP-2 was leached for 2.5 days, losing 28% of its oxidant mass, and concentrations peaking at 1700 mg/L. Sample GP-3 was leached for six days, losing 44% of its oxidant mass, with concentrations peaking around 850 mg/L. Sample GP-3 yielded provided the most improved rate of permanganate release. The curing schedule and duration were key to preparing a robust sample. Reducing the size of permanganate crystals before incorporation into the geopolymer enhanced the slow-release performance.Global Research
Laboratory (GRL), Korea project “Novel Technologies for Best Management of Non-Point
Source Pollution”Strategic Environment Research and Development Program (SERDP) under project ER-1684Shell Exploration and Production CompanyNo embarg
