The New Jersey Institute of Technology's
Electronic Theses & Dissertations Project

Title:	An investigation into the feasibility of utilizing pneumatic ultrasonic devices coupled with pneumatic fracturing in enhancing removal of volatile organic compounds from soils
Author:	Fernandez, Hugo J.
View Online:	njit-etd1997-052 (xxi, 156 pages ~ 7.7 MB pdf)
Department:	Department of Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Environmental Science
Degree:	Master of Science
Program:	Chemical Engineering
Document Type:	Thesis
Advisory Committee:	Hanesian, Deran (Committee chair) Perna, Angelo J. (Committee member) Schuring, John R. (Committee member)
Date:	1997-05
Keywords:	Soil vapor extraction. Volatile organic compounds. Pneumatics. Fracture mechanics.
Availability:	Unrestricted
Abstract:	A bench scale investigation was conducted in a Plexiglass ™ Test cell 1 foot square by 2 feet in height, packed with 400 mesh sand to a density of 100 lb. /ft3. The sand was contaminated with a mixture of 10% ethanol and 90% water by weight having a total weight of 11.1 pounds, before it was packed in the test cell. A geotextile 1/2 inch thick was used as a simulated fracture and was placed 3 inches from the bottom of the tank. A siren and a whistle were tested in this fracture. The data were divided into a transient, two phase flow region, and a falling rate region similar to drying theory analysis. Free moisture versus time data showed a 39.1% improvement for the siren and a 412.4% improvement for the whistle in the transient region, and a 69% improvement for the siren and a 455 % improvement for the whistle in the falling rate region. Concentration of ethanol versus time data showed a 62.9% improvement for the siren in the transient region and no comparison was established for the whistle. A 192.0% improvement for the siren and a 931.4 % improvement for the whistle were measured in the falling rate region. The average time to reach asymptotic value of 0.01 free moisture with the siren was reduced by 37% and greater than 74.3% with the whistle. The average time to reach an ethanol concentration of 1 ppmv was reduced by greater than 41.3% with the siren and by greater than 74% with the whistle.