Fate of organic pollutants in bottom sediments of detention ponds receiving highway runoff

Abstract

Bottom sediment was collected from wet detention ponds receiving highway runoff, and extracted using EP A's (1990) Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP). The extract fluid was analyzed for 68 semi-volatile and 36 volatile organic priority pollutants. Most compounds were non-existent, and the remaining were detected at insignificant levels. The sediments cannot be considered toxic according to regulations established for TCLP extracts. Additionally, more aggressive extraction procedures applied to the sediments produced no detectable levels of the organic compounds. The TCLP was unable to release certain organics from sediments spiked with known amounts. Overall, there appears to be a minimal threat to groundwater due to leaching from the ponds of the organic pollutants examined. Phenol was further studied through batch experiments. Rapid removal, using relatively high initial solution concentrations (1 to 200 ppm phenol) was detected using oven-dried sediment. A first order equation best-described the removal, with calculated rate constants dependent upon initial solution concentrations. Fresh sediment removed phenol faster than oven-dried sediment, while autoclaving destroyed the removal capability. As solution pH was increased from 5 to 10, a decline in removal occurred. Results suggest that biodegradation is the mechanism responsible for removal of phenol in contact with detention pond bottom sediments.

Notes

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Graduation Date

1991

Semester

Fall

Advisor

Yousef, Yousef A.

Degree

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Engineering

Department

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Degree Program

Environmental Engineering

Format

PDF

Pages

152 p.

Language

English

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Masters Thesis (Open Access)

Location

Orlando (Main) Campus

Identifier

DP0028127

Subjects

Dissertations, Academic -- Engineering; Engineering -- Dissertations, Academic

Accessibility Status

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