Granular activated carbon pilot treatment studies for explosives removal from contaminated groundwater

摘要

AbstractManufacturing activities at Army Ammunition Plants (AAPs) result in the production of organic wastewaters that contain both explosive residues and other organic chemicals. As a result of past waste practices at such plants, explosive residues may leach through the soil and contaminate groundwater. Two pilot studies were performed to evaluate the use of granular activated carbon (GAC) to treat groundwater contaminated with explosives at Badger AAP and Milan AAP. An additional goal of the Badger AAP study was to examine the potential discharge of explosives 2,4‐DNT and 2,6‐DNT from a packed column air stripper used to remove volatile organic compounds from groundwater. A laboratory method was developed for the BAAP study to permit lower detection levels for 2,4‐DNT and 2,6‐DNT (0.46μg/L and 0.017μg/L, respectively). The studies concluded that removal of explosives from groundwater using continuous flow GAC is