FEATURES of the SUBSURFACE
REMEDIATION LABORATORY (SRL)

Principal Investigators:  David R. Shonnard¹, Alex S. Mayer², and John S. Gierke²

Cooperating Departments:  ¹Chemical Engineering, and ²Geological Engineering and Sciences /                                      Environmental Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI

  BUILDING FEATURES:

Area of 3500 ft² total; utilities and high-bay laboratory able to handle pilot-scale processes, wet chemistry laboratory, analytical instrument laboratory, bioreactor laboratory, and soils characterization room; also has graduate student office, conference room, two rest rooms, and wheel chair accessible; recently renovated; located at 1051 Ethel Avenue (next to Santori Tire), in Hancock

MOST EQUIPMENT CAN BE VIEWED IN PICTURES THROUGH THIS LINK: 

  LABORATORY BENCH SCALE EQUIPMENT:

1)  4 - Glass Column Remediation Vessels

variable velocity pumps, temperature controlled, automated and instrumented

applications; treatability studies for bioremediation, soil washing, soil vapor extraction, transport studies and properties determination

2)  Biorespiration Flasks and Incubator
3)  Electrokinetic Remediation Reactor (Heavy Metals Removal)

  TWO-DIMENSIONAL-SCALE EQUIPMENT:

Experiments conducted in a two-dimensional (2-D), cross-sectional model cell will provide a bridge between one-dimensional column experiments and the mesoscale (pilot-scale) experiments.  The 2-D model cell is approximately 1 meter high by 2 meters long by 0.1 meters in thickness.  It is constructed from scratch-resistant Lucite to allow direct observation of flow and transport phenomena.  Quantitative observations will be made either through analysis of model cell images or through in-situ instrumentation, such as pressure transducer measurements.

  MESOSCALE (Pilot-Scale) PROCESS EQUIPMENT:

It has been confirmed recently that field-scale transport and reaction processes can be accurately simulated using mesoscale laboratory experiments, thereby retaining both relevance to the field and controlled conditions for study (Lawrence, 1993). Vadose zone and saturated zone process can be simulated.

1)  9 ft diameter x 8 ft tall remediation tank

currently used for air sparging flow measurements; equipped with air blower, injection well and extraction manifold

2)  24 ft wide x 24 ft long x 8 ft high subsurface remediation vessel

construction completed September 1996; waiting to be filled to conduct experiments, expected summer '97

monitoring for water table level, temperature, contaminant and nutrient concentrations

  INSTRUMENTATION CAPABILITY:

1)  gas chromatograph for water sample analysis of contaminants
2)  gas chromatograph for air sample analysis of contaminants
3)  two visible spectrophotometers for tracer monitoring

  BIOREACTOR FACILITY:

10-Liter bioreactor (BioFlow 3000, New Brunswick Scientific), fluidized bed activated carbon bioreactor, centrifuge, biorespiration flasks,
constant temperature shaker table incubator, monitoring for dissolved O₂, pH, temperature, and agitation

  CONFERENCE ROOM

Second floor; soon to be furnished with chairs, table, overhead project and other equipment

References

Lawrence, J.R., B. N. Zanyk, M. J. Hendry, G.M. Wolfaardt, R. D. Robarts, and D. E. Caldwell.  "Design and Evaluation of a
          Mesoscale Model Vadose Zone and Ground-Water System".  Ground Water, 1993.  pp. 31, 446-455.

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