By: Jennifer Schafferjenniferscha@gmail.com

LNAPL(Light Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids)

Courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey

3-D Image of LNAPL Plume

Leaks & Spills: 1992-2002Sampling of Incidents at Shell Group Companies & Joint Ventures*

Derived from: http://www.shellfacts.com/downloads/Leaks&Spills2.pdf

Prevalence of Gasoline Spills

• 8 sites on the NPL• According to National Response Center, have

been 7,957 gasoline spills on land since 1990.• Gas spills were primarily unreported until

recent history.– There were no formal reporting requirements prior

to 1970.– From 1970-1980, only spills that reached navigable

waters had to be reported

• U.S. v. Apex Oil Co., Inc., 579 F.3d 734 (7th Cir. 2009)

Sugar Creek, Missouri

http://www.krohm.com/sugarcrk/index.htm

Methods Used for Cleanup

BiofiltrationScrubbersCarbon AbsorbtionBioremediation - microbialsFree product recovery – Skimming systemsFree product recovery – water table depressionVapor ExtractionDual Phase RecoveryPumps

Bioremediation

Scrubbers

Carbon Absorption

Skimming

Water Table Depression

Vapor Extraction

Dual Phase Recovery

Pumping

Circulation pump

Solar powered pump

Enhanced Methods

• Steam• Surfactants• Phased soil heating• Chemical oxidation• Hot and cold water floods

Steam

This process requires large facilities and operations as well as significant time and money.

SurfactantsWetting agents that lower the surface tension of a liquid, allowing easier spreading, and lower the interfacial tension between the two liquids. These are already used in green cleaning products.

Phased Soil Heating

Chemical Oxidation

Ways this Gasoline Could be Used

• Marine Uses• Aviation Fuel• South America, Asia, Eastern Europe and the

Middle East – automotive• Racing cars• Farm equipment• Industrial uses• Energy Production

Patent, 1935issued toF.E. Neff, Jr.

Patent for using ammonium phosphate to clean lead from gasoline/oil products

http://www.mckenziecorp.com/hydrocarbon.htm

Carbon Scrubbers

So, why are more companies not recycling/reusing the gas?

• Cost – is it worth the costs?– How do the costs compare?– Are there “hidden costs” to recovery?– Diminishing Returns from recovery

• Potentially liability– Ramifications of claiming the gasoline– Property dispute issues

Hydraulic Recovery of the Oil Poses Difficulty

– Residual saturation trapped by capillary forces– Heterogeneity of the soil– Conductivity of the LNAPL phase

• What could be done to encourage recycling?– Legislation which encourages and or compels

recovery– Legislation which removes liability issues– Legislation which resolves property ownership

issues• Should it be done?–Would we be trading one pollution for another?– Should there be limits or regulations on how

recovered gasoline can be used/sold?