(143ag) Characterization of Micellar Systems for Removal by Meuf of Refractory Organic from Contaminated Groundwater

One of the severe problems challenging management of aquifers, is their contamination by small molecular weight organic compounds. Rehabilitation of or recovery from such aquifers requires developing techniques for removing the contaminants either in-situ or by pump and treat schemes. One of the methods that has been extensively studied is micellar enhanced ultrafiltration (MEUF) [1-2]. There are a number of aquifers in Israel that are challenged by this problem and may be amenable to treatment by MEUF. Tribromo-neopentyl alcohol (TBNPA), a biorefractory compound, was found at relatively high levels in groundwater samples in a number of test wells in the Negev. The present study examined the feasibility of removing it by MEUF, based on an evaluation of its distribution coefficient between the micellar and aqueous phases.