TITLE:
Applications of Potassium Permanganate in the Oxidative Degradation of Trichloroethylene
AUTHORS:
Jude O. Ighere, Karina Honjoya, Ramesh C. Chawla
KEYWORDS:
Trichloroethylene, Kinetics, Permanganate, Oxidation, Poly Methyl Methacrylate, Mixed Contaminants
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering,
Vol.3 No.7,
June
18,
2015
ABSTRACT: The scope of this study was to determine techniques to remediate trichloroethylene contamination
under different environmental conditions, media and in co-existence with chromium. The
specific objectives were focused on the oxidation of trichloroethylene (TCE) in soil and aqueous
media using both unmodified KMnO4 particles and poly (methyl methacrylate), PMMA encapsulated KMnO4 in the presence and absence of hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI). Molar ratios (p-values)
of KMnO4 to TCE were used as a determining factor in the TCE oxidation process. p-values of 2, 5
and 10 were investigated in aqueous media and an approximately 0.5 M-1·s-1 rate constant was
obtained using unmodified KMnO4 in aqueous system. The extent of oxidation did not change with
TCE concentration. In soil system, TCE oxidation requires a large amount of KMnO4 to produce
similar results as in aqueous system. pH experiments indicate that except at high alkaline condition,
pH does not impact the extent of TCE oxidation. Also, the presence of Cr(VI) did not hinder
TCE oxidation by KMnO4. Using controlled release application, the rate of TCE oxidation was reduced
by PMMA encapsulated KMnO4. Comparative study indicated an expectedly slow rate of TCE
degradation using modified KMnO4 but similar overall extent of oxidation for both modified and
unmodified KMnO4. The application of the encapsulated matrix yielded 88% ± 3% TCE oxidation
and a simultaneous 81% ± 2.1% Cr(VI) reduction by ferrous ion in the same system.