1、Sulfolane and Amine Mixing Behaviour in Groundwater:Implications for Pollutant TransportProfessor Erica PensiniWhat is sulfolane?Sulfolane is used to sweeten sour gas and as a phase splitter in carbon capture and storage Sulfolane hampers fertility studies are ongoing to assess toxicity Sulfolane pl
2、umes exist across the globe Sulfolane biodegrades only under aerobic conditions,and it is reported to be highly mobile due to its solubility in water,butis this always the case?Sulfolane Miscibility in Water The miscibility of sulfolane in water is due to hydrogen(H)bonding between the oxygen of the
3、-S=O groups and the hydrogens of waterHHHOSulfolane Miscibility in Water The miscibility of sulfolane in water is affected by groundwater chemistry:IONS:naturally present or due to industrial activities,e.g.,sulfate ions released from leaching of S piles Bacterial activity:amino acid and proteins,mo
4、re abundant if contaminant-degrading bacteria proliferate Co-contaminants,such as amines and hydrocarbonsSulfolane Miscibility in Water:Effect of Ions Sulfate ions in groundwater directly compete with sulfolane for H bonding with water,decreasing its miscibility Chloride salts have a less marked eff
5、ect NaOH also decreases sulfolane miscibility in waterHHHONa+Na+vv2-Bartokova,B.,Marangoni,A.G.,Laredo,T.and Pensini,E.,2023.Phase behavior of sulfolane:Potential implications for transport in groundwater.Colloids and Surfaces A,677,p.132451.Sulfolane Miscibility in WaterMOLE PERCENTWEIGHT PERCENT*B
6、ased on bulk separation and optical microscopySulfolane Miscibility in Water Depending on the concentration of sulfolane and sulfate salts,we observe bulk separation,emulsificationinto micron-sized droplets or molecular clustersSULFOLANEWATERNa2SO4+WATERSULFOLANE FLOATS ON THE WATER RICH PHASE,ALTHO