Study on the thermal desorption mechanism of organic-contaminated clay under thermo-flow coupling: based on pore structure
摘要
Effective remediation of contaminated soil is crucial for environmental protection and sustainable development. This study employs a custom-built high-temperature gas seepage apparatus to quantitatively evaluate the effects of desorption temperature (100–300 °C), extraction pressure (10–40 kPa), and their coupling effect on diesel removal efficiency via one-dimensional soil column experiments. Multiscale pore characterization techniques—including X-ray microcomputed tomography, mercury intrusion porosimetry, and scanning electron microscopy—were used to analyze pore evolution and contaminant occurrence, elucidating the thermal desorption mechanisms in organic-contaminated clay. During thermal remediation, diesel exists in both free and adsorbed phases within the soil matrix, forming oil clusters and oil films. Pollutants primarily desorb through pore diffusion. High temperatures increase soil porosity and connectivity and expand desorption pathways, whereas high extraction pressure accelerates mass transfer. Their synergistic effect accelerates pollutant migration from within soil particles to the surface, significantly reducing the minimum remediation temperature and shortening the treatment duration. The thermal remediation efficiency of organic-contaminated clay is constrained by its low-permeability pore structure. Understanding pore structure modulation is therefore essential for developing high-efficiency remediation technologies. It also provides practical insights for optimizing engineering efficiency through the analysis of contaminant removal and energy consumption.