Chemical oxidation of chlorinated non-aqueous phase liquid by hydrogen peroxide in natural sand systems

This study explored the Fenton-like oxidation of trichloroethylene (TCE) existing as dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) in natural silica sand (iron=0.04 g/kg) and the sand from an aquifer (iron=2.01 g/kg). Glass bead containing no iron mineral was used as the control. Batch oxidation experiments were conducted to assess interactions between oxidant and TCE DNAPL. Column experiments were performed to evaluate dynamics of TCE and H(2)O(2) during oxidation. The pH was not altered. In the batch system, a single application of 3% H(2)O(2) to the aquifer sand oxidized 40% of the added TCE DNAPL in 1 h, which was four times of that by dissolution with the gas purge procedure. This demonstrated the ability of mineral-catalyzed Fenton-like reaction to directly oxidize TCE in non-aqueous liquid. In the column experiments, after passing 7 pore volumes (PVs) of 1.5 and 3% H(2)O(2) solution, the residual TCE in aquifer sand column was 12.0 and 2.6% of the initial added, respectively. On the other hand, 28.4% of the added TCE still remained in the silica sand column by 7 PVs of 3% H(2)O(2). The distribution of TCE in column and effluent indicated the occurring of direct oxidation of TCE DNAPL and the increased solubilization, which probably due to size reduction of DNAPL droplets, followed by water-phased TCE oxidation.     

Laboratory tests for reactive barrier design

Owing to limitations of pump-and-treat, several technologies are being investigated for groundwater treatment. One of the most promising is the treatment of contaminants through the use of reactive barriers installed in situ, especially in the case of aquifers contaminated with chlorinated solvents. This work presents results of batch and column tests with metallic iron and some chlorinated solvents (1,2-DCA, 1,1,2-TCA and TCE). Such tests provided means to evaluate the degradation rates of these compounds and their byproducts. It is concluded that the reductive dechlorination with metallic iron can have different results, depending on the type of contaminant. Some contaminants may not present any degradation, or they have a half-life time so high that the use of the reactive barrier technology may not be practical. Furthermore, the formation of chlorinated byproducts, eventually more toxic than the original contaminant and that are not degradable using this same technology, emphasises that the treatment of aquifers should be sequential.     

Coal fly ash and synthetic coal fly ash aggregates as reactive media to remove zinc from aqueous solutions

Coal fly ash (CF) and synthetic coal fly ash aggregates (SCFAs) were evaluated as low-cost reactive media for the remediation of groundwater contaminated with Zn. The SCFAs were prepared by mixing CF, sodium silicate, and deionized (DI) water. Serial batch kinetic and static tests were conducted on both CF and SCFAs, under various conditions (i.e., pH, initial Zn concentration, reaction time, and solid dosage), using Zn(NO(3))(2).6H(2)O solutions. Serial column tests were also conducted on both CF and SCFAs. The final rather than the initial pH of the solution had a greater effect on the removal of Zn. At pH>7.0, the removal of Zn was due to precipitation, whereas at <7.0, the removal of Zn was due to adsorption onto the reactive media. The removal of Zn increased with increasing dosage of the reactive medium and decreasing initial Zn concentration. The results of the column and batch tests were comparable. Preferential flow paths were observed with CF, but not SCFA. The hydraulic conductivity of CF was more significantly decreased than that of SCFA with increasing dry density of the specimen.     

The mechanism and applicability of in situ oxidation of trichloroethylene with Fenton's reagent

Fenton's reagent is the result of reaction between hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and ferrous iron (Fe(2+)), producing the hydroxyl radical (-*OH). The hydroxyl radical is a strong oxidant capable of oxidizing various organic compounds. The mechanism of oxidizing trichloroethylene (TCE) in groundwater and soil slurries with Fenton's reagent and the feasibility of injecting Fenton's reagent into a sandy aquifer were examined with bench-scale soil column and batch experiment studies. Under batch experimental conditions and low pH values ( approximately 3), Fenton's reagent was able to oxidize 93-100% (by weight) of dissolved TCE in groundwater and 98-102% (by weight) of TCE in soil slurries. Hydrogen peroxide decomposed rapidly in the test soil medium in both batch and column experiments. Due to competition between H(2)O(2) and TCE for hydroxyl radicals in the aqueous solutions and soil slurries, the presence of TCE significantly decreased the degradation rate of H(2)O(2) and was preferentially degraded by hydroxyl radicals. In the batch experiments, Fenton's reagent was able to completely dechlorinate the aqueous-phase TCE with and without the presence of soil and no VOC intermediates or by-products were found in the oxidation process. In the soil column experiments, it was found that application of high concentrations of H(2)O(2) with addition of no Fe(2+) generated large quantities of gas in a short period of time, sparging about 70% of the dissolved TCE into the gaseous phase with little or no detectable oxidation taking place. Fenton's reagent completely oxidized the dissolved phase TCE in the soil column experiment when TCE and Fenton's regent were simultaneously fed into the column. The results of this study showed that the feasibility of injecting Fenton's reagent or H(2)O(2) as a Fenton-type oxidant into the subsurface is highly dependent on the soil oxidant demand (SOD), presence of sufficient quantities of ferrous iron in the application area, and the proximity of the injection area to the zone of high aqueous concentration of the target contaminant. Also, it was found that in situ application of H(2)O(2) could have a gas-sparging effect on the dissolved VOC in groundwater, requiring careful attention to the remedial system design.     

砂土强度和剪胀性的颗粒力学分析

砂土强度和剪胀性一直是土力学强度和变形研究的难点和重点,对其进一步认识的关键取决于对砂土颗粒状微观结构的洞察。砂土的颗粒性和散碎性使其适合采用颗粒力学来研究。该文从颗粒力学角度出发,利用平面离散元模拟砂土变形,建立并标定了砂土单元实验的一个颗粒力学模型。在此基础上,通过颗粒力学参数影响分析,研究了砂土无侧限双轴试验的三种表观强度指标(临界状态强度、峰值强度和特征应力强度)、剪胀性及剪切模量的颗粒力学影响因素。研究结果表明:砂土临界状态强度仅受砂土颗粒摩擦系数的影响,是材料属性,符合临界状态土力学理论;砂土峰值强度和特征应力强度不但与砂土颗粒摩擦系数相关,还与围压水平和相对密实度有关。峰值强度不受砂土颗粒自身刚度性质的影响,而特征应力强度受颗粒刚度性质的影响较大,但后者的影响规律不是简单的正比或反比的关系。砂土剪切模量主要受其颗粒自身刚度性质的影响,就目前研究来看,它与砂土相对密实度的关系并不显著。用颗粒力学方法对剪胀性的深入研究比较困难,主要是因为诸多颗粒力学参数(砂土颗粒摩擦系数和刚度、砂土样品的孔隙率及围压水平)均与之相关。该文尝试研究了砂土剪胀性与其颗粒转角的关系。最后,用该文标定的颗粒力学模型,研究了无重地基极限承载力普朗德尔-瑞斯纳问题,通过颗粒力学计算结果与普朗德尔-瑞斯纳解的对比,深化了对砂土地基极限承载力的理解,也为计算颗粒力学方法在岩土工程尺度上的应用提供了参考。     

Lab scale experiments for permeable reactive barriers against contaminated groundwater with ammonium and heavy metals using clinoptilolite (01-29B)

Batch tests and column tests were performed to determine the design factors for permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) against the contaminated groundwater by ammonium and heavy metals. Clinoptilolite, one of the natural zeolites having excellent cation exchange capacity (CEC), was chosen as the reactive material. In the batch tests, the reactivity of clinoptilolite to ammonium, lead, and copper was examined by varying the concentration of cations and the particle size of clinoptilolite. One gram of clinoptilolite showed removal efficiencies of more than 80% against those contaminants in all cases except in very high initial concentrations of ammonium (80 ppm) and copper (40 ppm). The effect of particle size of clinoptilolite was not noticeable. In the column tests, permeability was examined using a flexible-wall permeameter by varying particle sizes of clinoptilolite. When the washed clinoptilolite having the diameter of 0.42-0.85 mm was mixed with Jumunjin sands in 20:80 ratio (w/w), the highest permeability of 2 x 10(-3) to 7 x 10(-4)cm/s was achieved. The reactivity and the strength property of the mixed material were investigated using a fixed-wall column, having eight sampling ports on the wall, and the direct shear test, respectively. Clinoptilolite was found to be a suitable material for PRBs against the contaminated groundwater with ammonium and/or heavy metals.     

Comparison of reductive dechlorination of p-chlorophenol using Fe0 and nanosized Fe0

Chlorophenols, as a kind of important contaminants in groundwater, are toxic and difficult to biodegrade. Laboratory tests were conducted to examine zero-valent iron as an enhancing agent in the dechlorination of chlorinated organic compounds. Nanoscale iron particles were synthesized from common precursors KBH(4) and FeSO(4). Batch experiments were performed to investigate the reduction of p-chlorophenol (4-CP) by both common Fe(0) and nanoscale Fe(0). Comparison of 300 mesh/100 mesh/commercial reductive iron powders showed that size of iron particles played an important role in reduction process. Initial concentration and pretreatment of iron particles also influenced the chlorination rate. Nanoscale Fe(0) offered much more advantages for treatment of 4-CP compared with common iron particles, such as stability and durability. And they can be used to treat contaminants in groundwater over a long time. Among different parts of synthesized nanoscale iron particle solution, the very fine particles were the major agent for treatment of pollutants. As for preservation of nanoscale Fe(0), ethanol was recommended.     

Pipe-Wall Friction in Vertical Sand-Slurry Flows

This article describes the results of extensive laboratory tests of vertical flows of three sand fractions (0.12, 0.37, and 1.84 mm sands) in a 150 mm pipe. The tests revealed an interesting phenomenon of a surprisingly low contribution of the medium sand to the total friction of the mixture flow in the vertical pipe. The frictional pressure drop in highly concentrated flows at high velocities was lower for slurries of the medium sand than for slurries of both the fine sand and the coarse sand. The solids friction at the pipe wall is analyzed taking into account effects of particle-particle interactions and particle-liquid interactions in the boundary layer of a vertical flow of settling slurry. The analysis suggests that the observed phenomenon is associated with the hydrodynamic liquid lift force acting on solid particles traveling near a pipe wall. This off-wall force seems to be more effective for the medium sand particles than for the fine sand particles and coarse sand particles interacting with liquid in the boundary layer of the mixture flow. The excessive frictional pressure drop due to the presence of solids in vertical flows seems to be primarily produced by the combined effect of the Bagnold collisional force (the force that colliding particles exert against the pipe wall) and the liquid lift force acting on solid particles in the near-wall zone of the slurry flow.     

Treatment of creosote-contaminated groundwater in a peat/sand permeable barrier--a column study

A column study was conducted to determine if a permeable barrier can be used to treat creosote-contaminated groundwater based on sorption and biodegradation, and to determine which processes remove the various creosote compounds. Creosote-contaminated water (sterile and non-sterile) was applied to sterile and non-sterile saturated columns with peat (20 vol.%) and sand (80 vol.%) for 2 months. Temperature was 9 degrees C, inlet oxygen concentration 9-10mg/l and average residence time was two days. The peat/sand barrier material removed 94-100% polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), 93-98% nitrogen/sulfur/oxygen (NSO)-containing heterocyclic aromatic compounds, and 44-97% total phenols. The peat/sand material efficiently sorbed PAHs (>2 rings) and three-ring NSO-compounds, and also sorbed significant amounts of two-ring NSO-compounds and naphthalene. Naphthalene and NSO-compounds not sorbed were biological degraded. Phenol and cresols were efficiently removed by microbial degradation. The barrier material was somewhat less efficient removing dimethylphenols (DMPs) and trimethylphenols (TMPs), where DMPs were hardly sorbed and TMPs were hardly degraded. The results imply that a peat/sand barrier can treat creosote-contaminated groundwater. Modifications might be needed for enhanced removal of DMPs and TMPs, and oxygen supply might be necessary in aquifers with low oxygen content.     

Remediation of TCE-contaminated groundwater using nanocatalyst and bacteria

The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate the remediation of trichloroethene (TCE)-contaminated groundwater using both a nanocatalyst (bio-Zn-magnetite) and bacterium (similar to Clostridium quinii) in anoxic environments. Of the 7 nanocatalysts tested, bio-Zn-magnetite showed the highest TCE dechlorination efficiency, with an average of ca. 90% within 8 days in a batch experiment. The column tests confirmed that the application of bio-Zn-magnetite in combination with the bacterium achieved high degradation efficiency (ca. 90%) of TCE within 5 days compared to the nanocatalyst only, which degraded only 30% of the TCE. These results suggest that the application of a nanocatalyst and the bacterium have potential for the remediation of TCE-contaminated groundwater in subsurface environments.     

In situ reductive dechlorination of chlorinated ethenes in high nitrate groundwater

In situ bioremediation using carbohydrate was evaluated as an in situ treatment alternative for trichloroethene (TCE) and cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cDCE) in groundwater containing high nitrate concentrations. Upon addition of carbohydrate to groundwater, sequential reduction of electron acceptors was observed, where nitrate was reduced early in the pilot test, followed by sulfate and TCE. Reduction of cDCE to vinyl chloride and ethene occurred in conjunction with increased iron and manganese, and increased methane concentrations, approximately 7 months into the evaluation period, following depletion of nitrate and sulfate. TCE, cDCE, and vinyl chloride concentrations decreased from approximately 500 to >10 microg/L within 21 months of operation.     

Design and construction techniques for permeable reactive barriers.

Adequate site characterization, bench-scale column testing, and hydrogeologic modeling formed the basis for the design and construction of permeable reactive barriers for groundwater remediation at various sites, such as Dover Air Force Base, DE and Naval Air Station, Moffett Field, CA. Dissolved chlorinated solvents, such as perchloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE), have been the focus at many sites because the passive nature of the reactive barrier operation makes such barriers particularly useful for treating groundwater contaminants that can persist in the aquifer for several years. A combination of conventional and innovative site characterization, design, and construction techniques were used at these sites to increase the potential cost effectiveness of field application.     

State equation of mineral sands

The pressure-volume analogy between compressible fluids and macroscopic sand bodies (Ivsic et al. in Phys A, 277:47–61, 2000) is further extended using quantitative determination of corresponding empirical constants based on adapted van der Waals state equation. The isothermal constants obtained by interpretation of triaxial sand tests at so called “critical state of sand” are clearly related to the universal ideal gas properties and molar properties of mineral sands. The corresponding constants for sand and gases or other volatile liquids have the same order of magnitude. The apparent bulk repulsion/attraction effects in sand bodies are also discussed.     

Intrinsic bioremediation of trichloroethylene and chlorobenzene: field and laboratory studies.

Activities at a former fire training area at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia, USA resulted in contamination of groundwater with a mixture of trichloroethylene (TCE) and chlorobenzene (CB). Results from the field investigation suggest that intrinsic bioremediation process is occurring, which caused the decrease in TCE and CB concentrations, and increase in TCE degradation byproducts [e.g., dichloroethylene isomers (DCEs), vinyl chloride (VC)] concentrations. Contaminated groundwater samples collected from this site were used to conduct microbial enumeration tests, and used as the inocula for microcosm establishment. Results from the microbial enumeration study indicate that methanogenesis was the dominant biodegradation pattern within the source and mid-plume areas, and the aerobic biodegradation process dominated the downgradient area. Laboratory microcosm experiments were conducted to evaluate the feasibility of using CB as the primary substrate to enhance the intrinsic biodegradation of TCE. Microcosm results suggest that CB can serve as the primary substrate (electron donor), and enhance TCE biodegradation to less-chlorinated compounds under both aerobic cometabolism and reductive dechlorination conditions.     

Recovery of the Elastic Constants from Wavespeed Measurements in Viscoelastic Composites by Photoacoustic Technique

Mixtures of black rubber (natural rubber) vulcanizates containing various concentrations of sand particles, as hard fillers, were prepared to determine their elastic constants at low and high frequency using the photoacoustic technique. These parameters are related with the degree of sand filler dispersion which determines the changes in stiffness, as well as its potential as reinforcement material for treads in tires. The constants are recovered through measurements of the longitudinal wave and complemented with the predictions from the Kerner model to obtain the Poisson’s ratio. Some results are corroborated with tension and compression tests. The acoustic waves are acquired by two piezoelectric transducers, one centered at 3 kHz and the other at 240 kHz. The results show a slight increase in Young’s modulus at low frequencies; meanwhile at high frequencies, it increases by two orders of magnitude. In addition, we found that on adding small amounts of prepared sand, the stiffness increases and this is particularly convenient to reduce the energy losses by the rolling resistance in automotive vehicles.     

Application of surfactant enhanced permanganate oxidation and bidegradation of trichloroethylene in groundwater

The industrial solvent trichloroethylene (TCE) is among the most ubiquitous chlorinated solvents found in groundwater contamination. The main objectives of this study were to evaluate the feasibility of using non-ionic surfactant Simple Green™ (SG) to enhance the oxidative dechlorination of TCE by potassium permanganate (KMnO₄) employing a continuous stir batch reactor system (CSBR) and column experiments. The effect of using surfactant SG to enhance the biodegradation of TCE via aerobic cometabolism was also examined. Results from CSBR experiments revealed that combination of KMnO₄ with surfactant SG significantly enhanced contaminant removal, particularly when the surfactant SG concentrated at its CMC. TCE degradation rates ranged from 74.1% to 85.7% without addition of surfactant SG while TCE degradation rates increased to ranging from 83.8% to 96.3% with presence of 0.1 wt% SG. Furthermore, results from column experiments showed that TCE was degraded from 38.1 μM to 6.2 μM in equivalent to 83.7% of TCE oxidation during first 560 min reaction. This study has also demonstrated that the addition of surfactant SG is a feasible method to enhance bioremediation efficiency for TCE contaminated groundwater. The complete TCE degradation was detected after 75 days of incubation with both 0.01 and 0.1 wt% of surfactant SG addition. Results revealed that surfactant enhanced chemical oxidation and bioremediation technology is one of feasible approaches to clean up TCE contaminated groundwater.     

Measurement of Bulk Mechanical Properties and Modeling the Load Response of Rootzone Sands. Part 3: Effect of Organics and Moisture Content on Continuous Sand Mixtures

The interactions between organics and sand particles at different moisture contents are important in understanding the general mechanical behavior of rootzone sand mixtures. Towards this end, eight rootzone sand mixtures (4 shapes 2 2 moisture contents) used in golf green construction were tested using the cubical triaxial tester (CTT). These eight mixtures consist of sphagnum peat as the organic source and four sands of varying particle shape (round, subround, subangular, and angular). The sand-peat mixtures were tested at two moisture contents (air-dried and 30 cm tension). Of all the test samples, air-dried round sand with peat had the highest initial bulk density (IBD) value (1.49 g/cc), while moist angular sand with peat had the lowest IBD value (1.23 g/cc). These values influenced the compression behavior of samples, for example, the air-dried round sand with peat was least compressible while moist angular sand with peat was most compressible. Generally, moisture enhanced the compressibility of test specimens. At an isotropic pressure of 100 kPa, the volumetric strain value of moist round sand with peat was 47% higher than the volumetric strain value of the air-dried round sand with peat. Consequently, moisture and peat in bulk sand samples act as lubricants and assist in the compression process. In addition, bulk modulus values decreased with moisture. Due to the dominant effect of peat, there were no large differences between bulk modulus values of different particle shapes. The shear and failure responses of the above-mentioned eight compositions were also analyzed, compared, and modeled. Of all sand mixtures tested, air-dried angular sands with peat had the highest brittle-type failure stress value, 181 kPa at 34.5 kPa confining pressure, and moist subangular sand with peat had the lowest ductile-type failure stress value, 141 kPa at the same confining pressure. Shear modulus values increased with the increase of mean pressure, but in the case of sands containing both moisture and peat, shear modulus values increased gradually. Overall, peat and moisture content have a dominant effect on the compression and failure behavior of the rootzone sands. rootzone sand mixtures moisture effect particle shape effect organics effect mechanical behavior compression response shear/failure response prediction models     

Measurement of Bulk Mechanical Properties and Modeling the Load Response of Rootzone Sands. Part 3: Effect of Organics and Moisture Content on Continuous Sand Mixtures

The interactions between organics and sand particles at different moisture contents are important in understanding the general mechanical behavior of rootzone sand mixtures. Towards this end, eight rootzone sand mixtures (4 shapes ×2 moisture contents) used in golf green construction were tested using the cubical triaxial tester (CTT). These eight mixtures consist of sphagnum peat as the organic source and four sands of varying particle shape (round, subround, subangular, and angular). The sand-peat mixtures were tested at two moisture contents (air-dried and 30 cm tension). Of all the test samples, air-dried round sand with peat had the highest initial bulk density (IBD) value (1.49 g/cc), while moist angular sand with peat had the lowest IBD value (1.23 g/cc). These values influenced the compression behavior of samples, for example, the air-dried round sand with peat was least compressible while moist angular sand with peat was most compressible. Generally, moisture enhanced the compressibility of test specimens. At an isotropic pressure of 100 kPa, the volumetric strain value of moist round sand with peat was 47% higher than the volumetric strain value of the air-dried round sand with peat. Consequently, moisture and peat in bulk sand samples act as lubricants and assist in the compression process. In addition, bulk modulus values decreased with moisture. Due to the dominant effect of peat, there were no large differences between bulk modulus values of different particle shapes. The shear and failure responses of the above-mentioned eight compositions were also analyzed, compared, and modeled. Of all sand mixtures tested, air-dried angular sands with peat had the highest brittle-type failure stress value, 181 kPa at 34.5 kPa confining pressure, and moist subangular sand with peat had the lowest ductile-type failure stress value, 141 kPa at the same confining pressure. Shear modulus values increased with the increase of mean pressure, but in the case of sands containing both moisture and peat, shear modulus values increased gradually. Overall, peat and moisture content have a dominant effect on the compression and failure behavior of the rootzone sands.

rootzone sand mixtures moisture effect particle shape effect organics effect mechanical behavior compression response shear/failure response prediction models     

Performance of three resin-based materials for treating uranium-contaminated groundwater within a PRB

Three materials that are designed to treat uranium-contaminated water were investigated. These are a cation exchange resin, IRN 77; an anion exchange resin, Varion AP; and a recently developed material called PANSIL (quartz sand coated with 2% amidoxime resin by weight). The reaction rate, capacity, and effective pH range of the three materials are reported. The capacity and conditional distribution coefficient in neutral, uranyl-contaminated synthetic groundwater containing carbonate are also reported. The suitability of each material for treating uranium-contaminated groundwater using a permeable reactive barrier (PRB) approach is then discussed. All three materials react rapidly in the pH range 5-7, reaching equilibrium in less than 4h at approximately 23 degrees C. The unconditioned cation exchange resin removed 8 g UO2 2+ per kg of resin from neutral synthetic groundwater containing 30 mg/l of UO2 2+, but a lower capacity is anticipated in groundwater with either higher ionic strength or lower UO2 2 concentrations. It operates by first acidifying the solution, then sorbing UO2 2, and can release UO2 2 when its buffering capacity has been exhausted. The anion exchange resin is very effective at removing anionic uranyl carbonate species from solutions with a pH above 5, with good specificity. Up to 50 g/kg of uranium is removed from contaminated groundwater at neutral pH. PANSIL is effective at sequestering cationic and neutral uranyl species from solutions in the pH range 4.5-7.5, with very good specificity. The capacity of PANSIL is pH-dependent, increasing from about 0.4 g/kg at pH 4.5, to about 1 g/kg at pH 6, and 1.5 g/kg around pH 7.5. In neutral groundwater containing carbonate, both the anion exchange resin and PANSIL exhibit conditional distribution coefficients exceeding 1470 ml/g, which is about an order of magnitude higher than comparable reactive barrier materials reported in the literature.     

Erosion-corrosion-abrasion characteristics in slurry of a zinc based alloy and its composite containing alumina particle dispersoid

Abstract

This study presents observations made pertaining to the slurry wear behaviour of a zinc based alloy and its composite containing dispersed alumina particles. The influence of varying the sand concentration in the medium and the traversal distance on the response of the specimens has also been investigated. Wear rate increased initially with traversal sliding distance, attained a peak, and then decreased thereafter at longer traversal distances. This trend was much more pronounced when tests were conducted in a liquid only medium than in liquid with sand. The presence of suspended sand particles in the test environment led to a considerably reduced wear rate of the specimens when compared with that of the liquid only medium. Furthermore, intermediate sand content caused the maximum wear rate within the slurries, although it was substantially less than that caused by the liquid only medium. A comparison of the wear response of the composite and the matrix alloy suggested a mixed trend in the liquid only medium and the slurry with 60 wt- sand. The composite exhibited a lower wear rate than the matrix alloy when tested in slurries with 20 and 40 wt- suspended sand particles. The observed wear response of the specimens has been discussed in terms of specific characteristics, such as susceptibility to corrosion and hardness of various phases, and the interfacial effects in the specimens. The changing nature of the medium, such as the corrosivity and impingingabrading efficiency, has also been discussed. Analysis of the affected surfaces and subsurface regions of typical specimens by SEM enabled the understanding of the operating wear mechanisms under specific test conditions and thereby it was possible to substantiate the observed wear characteristics of the specimens.