What is “Non Aqueous Phase Liquid” or “NAPL” and how is it a problem?
Part of EPA’s study and cleanup for Montrose is for NAPL under the ground at the former Montrose plant property. NAPL is a technical word which means “Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid.” As ice is a form of water, NAPL is a form of a chemical that dissolves only a little in water. For instance, unlike sugar, only a very small amount of salad oil will dissolve into water, while the rest stays separated from the water. The oil exhibits the properties of a NAPL. In general, NAPL and water don’t like to “mix.” Certain types of waste liquid chemicals behave in the ground like salad oil in water. These chemicals are NAPL when they are in their pure, highly-concentrated form. Once released at the ground surface, NAPL drips down through the soil in strings, fingers and globs — which are called ganglia. The ganglia are trapped in spaces between the soil particles. Below the water table, both NAPL and water are in the spaces between the soil particles. NAPL can be extremely difficult to remove from the
