Experimental Study on the Performance Evaluation of Hybrid Liner to Prevent the Migration of Oil Pollutant

Oil contamination in subsurface soils caused by leaks from underground storage tanks (USTs) and industrial facilities has become a significant geo-environmental concern. Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) migrate through the ground and are difficult to remediate once dispersed; thus, prevention of migration is critical. This study experimentally investigated a hybrid liner system combining three barrier mechanisms-physical, reactive, and absorptive-to prevent TPH migration in the subsurface. Laboratory-scale experiments were conducted using a soil box simulating groundwater flow, in which Type A (100% polynorbornene powder) and Type B (mixed bentonite-sand-polyolefin-polynorbornene) liners were embedded under different soil types and spill distances. Results showed that permeability decreased rapidly after oil contact, reaching the transition zone within 120 H. Type A responded more quickly and achieved lower permeability, while Type B provided comparable but slower reduction owing to its mixed composition. These findings demonstrate that hybrid liners effectively block oil migration without hindering groundwater flow and that soil condition and spill location should be considered when selecting liner type for field applications.