Modeling of Chlorinated VOCs Transport under Dual Bioreactions
Publication: World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2009: Great Rivers
Abstract
Once chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) are released into the subsurface they are spread out through the porous soil matrix by complicated processes such as advection, dispersion, and sorption. CVOCs can be also biodegraded by indigenous microorganism via aerobic and anaerobic bioreactions, which generate distinct benign or harmful by-products. Heterogeneous subsurface characteristics and non-uniform distribution and consumption of oxygen in the subsurface may allow the dual bioreactions to coexist within a representative subsurface volume (RSV). The portion of each bioreaction within a RSV will depend on multiple factors such as oxygen, contaminant, and microorganism levels. Oxygen can be supplied into the contaminated zone through the dispersive and advective transport of oxygen in gas phase as well as the flow of the groundwater containing dissolved oxygen. As the dual bioreactions are coupled with multiple fluid flows (groundwater and gas) and multispecies transport, the analysis of the bioreactions is very complicated. However, the enhanced understanding of the dual bioreactions of CVOCs is required in accurately predicting the fate and transport of CVOCs at the contaminated sites. This study numerically investigates: the effects of dual bioreactions on the fate and transport of CVOCs in the variably saturated zone; and, the temporal and spatial evolution of bioreaction zones in the domain. Trichloroethylene is selected as a primary contaminant, and its sequential aerobic/anaerobic bioreactions are considered.
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Copyright
© 2009 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Published online: Apr 26, 2012
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Advection
- Analysis (by type)
- Chemical compounds
- Chemical elements
- Chemicals
- Chemistry
- Chlorine
- Contaminant transport
- Engineering fundamentals
- Environmental engineering
- Flow (fluid dynamics)
- Fluid dynamics
- Fluid mechanics
- Gas flow
- Geology
- Geotechnical engineering
- Groundwater flow
- Hydrologic engineering
- Numerical analysis
- Organic chemicals
- Organic compounds
- Pollutants
- Subsurface environment
- Volatile organic compounds
- Water and water resources
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