The Effect of Atmospheric Chemical Release on the Reduction in Groundwater Pollution by CVOCs

The spreading of chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) in the subsurface depends on multiple transport mechanisms and reaction processes, such as advection, dispersion, atmospheric release and chemical-physical-biological reactions. The transport of contaminants can occur in both water and gas phases. Especially, the movement of contaminants in gas phase can be faster than that in water phase due to the high dispersivity of chemicals in the gas phase. The vaporized CVOCs can be released into the atmosphere through the ground surface, resulting in reduction of total mass and concentration of the contaminants in the subsurface. This study investigates the impacts of the atmospheric chemical releases and ground-surface conditions on CVOCs' fate and plume development in the subsurface. Tetrachloroethylene is as the primary contaminant, and its biodegradation byproducts are also considered.