Role of Natural Attenuation in Life Cycle of MTBE Plumes
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 128, Issue 9
Abstract
The natural life cycle of a plume of methyl tert-butyl ether from a spill of gasoline is controlled by the rate of attenuation of the source (due to partitioning from the residual gasoline to the flow of groundwater) and the rate of attenuation in the plume (due to dispersion and natural biodegradation). Rates of attenuation were extracted for plumes in California, Florida, North Carolina, New York, and New Jersey. The maximum rate of attenuation of the source was 0.75 per year. The rates of attenuation in the plumes varied from 0.56 to 4.3 per year. In all cases, the rate of attenuation of the plume exceeded the rate of attenuation of the source. As these plumes progress through their life cycle, they should recede back toward their source.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 128 • Issue 9 • September 2002
Pages: 876 - 882
Copyright
Copyright © 2002 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Feb 13, 2002
Accepted: Apr 8, 2002
Published online: Aug 15, 2002
Published in print: Sep 2002
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