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Isotope applications in environmental investigations: Theory and use in chlorinated solvent and petroleum hydrocarbon studies
Author(s) -
Sueker Julie K.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
remediation journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.762
H-Index - 27
eISSN - 1520-6831
pISSN - 1051-5658
DOI - 10.1002/rem.1022
Subject(s) - environmental chemistry , groundwater , chlorinated solvents , petroleum , degradation (telecommunications) , environmental science , contamination , isotope analysis , petroleum product , isotope , chemistry , geology , engineering , organic chemistry , geotechnical engineering , oceanography , telecommunications , ecology , biology , physics , quantum mechanics
Isotope applications are gaining acceptance for use in surface water and groundwater investigations,complementing traditional geochemistry and physical hydrology techniques. Recent developments in analyticalmethodologies and in the understanding of isotope dynamics now allow the use of isotopes to investigate sourcesand fate of common groundwater contaminants such as chlorinated solvents and petroleum hydrocarbons. Contaminantswith unique isotopic signatures may facilitate the determination of contaminant sources in complex plumes.Degradation of chlorinated solvents and some petroleum hydrocarbons impart unique isotopic signatures on both theoriginal contaminant and the degradation product or products that provide verification of degradation. Use of aRayleigh‐type model may allow determination of degradation extent. Coupled with models of contaminant fateand transport, degradation extent may be useful for determining degradation rates. © 2001 John Wiley &Sons, Inc.