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Transport of dissolved hydrocarbons influenced by oxygen‐limited biodegradation: 2. Field application
Author(s) -
Borden Robert C.,
Bedient Philip B.,
Lee Michael D.,
Ward C. H.,
Wilson John T.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/wr022i013p01983
Subject(s) - biodegradation , hydrocarbon , aquifer , oxygen , groundwater , oxygen transport , environmental science , environmental chemistry , plume , chemistry , environmental engineering , geology , geotechnical engineering , thermodynamics , organic chemistry , physics
An existing solute transport model is modified to allow simulation of soluble hydrocarbon transport in groundwater influenced by oxygen‐limited biodegradation. The transport model is then applied to an abandoned creosoting site where biodegradation is known to occur. Oxygen exchange with the unsaturated zone and resulting biodegradation is approximated as a first‐order decay in hydrocarbon concentration. The loss of hydrocarbon due to horizontal mixing with oxygenated groundwater and resulting biodegradation is simulated by generating oxygen and hydrocarbon distributions independently and then combining by superposition. This procedure is only applicable where absorption of hydrocarbon is negligible. The major transport parameters are obtained by calibrating the model to a chloride plume also present at the site. Simulated oxygen and hydrocarbon concentrations closely matched the observed values. Two cases are presented to illustrate the potential assimilative capacity of shallow aquifers. A companion paper (R. C. Borden and P. B. Bedient, this issue) presents the theoretical development.