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A Device for In Situ Determination of Geochemical Transport Parameters 2. Biochemical Reactions
Author(s) -
Gillham R. W.,
Starr R. C.,
Miller D. J.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
groundwater
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.84
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1745-6584
pISSN - 0017-467X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-6584.1990.tb01720.x
Subject(s) - aquifer , in situ , contamination , environmental chemistry , environmental science , population , reaction rate , biodegradation , denitrification , groundwater , chemistry , environmental engineering , geology , nitrogen , ecology , biology , geotechnical engineering , biochemistry , demography , organic chemistry , sociology , catalysis
Chemical and biological reaction rates are required in estimating migration rates of many reactive contaminants in ground water, and as input data for mathematical models. Reaction rates must be measured, and depend on environmental conditions that are often difficult to duplicate in the laboratory. In situ rate measurement minimizes the difficulties of controlling environmental variables such as temperature, pH, Eh, DO, solution and solid phase composition, and bacterial population. The instrument described in this paper isolates a 1.9 liter portion of an aquifer for in situ biochemical rate measurement. The device has been used successfully to measure the rate of reactions involving inorganic and organic contaminants in sandy aquifers. Two applications of the device, measurement of denitrification rates and rates of biodegradation of benzene, are presented.