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A Heuristic Model of Aerobic Biodegradation of Dissolved Hydrocarbons in Aquifers
Author(s) -
Ma Yang,
Kemblowski Marian W.,
Urroz Gilberto E.
Publication year - 1999
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.1745-6584.1999.tb01134.x
Subject(s) - mixing (physics) , heuristic , sensitivity (control systems) , random walk , mechanics , field (mathematics) , plume , component (thermodynamics) , statistical physics , biological system , mathematical optimization , mathematics , thermodynamics , physics , engineering , statistics , quantum mechanics , electronic engineering , pure mathematics , biology
In this paper, we present a heuristic model of mixing and aerobic degradation based on a conceptual understanding of the mixing process in heterogeneous media, rather than on a rigorous derivation from the stochastic transport equations. The mean‐behavior, heuristic approach, with a uniform velocity field, was used to reproduce organic plume behavior from a previously published simulation for random pore water velocity fields. The heuristic model presented herein requires that the mixing coefficient be calibrated to explain field data; therefore, in that sense, the model is not predictive. The numerical model uses a modified form of a particle tracking model to account for multispecies transport. Transport simulation includes a random‐walk component, while biodegradation is simulated with Monod kinetics. Numerical simulations are presented for nonreactive transport in homogeneous media, and for reactive transport in heterogeneous media. A sensitivity analysis of the model is performed to determine the effect of the mixing coefficient in the model.