Aromatic Hydrocarbons In Groundwater Research Articles

Assessment of natural attenuation of aromatic hydrocarbons in groundwater near a former manufactured-gas plant, South Carolina, USA

Shallow, anaerobic groundwater near a former manufactured-gas plant (MGP) in Charleston, South Carolina, USA, contains mono- and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (MAHs and PAHs, respectively). Between 1994 and 1997, a combination of field, laboratory, and numerical-flow and transport-model investigations were made to assess natural attenuation processes affecting MAH and PAH distributions. This assessment included determination of adsorption coefficients (K ad ) and first-order biodegradation rate constants (K bio ) using aquifer material from the MGP site and adjacent properties. Naphthalene adsorption (K ad =1.35×10–7 m3/mg) to aquifer sediments was higher than toluene adsorption (K ad =9.34×10–10 m3/mg), suggesting preferential toluene transport relative to naphthalene. However, toluene and benzene distributions measured in January 1994 were smaller than the naphthalene distribution. This scenario can be explained, in part, by the differences between biodegradation rates of the compounds. Aerobic first-order rate constants of 14C-toluene, 14C-benzene, and 14C-naphthalene degradation were similar (–0.84, –0.03, and 0.88 day–1, respectively), but anaerobic rate constants were higher for toluene and benzene (–0.002 and –0.00014 day–1, respectively) than for naphthalene (–0.000046 day–1). Both areal and cross-sectional numerical simulations were used to test the hypothesis suggested by these rate differences that MAH compounds will be contained relative to PAHs. Predictive simulations indicated that the distributions of toluene and benzene reach steady-state conditions before groundwater flow lines discharge to an adjacent surface-water body, but do discharge low concentrations of naphthalene. Numerical predictions were "audited" by measuring concentrations of naphthalene, toluene, and benzene at the site in early 1997. Measured naphthalene and toluene concentrations were substantially reduced and the areal extent of contamination smaller than was both observed in January 1994 and predicted for 1997. Measured 1997 benzene concentrations and distribution were shown to be relatively unchanged from those measured in 1994, and similar to predictions for 1997.

Biodegradation of aromatic compounds under mixed oxygen/denitrifying conditions: a review.

Bioremediation of aromatic hydrocarbons in groundwater and sediments is often limited by dissolved oxygen. Many aromatic hydrocarbons degrade very slowly or not at all under anaerobic conditions. Nitrate is a good alternative electron acceptor to oxygen, and denitrifying bacteria are commonly found in the subsurface and in association with contaminated aquifer materials. Providing both nitrate and microaerophilic levels of oxygen may result in oxidation of the stable benzene rings in aromatic contaminants and allow for the intermediates of this oxidation to degrade via denitrification. The effects of using mixed electron acceptors on biodegradation of subsurface contaminants is unclear. Below some critical oxygen threshold, aerobic biodegradation is inhibited, however high levels of oxygen inhibit denitrification. The mechanisms which regulate electron transfer to oxygen and nitrate are complex. This review: 1) describes the factors which may affect the utilization of oxygen and nitrate as dual electron acceptors during biodegradation; 2) summarizes the incidence of dual use of nitrate and oxygen (aerobic denitrification); and 3) presents evidence of the effectiveness of bioremediation under mixed oxygen/nitrate conditions.

Modeling partitioning and transport interactions between natural organic matter and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in groundwater

The influences of aqueous-phase natural organic matter (NOM) and solid-phase (mineral-phase) NOM on the partitioning and transport of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were studied in both batch and column experiments. The column experiments were conducted in two stages. In the first stage, the soil matrix was simulated with quartz, with which NOM does not interact; the effect of aqueous-phase NOM on PAH transport was studied in such a soil matrix. In the second stage, the soil matrix was simulated with quartz coated with aluminum oxide (mixed bed), with which NOM can interact (sorb); the effect of soil-phase NOM on PAH water solubility, NOM source, and Darcy velocity on PAH transport were also addressed. Data from the column experiments were modeled with a one-dimensional advection-dispersion transport model (CFITIM) to independently estimate partition coefficients as well as retardation factors and kinetic parameters. Observations based on the results of experiments include the following: (1) the interaction between PAH and NOM is NOM source dependent, and the interaction between PAH and minerals is mineralogy dependent, (2) aqueous-phase NOM facilitates PAH transport, and (3) solid-phase NOM retards PAH transport. 33 refs., 10 figs., 8 tabs.

Hydrocarbons and aromatic hydrocarbons in groundwater surrounding an earthen waste disposal pit for produced water in the Duncan oil field of New Mexico.

Samples of groundwater and soil were collected from test pits placed 25 m intervals on five axes extending from an earthen waste disposal pit for produced water near the San Juan River of northwest New Mexico. Samples were obtained at depths of 1.2 to 1.5 m and were analyzed using GC and GC/MS techniques for purgable hydrocarbons, including benzenes, and for solvent extractable organic compounds. Water samples from test pits down-gradient from the disposal pit contained purgable and extractable hydrocarbons that were similar to contents of the waste disposal pit. In contrast, water samples obtained from test pits up-gradient from the waste pit were free of detectable organic components. Major purgable components in the waste pit and in surrounding groundwater included saturated/unsaturated hydrocarbons and aromatic/alkylated aromatic hydrocarbons. Samples collected 25 m from the waste pit contained concentrations of all compounds greater than in samples taken at 50 m in distance on the same exis. Total concentration of purgable aromatic hydrocarbons in groundwater from test plots ranged from a high of 200 ppb at 25 m, to a low of 12 ppb at 50 m on an axis through the plume center.