Assessment of natural attenuation of aromatic hydrocarbons in groundwater near a former manufactured-gas plant, South Carolina, USA |
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| Authors: | J E Landmeyer F H Chapelle M D Petkewich P M Bradley |
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| Institution: | (1) U. S. Geological Survey – Water Resources Division, 720 Gracern Road – Suite 129, Columbia, SC 29210-7651, USA Tel: +18037506128 · Fax: +18037506181, US |
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| Abstract: | 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.
Received: 26 June 1997 · Accepted: 25 August 1997 |
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| Keywords: | Natural attenuation Benzene Toluene Naphthalene |
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