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Title: Moffett Field Funnel and Gate TCE Treatment System: Interpretation of Field Performance using Reactive Transport Modeling

Conference ·
OSTI ID:15001832

A multicomponent reactive transport simulator was used to understand the behavior of chemical components, including TCE and cis-1,2-DCE, in groundwater transported through the pilot-scale funnel and gate chemical treatment system at Moffett Field, California. Field observations indicated that zero-valent iron emplaced in the gate to effect the destruction of chlorinated hydrocarbons also resulted in increases in pH and hydrocarbons, as well as decreases in EH, alkalinity, dissolved O2 and CO2, and major ions (i.e., Ca, Mg, Cl, sulfate, nitrate). Of concern are chemical transformations that may reduce the effectiveness or longevity of the iron cell and/or create secondary contaminants. A coupled model of transport and reaction processes was developed to account for mobile and immobile components undergoing equilibrium and kinetic reactions including TCE degradation, parallel iron dissolution reactions, precipitation of secondary minerals, and complexation reactions. The model reproduced solution chemistry observed in the iron cell using reaction parameters from the literature and laboratory studies. Mineral precipitation in the iron zone, which is critical to correctly predicting the aqueous concentrations, was predicted to account for up to 3 percent additional mineral volume annually. Interplay between rates of transport and rates of reaction in the field was key to understanding system behavior.

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
15001832
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-31827; 400403201; TRN: US200406%%241
Resource Relation:
Conference: 2001 International Containment & Remediation Technology Conference & Exhibition 10-13 June 2001, Proceedings
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English