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Vadose zone O{sub 2} and CO{sub 2} as indicators of in situ bioremediation in the Appalachian Piedmont

Conference ·
OSTI ID:370245
;  [1]
  1. Univ. of South Carolina, Columbia, SC (United States)
A UST petroleum spill in Columbia, SC is being remediated using a combination of in situ bioremediation, soil vapor extraction (SVE) and air sparging (AS) in low permeability Appalachian Piedmont. We estimated O{sub 2}, CO{sub 2}, and BTEX concentrations in vadose soil vapor (SV) probes installed at discrete depths, and in SVE wells to determine the maximum potential degradation rates after the SVE/AS system had been shut off. Soil gas was analyzed using portable meters and verified by gas chromatography. Biodegradation rates in 1/4-in ID SV vapor probes increased with depth to the water table, suggesting that the interface of the unsaturated-saturated zone was a region of high microbial activity. The O{sub 2} degradation and CO{sub 2} production rates were 0.64% day{sup -1} and 0.24% day{sup -1} in the SV probes, and 0.26% day{sup -1} and 0.10% day{sup -1} in SVE wells, respectfully. Our rates were slower than those reported for other sites, but they demonstrate that bioremediation is effective in low permeability saprolitic soils.
OSTI ID:
370245
Report Number(s):
CONF-960376--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English