{sup 222}Rn as an indicator of nonaqueous phase liquid contamination in groundwater
Journal Article
·
· Health Physics
OSTI ID:393974
- Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR (United States); and others
There is considerable interest in the detection and monitoring of Nonaqueous Phase Liquids (NAPLs), particularly as it relates to groundwater protection and remediation. The measurement of NAPLs becomes increasingly difficult as they approach residual saturation levels within a contaminated aquifer. Results from field and modeling studies have demonstrated that naturally occurring {sup 222}Rn can be used to identify and quantify residual NAPLs in saturated and unsaturated aquifer media. The method relies on the high solubility and partitioning of radon into organic materials. Radon partitioning into residual NAPL results in a relative radon deficit in the pore water within the contaminated matrix. Initial work utilized scintillation cells for measuring {sup 222}Rn and its alpha emitting progeny. The current work has incorporated extractive liquid scintillation and pulse shape analysis in an effort to process larger sample numbers while maintaining a detection level comparable to that of the scintillation cell method. Laboratory studies were conducted on columns in various states of saturation and with various levels of NAPL contamination. The results suggest that the relative depletion of {sup 222}Rn in water originating from regions of NAPL contamination might be a useful field method for confirming the presence of NAPLs and has the potential as an indicator of remediation success.
- OSTI ID:
- 393974
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9607135--
- Journal Information:
- Health Physics, Journal Name: Health Physics Journal Issue: Suppl.6 Vol. 70; ISSN HLTPAO; ISSN 0017-9078
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Development of Radon-222 as Natural Tracer for Monitoring the Remediation of NAPL in the Subsurface
Development of Radon-222 as a Natural Tracer for Monitoring the Remediation of NAPL Contamination in the Subsurface.
A Method for Concurrent and Continuous Measurement of Rn-222 and Rn-220 Using Scintillation Cells
Technical Report
·
Wed Feb 26 23:00:00 EST 2003
·
OSTI ID:809809
Development of Radon-222 as a Natural Tracer for Monitoring the Remediation of NAPL Contamination in the Subsurface.
Technical Report
·
Tue Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1999
·
OSTI ID:828608
A Method for Concurrent and Continuous Measurement of Rn-222 and Rn-220 Using Scintillation Cells
Technical Report
·
Wed Jan 30 23:00:00 EST 2002
·
OSTI ID:814040