Modeling and analysis of transport and biodegradation in laboratory chambers with plants
- Kansas State Univ., Manhattan, KS (United States)
The fate of several volatile organic compounds including phenol, toluene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, trichloroethylene, and chloroform have been investigated in sandy soil with alfalfa plants growing in the soil. A mathematical model has been developed to follow the fate of water, contaminant, root exudates produced by the plants, oxygen, and microbial growth. Concentrations of the contaminants have been measured in the gas phase, plant biomass, and ground water. Headspace analysis of the gas in the enclosed chamber showed that small quantities of the chlorinated compounds migrated into the gas phase above the alfalfa plants. Research is in progress to investigate the transport of volatile contaminants through plants. The concentrations of the volatile contaminants which evolved with the transpired water are diluted significantly as they enter the gas phase because of the small amount of water that is soluble in air at ambient temperatures. Vegetated bioremediation systems have been employed at several field sites in the U.S. and in several other countries. The model can be used to design fields of vegetation which function as solar driven pump-and-treat processes; these systems are very inexpensive. 17 refs.
- OSTI ID:
- 430582
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-960730--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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