Remediation of MTBE in groundwater: A case where pump-and-treat works

Conference · Sat Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:49376

Bass, D H; Riley, B ^[1]; Farrell, T ^[2]

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1. Groundwater Technology, Inc., Norwood, MA (United States)
2. Groundwater Technology, Inc., Trenton, NJ (United States)

Two case studies are discussed in which groundwater pumping reduced levels of dissolved methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) in groundwater by more than two orders of magnitude, in some cases to below detection limits. MTBE contamination in groundwater is becoming an important issue due to the increasing prevalence and regulation of this gasoline additive. In addition, MTBE is more mobile in groundwater than most hydrocarbons, so it is usually the first gasoline constituent to reach sensitive receptors. Since its Henry`s constant is low, in situ removal of MTBE from groundwater by air sparging is slow, and MTBE does not rapidly degrade, either biologically or abiotically. Therefore, groundwater pumping is usually employed to contain and collect MTBE-contaminated groundwater. Pumping groundwater can reduce MME levels to below detection limits within a few years, because MTBE in the subsurface is found mostly dissolved in groundwater. In contrast, the more hydrophobic gasoline hydrocarbons exist mostly in pockets of separate phase material and adsorbed to soil particles and dissolve slowly in groundwater. Hydrocarbon concentrations are rarely reduced to closure levels within a reasonable time frame by pumping. Sites in eastern Massachusetts and southern New Jersey, where groundwater was contaminated with MTBE due to releases of unleaded gasoline from underground storage tanks, are discussed. At these sites, average MTBE levels were reduced by two to three orders of magnitude, from several ppm or more to less than 10 ppb within three years by pumping groundwater at 10 to 30 gpm.

• OSTI ID: 49376
• Report Number(s): CONF-941189--; ISBN 1-56590-016-2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
ETHERS
FUEL ADDITIVES
GROUND WATER
IN-SITU PROCESSING
MASSACHUSETTS
NEW JERSEY
OIL SPILLS
REMEDIAL ACTION
REMOVAL
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WATER RECLAMATION