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A heuristic model of aerobic biodegradation of dissolved hydrocarbons in aquifers

Journal Article · · Ground Water
; ;  [1]
  1. Utah State Univ., Logan, UT (United States). Utah Water Research Lab.
In this paper, the authors present a heuristic model of mixing and aerobic degradation based on a conceptual understanding of the mixing process in heterogeneous media, rather than on a rigorous derivation from the stochastic transport equations. The mean-behavior, heuristic approach, with a uniform velocity field, was used to reproduce organic plume behavior from a previously published simulation for random pore water velocity fields. The heuristic model presented herein requires that the mixing coefficient be calibrated to explain field data; therefore, in that sense, the model is not predictive. The numerical model uses a modified form of a particle tracking model to account for multispecies transport. Transport simulation includes a random-walk component, while biodegradation is simulated with Monod kinetics. Numerical simulations are presented for nonreactive transport in homogeneous media, and for reactive transport in heterogeneous media. A sensitivity analysis of the model is performed to determine the effect of the mixing coefficient in the model.
OSTI ID:
6299447
Journal Information:
Ground Water, Journal Name: Ground Water Vol. 37:4; ISSN GRWAAP; ISSN 0017-467X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English