Partitioning Tracers for In-Situ Measurement of Nonaqueous Phase Liquids in the Subsurface - Final Report - 09/15/1996 - 09/14/2000
The overall goal of the proposed project is to explore the use of partitioning tracers to characterize dense nonaqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs) in aquifer systems. Bulk-phase partitioning tracers will be investigated to detect and determine DNAPL saturation, while interface partitioning tracers will be investigated to measure the area of the DNAPL-water interface. The specific objectives that will be addressed to accomplish this goal are: (1) Investigate the use of partitioning tracers to detect and determine both the saturation and interfacial area of DNAPLs in saturated porous media. (2) Investigate the effect of rate-limited mass transfer on the transport behavior of partitioning tracers. (3) Investigate the effect of porous-media heterogeneity on the transport behavior of partitioning tracers. (4) Develop and evaluate mathematical models capable of simulating the transport of partitioning tracers in complex systems. This proposal outlines an integrated approach for the development and testing of a unique method for detecting and measuring DNAPL in aquifer systems. The approach combines one-dimensional laboratory experiments, three-dimensional intermediate-scale flow cell experiments, physical methods for DNAPL description (including dual-energy gamma radiation), and advanced modeling techniques. This approach will allow a new, promising technique for characterizing DNAPL in aquifer systems to be verified by established laboratory and numerical methods. The effect of heterogeneity will be examined by the use of a flow-cell packed with layers of variable permeability and containing multiple sample ports. The effect of rate-limited liquid-liquid mass transfer will be investigated by examining the impact of pore-water velocity and DNAPL form on transport of the partitioning tracers. Effective risk assessment and remediation of DNAPL contaminated sites is constrained by the limitations of current site characterization techniques. A major weakness of the current methods is that they provide data at discrete points, such that the probability of sampling a zone of localized DNAPL is quite small. The results of the research will lead to improved techniques for characterizing DNAPL contaminated sites and will enhance our understanding of the distribution of DNAPLs in the subsurface risk assessments and remediation planning.
- Research Organization:
- University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM) (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG07-96ER14722
- OSTI ID:
- 790174
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/ER/14722; Project Number 54908; TRN: US200202%%234
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 14 Sep 2000
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Partitioning tracers for in-situ detection and quantification of dense nonaqueous. 1997 annual progress report
Partitioning Tracers for In Situ Detection and Quantification of Dense Nonaqueous Phase Liquids in Groundwater Systems
Related Subjects
AQUIFERS
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PERMEABILITY
SAMPLING
SITE CHARACTERIZATION
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
PARTITION
REMEDIAL ACTION
DENSE NONAQUEOUS PHASE LIQUIDS (DNAPLS)
AQUIFER SYSTEMS
BULK-PHASE PARTITIONING TRACERS
INTERFACE PARTITIONING TRACERS
SATURATION
POROUS-MEDIA HETEROGENEITY