Density-driven advection of gas phase due to vaporization of chlorinated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) has a significant effect on fate and transport of contaminants. In this study, we investigated the effects of density-driven advection, infiltration, and permeability on contaminant plume evolution and natural attenuation of VOCs in the subsurface system. To analyze these effects, multiphase flow and contaminant transport processes were simulated using a three-dimensional Galerkin-finite-element-based model. Trichloroethylene (TCE) is selected as a target contaminant. Density-driven advection of gas phase elevated the potential of groundwater pollution in the saturated zone by accelerating downward migration of vaporized contaminant in the unsaturated zone. The advection contributed to increased removal rates of non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) TCE source and reduced dissolved TCE plume development in the downstream area. Infiltration reduced the velocity of the density-driven advection and its influence zone, but raised TCE transfer from the unsaturated to the saturated zone. The variation
Read MoreIn-situ air sparging (IAS) is used for the clean-up of soil and groundwater that are contaminated with volatile organic compounds in relatively permeable subsurface environments. In this study, we investigated the secondary groundwater and gas flow fields that develop in the vicinity of single and multiple air sparging wells. The purpose is to evaluate their effects on contaminant plume migration and thus, remediation. Governing equations describing multiphase flow and contaminant transport in a three-dimensional domain were formulated and solved using the Galerkin finite element technique. Trichloroethylene was selected as a target contaminant. The increase in air injection contributed to an increase in the size of the IAS cone of influence and the gas saturation levels within the cone. This reduced the groundwater velocity within the cone and increased the zone of detour of groundwater around the air sparging wells. This outcome was quantified and compared under several IAS operations. Different
Read MoreBiological transformation of volatile organic compounds is one of the key factors that influence contaminant-plume evolution and thus natural attenuation. In this study we investigate the effect of biological transformation on the transport of contaminants in the aqueous and gaseous phases. The analysis includes the study of the effect of density-driven advection of contaminants in the gaseous phase on multiphase and multispecies flow, fate and transport modeling in the subsurface. Trichloroethylene (TCE) and its two byproducts, dichloroethylene and vinyl chloride, are analyzed as the target contaminants. Our results indicate that density-driven advection of the gaseous phase, which is initiated by evaporation of TCE as a nonaqueous phase liquid, increases the downward and also the lateral migration of TCE within the unsaturated zone. This process also influences the location of high-concentration zones of the byproducts of TCE in the unsaturated and the saturated zones. Biotransformation of TCE contributes to the reduction
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