Analytical solutions for contaminant fate and transport in parallel plate fracture-rock matrix systems with poiseuille flow.

Modeling contaminant transport in fractured-rock matrix systems often approximates the effect of the parabolic flow field in the fractures (i.e., Poiseuille flow) on transport by adding a dispersion term to the uniform flow field.

Analytical solutions for a soil vapor extraction model that incorporates gas phase dispersion and molecular diffusion.

To greatly simplify their solution, the equations describing radial advective/dispersive transport to an extraction well in a porous medium typically neglect molecular diffusion. While this simplification is appropriate to simulate transport in the saturated zone, it can result in significant errors when modeling gas phase transport in the vadose zone, as might be applied when simulating a soil vapor extraction (SVE) system to remediate vadose zone contamination. A new analytical solution for the equations describing radial gas phase transport of a sorbing contaminant to an extraction well is presented.

Organophosphate vapor detection on gold electrodes using peptide nanotubes.

Peptide nanotubes (PNTs) encapsulating horseradish peroxidase and surface coated with acetylcholinesterase (AChE) were attached to gold screen printed electrodes to construct a novel gas phase organophosphate (OP) biosensor. When the sensor with the AChE enzyme is put in contact with acetylthiocholine (ATCh), the ATCh is hydrolyzed to produce thiocholine, which is then oxidized by horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Direct electron transfer between HRP and electrode is achieved through PNTs.

Impact of DNAPL contact on the structure of smectitic clay materials.

Smectitic clays have a flexible structure that may be impacted by contact with dense nonaqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs) present at hazardous waste sites. Measurements of the basal spacing of air-dry clays contacted with pure chlorinated solvents and chlorinated DNAPL wastes showed that the intraparticle spacing is similar to that in air. Basal spacings of water-saturated clays contacted with pure chlorinated solvents are similar to those in contact with water, even after extended equilibration times (300 d).

Validation of two innovative methods to measure contaminant mass flux in groundwater.

The ability to quantify the mass flux of a groundwater contaminant that is leaching from a source area is critical to enable us to: (1) evaluate the risk posed by the contamination source and prioritize cleanup, (2) evaluate the effectiveness of source remediation technologies or natural attenuation processes, and (3) quantify a source term for use in models that may be applied to predict maximum contaminant concentrations in downstream wells. Recently, a number of new methods have been developed and subsequently applied to measure contaminant mass flux in groundwater in the field. However, none of these methods has been validated at larger than the laboratory-scale through a comparison of measured mass flux and a known flux that has been introduced into flowing groundwater.

An assembly model for simulation of large-scale ground water flow and transport.

When managing large-scale ground water contamination problems, it is often necessary to model flow and transport using finely discretized domains--for instance (1) to simulate flow and transport near a contamination source area or in the area where a remediation technology is being implemented; (2) to account for small-scale heterogeneities; (3) to represent ground water-surface water interactions; or (4) some combination of these scenarios. A model with a large domain and fine-grid resolution will need extensive computing resources. In this work, a domain decomposition-based assembly model implemented in a parallel computing environment is developed, which will allow efficient simulation of large-scale ground water flow and transport problems using domain-wide grid refinement.

Use of tandem circulation wells to measure hydraulic conductivity without groundwater extraction.

Conventional methods to measure the hydraulic conductivity of an aquifer on a relatively large scale (10-100 m) require extraction of significant quantities of groundwater. This can be expensive, and otherwise problematic, when investigating a contaminated aquifer. In this study, innovative approaches that make use of tandem circulation wells to measure hydraulic conductivity are proposed.

Field evaluation of in situ source reduction of trichloroethylene in groundwater using bioenhanced in-well vapor stripping.

Two technologies in combination, cometabolic bioremediation and in-well vapor stripping, were applied to reduce trichloroethylene (TCE) concentrations in groundwater at a contaminant source area without the need to pump contaminated groundwater to the surface for treatment. The vapor-stripping well reduced source TCE concentrations (as high as 6-9 mg/L) by over 95%. Effluent from the well then flowed to two bioremediation wells, where additional reductions of approximately 60% were achieved.

Dissolved organic matter effects on the performance of a barrier to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon transport by groundwater.

In order to contain the movement of organic contaminants in groundwater, a subsurface sorption barrier consisting of sand or clay minerals coated with a cationic surfactant has been proposed. The effectiveness of such a sorption barrier might be affected by the presence of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the groundwater. To study the impact of DOM on barrier performance, a series of batch experiments were performed by measuring naphthalene and phenanthrene sorption onto sand coated with cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and bentonite coated with hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HDTMA) in the presence of various concentrations of DOM.

Combined effect of natural organic matter and surfactants on the apparent solubility of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Both natural organic matter (NOM) and surfactants are known to enhance the apparent aqueous solubility of hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) in aqueous systems. In this study, the combined effect of NOM and surfactants on enhancing the solubility of HOCs was investigated, since both may occur and affect the fate and transport of HOCs in natural aqueous environments. Experimental results indicated that the apparent solubility of naphthalene, phenanthrene, and pyrene in NOM and anionic surfactant solution was lower than their solubility in NOM solution alone.