Processes Affecting the Natural Attenuation of Gasoline in Ground Water -- Galloway Township, New Jersey Completed
New Jersey WSC Archived Project
Gasoline spills from leaking underground storage tanks is the most common mechanism of subsurface point source contamination. The U.S. Geological Survey's Toxic Substances Hydrology Program investigated the fate and transport of hydrocarbons in the unsaturated zone and shallow groundwater at a gasoline-spill site in Galloway Township, New Jersey.
Research focused on three interrelated themes: groundwater contaminant geochemistry; estimation of microbial degradation rates of hydrocarbons on the basis of rates of gas transport in the unsaturated zone; and vapor-extraction remediation design. Contaminant geochemistry work produced a water-quality database that indicated zones of aerobic biodegradation adjacent to zones of anaerobic degradation with sharp chemcial-concentration gradients in narrow interfacial zones. The analysis of gas transport in the unsaturated zone provided a method for quantifying rates of aerobic biodegradation in the capillary zone and shallow groundwater. Mathematical models were developed to simulate vapor extraction remediation and to optimize system design.
Research Objectives
The research objectives for this site are to:
- Characterize the ground-water geochemistry to identify the important biogeochemical processes and microbial degradation pathways
- Develop field and laboratory methods to quantify rates of hydrocarbon transport and microbial degradation in the subsurface
- Determine the factors controlling the performance of vapor-extraction remediation
Approach
Field experiments were performed to quantify the fate of gasoline hydrocarbons associated with engineered (vapor extraction)- and natural-attenuation remediation. A network of vapor probes and ground-water wells were sampled to obtain detailed resolution of the biogeochemical signatures of hydrocarbon degradation above and below the water table. Vapor extraction wells were sampled to determine hydrocarbon biodegradation and mass-removal rates.
Laboratory column experiments were performed to examine the direct response of microbes in controlled systems, emulative of field conditions. The column experiments were also used to determine air-phase permeabilities and effective diffusion coefficients of unsaturated-zone sediments. Open and closed microcosm experiments were conducted to investigate stoichiometric-degradation relations and biodegradation pathways.
Mathematical models provide a means to predict and quantify the transport and biodegradation of hydrocarbons in the subsurface. These models are applied to analyze field and laboratory experiments and to test microbial-kinetic hypotheses. The mathematical models help insure maximum transfer value of the methods to the public.
____
The following investigators have contributed to the Galloway research project (* indicates core member):
U.S. Geological Survey, West Trenton, NJ
Arthur L. Baehr*
Jeffrey M. Fischer
Ronald J. Baker*
Matthew A. Lahvis*
Nicholas P. Smith
Jacob Gibs
Program coordination, site hydrogeology, instrumentation, unsaturated-zone vapor analysis, in-situ estimates of microbial degradation, laboratory experiments of hydrocarbon diffusion and microbial degradation, bioventing remediation, mathematical model development
U.S. Geological Survey, National Research Program, Reston VA
Mary Jo Baedecker
Isabelle M. Cozzarelli
Jessica A. Hopple
Curtis S. Phinney
Shallow ground-water analysis, geochemistry and microbiology
Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
Claire Welty
Craig J. Joss
Jonathan J. Dillow
John G. Nolan
Airflow and induced hydrocarbon transport modeling, coupled transport and optimization modeling, microcosm experiments
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Aaron L. Mills
Susan E. Randali
Microbial analysis of sediments
University of Lowell, Lowell, MA
Clifford J. Bruell
Craig D. Gilbert
Dense-vapor laboratory experiments
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Galloway Mathematical Models
Galloway Site Location and History
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Below are publications associated with this project.
Estimation of hydrocarbon biodegradation rates in gasoline-contaminated sediment from measured respiration rates
Simulating transport of volatile organic compounds in the unsaturated zone using the computer model R-UNSAT
Documentation of AIR2D, a computer program to simulate two-dimensional axisymmetric air flow in the unsaturated zone
Documentation of R-UNSAT, a computer model for the simulation of reactive, multispecies transport in the unsaturated zone
US Geological Survey Toxic Substances Hydrology Program: Proceedings of the technical meeting, Colorado Springs, Colorado, September 20-24, 1993
Estimation of rates of aerobic hydrocarbon biodegradation by simulation of gas transport in the unsaturated zone
Use of a reactive gas transport model to determine rates of hydrocarbon biodegradation in unsaturated porous media
Documentation of AIR3D, an adaptation of the ground-water-flow code MODFLOW to simulate three-dimensional air flow in the unsaturated zone
Fate of microbial metabolites of hydrocarbons in a coastal plain aquifer: The role of electron acceptors
U.S .Geological Survey toxic substance hydrology program: Proceedings of the technical meeting, Monterey, California, March 11-15, 1991
- Overview
Gasoline spills from leaking underground storage tanks is the most common mechanism of subsurface point source contamination. The U.S. Geological Survey's Toxic Substances Hydrology Program investigated the fate and transport of hydrocarbons in the unsaturated zone and shallow groundwater at a gasoline-spill site in Galloway Township, New Jersey.
Research focused on three interrelated themes: groundwater contaminant geochemistry; estimation of microbial degradation rates of hydrocarbons on the basis of rates of gas transport in the unsaturated zone; and vapor-extraction remediation design. Contaminant geochemistry work produced a water-quality database that indicated zones of aerobic biodegradation adjacent to zones of anaerobic degradation with sharp chemcial-concentration gradients in narrow interfacial zones. The analysis of gas transport in the unsaturated zone provided a method for quantifying rates of aerobic biodegradation in the capillary zone and shallow groundwater. Mathematical models were developed to simulate vapor extraction remediation and to optimize system design.
Research Objectives
The research objectives for this site are to:
- Characterize the ground-water geochemistry to identify the important biogeochemical processes and microbial degradation pathways
- Develop field and laboratory methods to quantify rates of hydrocarbon transport and microbial degradation in the subsurface
- Determine the factors controlling the performance of vapor-extraction remediation
Approach
Field experiments were performed to quantify the fate of gasoline hydrocarbons associated with engineered (vapor extraction)- and natural-attenuation remediation. A network of vapor probes and ground-water wells were sampled to obtain detailed resolution of the biogeochemical signatures of hydrocarbon degradation above and below the water table. Vapor extraction wells were sampled to determine hydrocarbon biodegradation and mass-removal rates.
Laboratory column experiments were performed to examine the direct response of microbes in controlled systems, emulative of field conditions. The column experiments were also used to determine air-phase permeabilities and effective diffusion coefficients of unsaturated-zone sediments. Open and closed microcosm experiments were conducted to investigate stoichiometric-degradation relations and biodegradation pathways.
Mathematical models provide a means to predict and quantify the transport and biodegradation of hydrocarbons in the subsurface. These models are applied to analyze field and laboratory experiments and to test microbial-kinetic hypotheses. The mathematical models help insure maximum transfer value of the methods to the public.
____
The following investigators have contributed to the Galloway research project (* indicates core member):
U.S. Geological Survey, West Trenton, NJ
Arthur L. Baehr*
Jeffrey M. Fischer
Ronald J. Baker*
Matthew A. Lahvis*
Nicholas P. Smith
Jacob GibsProgram coordination, site hydrogeology, instrumentation, unsaturated-zone vapor analysis, in-situ estimates of microbial degradation, laboratory experiments of hydrocarbon diffusion and microbial degradation, bioventing remediation, mathematical model development
U.S. Geological Survey, National Research Program, Reston VAMary Jo Baedecker
Isabelle M. Cozzarelli
Jessica A. Hopple
Curtis S. PhinneyShallow ground-water analysis, geochemistry and microbiology
Drexel University, Philadelphia, PAClaire Welty
Craig J. Joss
Jonathan J. Dillow
John G. NolanAirflow and induced hydrocarbon transport modeling, coupled transport and optimization modeling, microcosm experiments
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VAAaron L. Mills
Susan E. RandaliMicrobial analysis of sediments
University of Lowell, Lowell, MAClifford J. Bruell
Craig D. GilbertDense-vapor laboratory experiments
- Science
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Galloway Mathematical Models
The Galloway research team has developed and documented three computer programs for simulating flow and transport in the unsaturated zone that are available to the public. These programs were funded by the Toxics Substances Hydrology Program. The computer codes are written in Fortran F77 and run on a variety of computer systems, including mainframe and personal computers, with only minor...Galloway Site Location and History
The research site is located approximately 15 miles northwest of Atlantic City, New Jersey. - Multimedia
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
- Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Estimation of hydrocarbon biodegradation rates in gasoline-contaminated sediment from measured respiration rates
An open microcosm method for quantifying microbial respiration and estimating biodegradation rates of hydrocarbons in gasoline-contaminated sediment samples has been developed and validated. Stainless-steel bioreactors are filled with soil or sediment samples, and the vapor-phase composition (concentrations of oxygen (O2), nitrogen (N2), carbon dioxide (CO2), and selected hydrocarbons) is monitoreAuthorsR.J. Baker, A. L. Baehr, M.A. LahvisSimulating transport of volatile organic compounds in the unsaturated zone using the computer model R-UNSAT
No abstract available.AuthorsMatthew A. Lahvis, Arthur L. BaehrDocumentation of AIR2D, a computer program to simulate two-dimensional axisymmetric air flow in the unsaturated zone
No abstract available.AuthorsC.J. Joss, A. L. BaehrDocumentation of R-UNSAT, a computer model for the simulation of reactive, multispecies transport in the unsaturated zone
No abstract available.AuthorsMatthew A. Lahvis, Arthur L. BaehrUS Geological Survey Toxic Substances Hydrology Program: Proceedings of the technical meeting, Colorado Springs, Colorado, September 20-24, 1993
No abstract available.AuthorsD.W. Morganwalp, D. A. AronsonEstimation of rates of aerobic hydrocarbon biodegradation by simulation of gas transport in the unsaturated zone
The distribution of oxygen and carbon dioxide gases in the unsaturated zone provides a geochemical signature of aerobic hydrocarbon degradation at petroleum product spill sites. The fluxes of these gases are proportional to the rate of aerobic biodegradation and are quantified by calibrating a mathematical transport model to the oxygen and carbon dioxide gas concentration data. Reaction stoichiomeAuthorsMatthew A. Lahvis, Arthur L. BaehrUse of a reactive gas transport model to determine rates of hydrocarbon biodegradation in unsaturated porous media
A mathematical model is presented that simulates the transport and reaction of any number of gaseous phase constituents (e.g. CO2, O2, N2, and hydrocarbons) in unsaturated porous media. The model was developed as part of a method to determine rates of hydrocarbon biodegradation associated with natural cleansing at petroleum product spill sites. The one-dimensional model can be applied to analyze dAuthorsArthur L. Baehr, Ronald J. BakerDocumentation of AIR3D, an adaptation of the ground-water-flow code MODFLOW to simulate three-dimensional air flow in the unsaturated zone
No abstract available.AuthorsC.J. Joss, A. L. BaehrFate of microbial metabolites of hydrocarbons in a coastal plain aquifer: The role of electron acceptors
A combined field and laboratory study was undertaken to understand the distribution and geochemical conditions that influence the prevalence of low molecular weight organic acids in groundwater of a shallow aquifer contaminated with gasoline. Aromatic hydrocarbons from gasoline were degraded by microbially mediated oxidation-reduction reactions, including reduction of nitrate, sulfate, and Fe(III)AuthorsI.M. Cozzarelli, J.S. Herman, M. Jo BaedeckerU.S .Geological Survey toxic substance hydrology program: Proceedings of the technical meeting, Monterey, California, March 11-15, 1991
No abstract available.AuthorsD. A. AronsonByWater Resources Mission Area, Ecosystems Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program, Central Midwest Water Science Center, Kansas Water Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Reston Biogeochemical Processes in Groundwater Laboratory