Isabelle M. Cozzarelli, Ph.D.
Isabelle Cozzarelli is a Research Hydrologist (Scientist Emerita) with the USGS Geology, Energy & Minerals (GEM) Science Center in Reston, VA.
Dr. Isabelle Cozzarelli retired as a Senior Research Scientist and currently serves as a Scientist Emerita affiliated with the Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center and the Reston Biogeochemical Processes in Groundwater Laboratory. Isabelle uses a combined field and laboratory experimental approach to investigate biogeochemical processes in shallow groundwater and surface water environments that affect water availability. She uses a multi-disciplinary and multi-scale approach to study processes in environments stressed by anthropogenic inputs of biodegradable carbon, such as crude oil, landfill leachate, and oil and gas wastes.
Professional Experience
2020-present: Research Hydrologist, USGS, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston, VA, USA
2017-2020: Research Hydrologist, USGS Water Mission Area Headquarters, Reston, VA, USA
1985-2017: Research Hydrologist, USGS National Research Program, USGS, Reston, Virginia, USA
1983-1985: Research Assistant, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. University of Virginia, Environmental Sciences-Geochemistry, 1993
M.S. University of Virginia, Environmental Sciences-Geochemistry, 1986
B.S. University of Rochester, Geomechanics, 1983
Affiliations and Memberships*
2016-present: Adjunct Faculty, Department of Geosciences, Virginia Tech
Honors and Awards
2024: Senior Scientist (ST), Federal Government
2023: Friend of Water-Rock Interaction & Applied Isotope Geochemistry Award, International Association of Geochemistry
2017: USGS Meritorious Service Award
2005: Elected GSA Fellow
2005: USGS Superior Service Award
Science and Products
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Natural attenuation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the leachate plume of a municipal landfill: Using alkylbenzenes as process probes Natural attenuation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the leachate plume of a municipal landfill: Using alkylbenzenes as process probes
More than 70 individual VOCs were identified in the leachate plume of a closed municipal landfill. Concentrations were low when compared with data published for other landfills, and total VOCs accounted for less than 0.1% of the total dissolved organic carbon. The VOC concentrations in the core of the anoxic leachate plume are variable, but in all cases they were found to be near or...
Authors
Robert P. Eganhouse, Isabelle Cozzarelli, Martha Scholl, L.L. Matthews
Alteration of reactive mineral surfaces by ground water Alteration of reactive mineral surfaces by ground water
Two different investigations of shallow sandy aquifers inform our thinking about the role of reactive iron minerals in hydrogeological systems. Ground water in a number of settings has been described as having elevated concentrations of dissolved iron in anoxic portions of contaminant plumes (e.g. Baedecker et al., 1993; Lyngkilde and Christensen, 1992), and the coupling of microbial...
Authors
Janet Herman, Aaron L. Mills, Isabelle Cozzarelli
Geochemical and microbiological methods for evaluating anaerobic processes in an aquifer contaminated by landfill leachate Geochemical and microbiological methods for evaluating anaerobic processes in an aquifer contaminated by landfill leachate
No abstract available.
Authors
I.M. Cozzarelli, J.M. Suflita, G.A. Ulrich, S.H. Harris, M. Scholl, J.L. Schlottmann, S. Christenson
Geochemical heterogeneity of a gasoline-contaminated aquifer Geochemical heterogeneity of a gasoline-contaminated aquifer
The scale of biogeochemical reactions was studied in a physically and chemically heterogeneous surficial Coastal Plain aquifer contaminated by a gasoline spill. The physical heterogeneity of the aquifer is manifested in two hydrologic units, a shallow local aquifer of perched water and a regional sandy aquifer. Over the studied vertical interval of 21.3 ft (6.5 m), concentrations of...
Authors
Isabelle Cozzarelli, Janet Herman, Mary Baedecker, Jeffrey M. Fischer
Iron reduction in the sediments of a hydrocarbon-contaminated aquifer Iron reduction in the sediments of a hydrocarbon-contaminated aquifer
Sediments sampled at a hydrocarbon-contaminated, glacial-outwash, sandy aquifer near Bemidji, Minnesota, were analyzed for sediment-associated Fe with several techniques. Extraction with 0.5 M HCl dissolved poorly crystalline Fe oxides and small amounts of Fe in crystalline Fe oxides, and extracted Fe from phyllosilicates. Use of Ti-citrate-EDTA-bicarbonate results in more complete...
Authors
M.E. Tuccillo, I.M. Cozzarelli, J.S. Herman
Ground water contamination by crude oil near Bemidji, Minnesota Ground water contamination by crude oil near Bemidji, Minnesota
Ground-water contamination by crude oil, and other petroleum-based liquids, is a widespread problem. An average of 83 crude-oil spills occurred per year during 1994-96 in the United States, each spilling about 50,000 barrels of crude oil (U.S. Office of Pipeline Safety, electronic commun., 1997). An understanding of the fate of organic contaminants (such as oil and gasoline) in the...
Authors
G. N. Delin, H.I. Essaid, I.M. Cozzarelli, M.H. Lahvis, B.A. Bekins
Simulation of aerobic and anaerobic biodegradation processes at a crude oil spill site Simulation of aerobic and anaerobic biodegradation processes at a crude oil spill site
A two-dimensional, multispecies reactive solute transport model with sequential aerobic and anaerobic degradation processes was developed and tested. The model was used to study the field-scale solute transport and degradation processes at the Bemidji, Minnesota, crude oil spill site. The simulations included the biodegradation of volatile and nonvolatile fractions of dissolved organic...
Authors
Hedeff Essaid, Barbara Bekins, E. Godsy, Ean Warren, Mary Baedecker, Isabelle Cozzarelli
Fate of microbial metabolites of hydrocarbons in a coastal plain aquifer: The role of electron acceptors Fate 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...
Authors
I.M. Cozzarelli, J.S. Herman, M. Baedecker
Ground-water contamination by petroleum hydrocarbons: Natural biodegradation in a dynamic hydrologic and geochemical system Ground-water contamination by petroleum hydrocarbons: Natural biodegradation in a dynamic hydrologic and geochemical system
No abstract available.
Authors
Isabelle Cozzarelli, Mary Baedecker, Jeffrey Fischer, C.S. Phinney
Biogeochemical processes and migration of aqueous constituents in ground water contaminated with crude oil Biogeochemical processes and migration of aqueous constituents in ground water contaminated with crude oil
No abstract available.
Authors
Mary Baedecker, Isabelle Cozzarelli
The geochemical evolution of low-molecular-weight organic acids derived from the degradation of petroleum contaminants in groundwater The geochemical evolution of low-molecular-weight organic acids derived from the degradation of petroleum contaminants in groundwater
The geochemical evolution of low-molecular-weight organic acids in groundwater downgradient from a crude-oil spill near Bemidji, Minnesota, was studied over a five year period (1986–1990). The organic acids are metabolic intermediates of the degradation of components of the crude oil and are structurally related to hydrocarbon precursors. The concentrations of organic acids, particularly...
Authors
I.M. Cozzarelli, M.J. Baedecker, R.P. Eganhouse, D.F. Goerlitz
Filter Total Items: 13
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 21
Filter Total Items: 34
No Result Found
Filter Total Items: 117
Natural attenuation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the leachate plume of a municipal landfill: Using alkylbenzenes as process probes Natural attenuation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the leachate plume of a municipal landfill: Using alkylbenzenes as process probes
More than 70 individual VOCs were identified in the leachate plume of a closed municipal landfill. Concentrations were low when compared with data published for other landfills, and total VOCs accounted for less than 0.1% of the total dissolved organic carbon. The VOC concentrations in the core of the anoxic leachate plume are variable, but in all cases they were found to be near or...
Authors
Robert P. Eganhouse, Isabelle Cozzarelli, Martha Scholl, L.L. Matthews
Alteration of reactive mineral surfaces by ground water Alteration of reactive mineral surfaces by ground water
Two different investigations of shallow sandy aquifers inform our thinking about the role of reactive iron minerals in hydrogeological systems. Ground water in a number of settings has been described as having elevated concentrations of dissolved iron in anoxic portions of contaminant plumes (e.g. Baedecker et al., 1993; Lyngkilde and Christensen, 1992), and the coupling of microbial...
Authors
Janet Herman, Aaron L. Mills, Isabelle Cozzarelli
Geochemical and microbiological methods for evaluating anaerobic processes in an aquifer contaminated by landfill leachate Geochemical and microbiological methods for evaluating anaerobic processes in an aquifer contaminated by landfill leachate
No abstract available.
Authors
I.M. Cozzarelli, J.M. Suflita, G.A. Ulrich, S.H. Harris, M. Scholl, J.L. Schlottmann, S. Christenson
Geochemical heterogeneity of a gasoline-contaminated aquifer Geochemical heterogeneity of a gasoline-contaminated aquifer
The scale of biogeochemical reactions was studied in a physically and chemically heterogeneous surficial Coastal Plain aquifer contaminated by a gasoline spill. The physical heterogeneity of the aquifer is manifested in two hydrologic units, a shallow local aquifer of perched water and a regional sandy aquifer. Over the studied vertical interval of 21.3 ft (6.5 m), concentrations of...
Authors
Isabelle Cozzarelli, Janet Herman, Mary Baedecker, Jeffrey M. Fischer
Iron reduction in the sediments of a hydrocarbon-contaminated aquifer Iron reduction in the sediments of a hydrocarbon-contaminated aquifer
Sediments sampled at a hydrocarbon-contaminated, glacial-outwash, sandy aquifer near Bemidji, Minnesota, were analyzed for sediment-associated Fe with several techniques. Extraction with 0.5 M HCl dissolved poorly crystalline Fe oxides and small amounts of Fe in crystalline Fe oxides, and extracted Fe from phyllosilicates. Use of Ti-citrate-EDTA-bicarbonate results in more complete...
Authors
M.E. Tuccillo, I.M. Cozzarelli, J.S. Herman
Ground water contamination by crude oil near Bemidji, Minnesota Ground water contamination by crude oil near Bemidji, Minnesota
Ground-water contamination by crude oil, and other petroleum-based liquids, is a widespread problem. An average of 83 crude-oil spills occurred per year during 1994-96 in the United States, each spilling about 50,000 barrels of crude oil (U.S. Office of Pipeline Safety, electronic commun., 1997). An understanding of the fate of organic contaminants (such as oil and gasoline) in the...
Authors
G. N. Delin, H.I. Essaid, I.M. Cozzarelli, M.H. Lahvis, B.A. Bekins
Simulation of aerobic and anaerobic biodegradation processes at a crude oil spill site Simulation of aerobic and anaerobic biodegradation processes at a crude oil spill site
A two-dimensional, multispecies reactive solute transport model with sequential aerobic and anaerobic degradation processes was developed and tested. The model was used to study the field-scale solute transport and degradation processes at the Bemidji, Minnesota, crude oil spill site. The simulations included the biodegradation of volatile and nonvolatile fractions of dissolved organic...
Authors
Hedeff Essaid, Barbara Bekins, E. Godsy, Ean Warren, Mary Baedecker, Isabelle Cozzarelli
Fate of microbial metabolites of hydrocarbons in a coastal plain aquifer: The role of electron acceptors Fate 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...
Authors
I.M. Cozzarelli, J.S. Herman, M. Baedecker
Ground-water contamination by petroleum hydrocarbons: Natural biodegradation in a dynamic hydrologic and geochemical system Ground-water contamination by petroleum hydrocarbons: Natural biodegradation in a dynamic hydrologic and geochemical system
No abstract available.
Authors
Isabelle Cozzarelli, Mary Baedecker, Jeffrey Fischer, C.S. Phinney
Biogeochemical processes and migration of aqueous constituents in ground water contaminated with crude oil Biogeochemical processes and migration of aqueous constituents in ground water contaminated with crude oil
No abstract available.
Authors
Mary Baedecker, Isabelle Cozzarelli
The geochemical evolution of low-molecular-weight organic acids derived from the degradation of petroleum contaminants in groundwater The geochemical evolution of low-molecular-weight organic acids derived from the degradation of petroleum contaminants in groundwater
The geochemical evolution of low-molecular-weight organic acids in groundwater downgradient from a crude-oil spill near Bemidji, Minnesota, was studied over a five year period (1986–1990). The organic acids are metabolic intermediates of the degradation of components of the crude oil and are structurally related to hydrocarbon precursors. The concentrations of organic acids, particularly...
Authors
I.M. Cozzarelli, M.J. Baedecker, R.P. Eganhouse, D.F. Goerlitz
Filter Total Items: 13
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