Assessing Various Technologies to Remediate a Hydrocarbon Contaminated Aquifer

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dc.contributor.authorParcher, Mary Annen
dc.contributor.committeechairGallagher, Daniel L.en
dc.contributor.committeememberWiddowson, Mark A.en
dc.contributor.committeememberJohnson, Jeffrey A.en
dc.contributor.departmentEnvironmental Sciences and Engineeringen
dc.date.accessioned2011-08-06T14:50:19Zen
dc.date.adate1999-08-14en
dc.date.available2011-08-06T14:50:19Zen
dc.date.issued1999-01-13en
dc.date.rdate2000-08-14en
dc.date.sdate1999-08-03en
dc.description.abstractReleases of nonaqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) to groundwater systems are a serious and widespread problem throughout the United States. Research was conducted to determine if numerical groundwater flow and transport models could evaluate the effectiveness of alternative remedial strategies to reduce dissolved hydrocarbon contamination in aquifers, and therefore serve as tools to aid environmental managers in the remedial decision making process. A fuel distribution terminal in the Eastern United States was selected as the test site. A release of diesel and jet fuels from the terminal loading rack area contaminated the unconfined aquifer beneath the terminal and migrated off-site, impacting commercial and residential areas. In the analyses, groundwater flow and transport models were calibrated to site data. The calibrated models were applied to simulate four remedial options: (1) natural attenuation, (2) groundwater extraction, (3) groundwater flushing, and (4) microbial fences. Results of the predictive simulations indicated that the groundwater flushing remedial option provided the greatest reduction of benzene and TEX mass from the NAPL source as well as the lowest concentrations of benzene and TEX in the aquifer. The calibrated numerical models were able to predict the effectiveness of various remedial options and provide a basis for comparison. The modeling in conjunction with other factors, such as cost, were utilized to facilitate the decision making process.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.otheretd-080399-124254en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-080399-124254en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/9794en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartTOPETD.PDFen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectModelingen
dc.subjectremedial technologiesen
dc.subjecthydrocarbonen
dc.subjectGroundwateren
dc.titleAssessing Various Technologies to Remediate a Hydrocarbon Contaminated Aquiferen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineEnvironmental Sciences and Engineeringen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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