A mass balance approach to investigate arsenic cycling in a petroleum plume

Ziegler, Brady A.; Schreiber, Madeline E.; Cozzarelli, Isabelle M.; Ng, G. H. C.

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2017.08.110

Cited by 18 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 58 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…These elevations approximate the vertical center and the bottom of the plume, respectively. The modeled concentration profiles show a reasonably close fit to measured concentrations (Figure 3B) [29,31], with the exception of the simulated As maximum at 422 m elevation, which was not observed during field sampling. Concentrations from other field samples were within ~5 µg/L of the simulated concentration.…”

Section: Aqueous Speciessupporting

confidence: 52%

“…Sediment and groundwater surveys showed Fe and As depletion in sediment near the oil, corresponding to elevated dissolved Fe 2+ and As in groundwater. Dissolved Fe 2+ and As decreased along the groundwater flowpath to the leading edge of the petroleum hydrocarbon plume (i.e., transition zone), where As accumulated in sediment by association with Fe(III) in a Fe-rich "curtain" [30,31]. Comparisons of data from 1993 [38], 2008 [49], and 2013-2015 [30] have suggested that Fe(III) in the curtain is reduced as the plume expands, releasing Fe 2+ and As from the curtain into groundwater [30].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Arsenic in Petroleum-Contaminated Groundwater near Bemidji, Minnesota Is Predicted to Persist for Centuries

Ziegler

Cozzarelli

et al. 2021

Water

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We used a reactive transport model to investigate the cycling of geogenic arsenic (As) in a petroleum-contaminated aquifer. We simulated As mobilization and sequestration using surface complexation reactions with Fe(OH)3 during petroleum biodegradation coupled with Fe-reduction. Model results predict that dissolved As in the plume will exceed the U.S. and EU 10 µg/L drinking water standard for ~400 years. Non-volatile dissolved organic carbon (NVDOC) in the model promotes As mobilization by exerting oxygen demand, which maintains anoxic conditions in the aquifer. After NVDOC degrades, As re-associates with Fe(OH)3 as oxygenated conditions are re-established. Over the 400-year simulation, As transport resembles a “roll front” in which: (1) arsenic sorbed to Fe(OH)3 is released during Fe-reduction coupled to petroleum biodegradation; (2) dissolved As resorbs to Fe(OH)3 at the plume’s leading edge; and (3) over time, the plume expands, and resorbed As is re-released into groundwater. This “roll front” behavior underscores the transience of sorption as an As attenuation mechanism. Over the plume’s lifespan, simulations suggest that As will contaminate more groundwater than benzene from the oil spill. At its maximum, the model simulates that ~5.7× more groundwater will be contaminated by As than benzene, suggesting that As could pose a greater long-term water quality threat than benzene in this petroleum-contaminated aquifer.

show abstract

Section: Aqueous Speciessupporting

confidence: 52%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Arsenic in Petroleum-Contaminated Groundwater near Bemidji, Minnesota Is Predicted to Persist for Centuries

Ziegler

Cozzarelli

et al. 2021

Water

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Others (Amirbahman et al ; He et al ; Hering et al ) have observed natural attenuation of As with the formation of Fe and Mn oxides as the groundwater moves into oxic sediments away from the biostimulated treatment zone. Likewise, Ziegler et al () and Ziegler et al () noted redistribution of As along the flow path in a crude‐oil contaminated sandy aquifer in Bemidji, Minnesota, with As being retained with distance from the plume by sorption of Fe oxides (Cozzarelli et al ). Amirbahman et al () described the role of Mn oxides in the oxidation of As(III) and natural attenuation of the produced As(V) through sorption.…”

Section: What Happened To the As Within The Columns?mentioning

confidence: 98%

Arsenic Release and Attenuation Processes in a Groundwater Aquifer During Anaerobic Remediation of TCE with Biostimulation

Smith¹,

Dupont²,

McLean³

2019

Groundwater Monitoring Rem

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Arsenic in groundwater in excess of the drinking water limit is usually from natural sources. The release of As, however, can be amplified by anthropogenic inputs of carbon, including those associated with the remediation of chlorinated solvents such as trichloroethylene (TCE). Large laboratory columns (15.2 cm diameter, 183 cm long) packed with aquifer solids from a TCE contaminated site near Hill Air Force Base (Utah) were fed with groundwater containing TCE and were biostimulated, bioaugmented, and monitored for TCE dechlorination over 7.5 years. This is a basin‐fill aquifer with As bearing geologic features. The objective of this study was to evaluate the biogeochemical changes that affect As solubilization that occurred after 7.5 years of feeding the columns with either whey or two formulations of Newman Zone® emulsified oil, and a no carbon addition control. The columns were analyzed in 10.16 cm sections for pore water and sediment quality parameters, parameters descriptive of redox conditions, and As geochemistry. The whey treatment resulted in 52.9% (±1.36%) (average ± standard deviation) of the total As in the solids leaching from the columns. The oil treatments promoted loss of 20.9% (±6.40%) of the total As. Arsenic solubility was associated with strongly reducing conditions developed with whey addition, leading to dissolution of crystalline Fe oxides and release of As. Arsenic was attenuated within the oil treated columns with As associated with carbonates in the lower layers. A consequence of adding whey, resulting in the desired full dechlorination of TCE in this aquifer, is the mobilization of As in groundwater.

show abstract

“…This is demonstrated by little accumulation of arsenic in the more‐acidic Terrace Sands (1.5–6.5 m‐depth) relative to underlying formations (4.5–9.5 m‐depth), despite the same initial quantity of iron oxyhydroxides present in these two aquifer intervals (Figure A). Resorption was predicted to result in solid‐phase arsenic concentrations exceeding background levels, which is also reported to occur in redox‐controlled groundwater plumes (Ziegler et al ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…An implicit assumption of MNA is that historical source loading has ceased and is no longer significantly contributing dissolved arsenic to the groundwater plume; however, arsenic releases can continue to occur via the leaching and release of arsenic that has been sequestered by the soil and aquifer matrix during the period of site operations (Ziegler et al ). Consequently, it is important that MNA evaluations also address the long‐term release from these potential secondary sources, and whether such releases pose a future risk to a groundwater resource or receptor.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effectiveness of Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA) as a Groundwater Remedy for Arsenic in Phosphatic Wastes

Bessinger¹,

Hennet²

2019

Groundwater Monitoring Rem

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A study was conducted to evaluate monitored natural attenuation (MNA) as a remedy for arsenic in groundwater at a former phosphate mining and manufacturing facility. The mineralogy, speciation, and lability of arsenic in phosphatic wastes present in soils were characterized using sequential extraction procedures, leaching experiments, batch adsorption tests, and microchemical speciation analysis. A PHREEQC‐based reactive transport model was also parameterized using these laboratory results, and it was used to evaluate the importance of identified attenuation mechanisms on arsenic concentrations along a vertical flow path from a shallow, alluvial aquifer to the underlying Floridan aquifer. Arsenic was found to occur in several chemical forms in phosphatic wastes, including unstable sulfide minerals, adsorbed surface complexes, and relatively insoluble phosphate and oxide minerals. Most arsenic was associated with stable minerals. The reactive transport model predicted that historical leaching of solid‐phase waste materials in soils would not have generated enough arsenic to explain the concentrations observed in downgradient groundwater; instead, the source of arsenic to groundwater was likely acidic and saline process water that infiltrated though unlined ponds and ditches during historical manufacturing operations. A key factor affecting the long‐term effectiveness of natural attenuation of arsenic in groundwater is the occurrence and stability of iron oxyhydroxides in aquifer sediments. According to laboratory and reactive transport model results, sufficient levels were found to be present at the site to effectively limit arsenic migration at concentrations exceeding drinking water standards in the future in the Floridan aquifer. This study presents the geochemical evaluations that are needed to satisfy EPA guidelines on determining whether or not MNA is an acceptable remedy for a site. It specifically details the characterization and modeling that were used to demonstrate effectiveness at a site where MNA was ultimately selected as the remedy for arsenic in groundwater.

show abstract

A mass balance approach to investigate arsenic cycling in a petroleum plume

Cited by 18 publications

References 58 publications

Arsenic in Petroleum-Contaminated Groundwater near Bemidji, Minnesota Is Predicted to Persist for Centuries

Arsenic in Petroleum-Contaminated Groundwater near Bemidji, Minnesota Is Predicted to Persist for Centuries

Arsenic Release and Attenuation Processes in a Groundwater Aquifer During Anaerobic Remediation of TCE with Biostimulation

Effectiveness of Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA) as a Groundwater Remedy for Arsenic in Phosphatic Wastes

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About