Estimation of Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Transport through Subsoil to Groundwater Using VLEACH Model

Abstract

This paper presents the transport of volatile organic compounds (VOC) through contaminated subsoil to groundwater using one dimensional vadose zone transport model, VLEACH. The model is applied using field specific data for a typical Toluene at Fuel pumping station and Transformer dumping yard. Laboratory column leaching studies were conducted to assess the mass flow rate of Toluene flux through subsoil and compared with VLEACH model output. The research also focused on the sensitivity of the model output with the varying input parameters, one at a time, across its maximum range of values identified from the study area. The observed Toluene fluxes are not consistent with the experimentally input concentrations and may not be valid due to its lower density of 0.865 g/ml. Hence, liquid phase transport of Toluene for experimental column leaching studies is not suitable. The sensitivity analysis results reveals that, model output is a function of fractional organic carbon content as well as water content.