Interaction of dissolution, sorption and biodegradation on transport of BTEX in a saturated groundwater system: Numerical modeling and spatial moment analysis

Valsala, Renu; Govindarajan, Suresh Kumar

doi:10.1007/s12040-018-0950-3

Cited by 14 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…The SA verified that biodegradation and sorption processes highly affect BTEX transport. Same results were exposed by Valsala and Govindarajan [41] for highly soluble BTEX constituents. Biodegradation generates the highest reduction of BTEX compounds.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 55%

“…This includes modeling vertical transport of contaminants in the UZ [33][34][35][36][37], assessment of migration risks to aquifers [38,39] and transport in aquifers [37,40]. Valsala and Govindarajan [41] carried out a numerical investigation into the interaction of various BTEX transport processes in groundwater. Farahani and Mahmoudi [42] used HYDRUS software to solve environmental problems associated with hydrocarbons contamination.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessment of groundwater contamination risk by BTEX from residual fuel soil phase

2021

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The aim of this work is to assess the risk of groundwater contamination associated with BTEX dissolution from fuels as a residual phase. Numerical simulations of sixty scenarios were carried out with the software HYDRUS 2D/3D. Groundwater contamination risk was analyzed given the combination of different porous media textures (silt loam, sandy loam and clay), water fluxes (0.5%, 1% or 3% Rainfall), water table depths (1.5, 2.5, 5 or 8 m below ground surface) and biodegradation rate (active or null). Risk was calculated comparing leachate concentrations to the aquifer and limits established by an international guideline for human drinking water. In all cases, benzene and toluene had the highest mobility in the dissolved phase. Contrary, xylene and ethylbenzene tended to concentrate close to the source zone. These two compounds predominantly concentrated in the solid phase. Calculated risk was proportional to the water flux rate and inversely proportional to the unsaturated thickness. Without biodegradation, in fine-grained sediments risk was very high for shallow aquifers (> 1.5 m depth) and moderate or low for deeper aquifers. However, in sandy loam sediments risk was classified as very high for aquifers up to 8 m deep. When biodegradation was considered, leached concentrations were greatly reduced in the three textures. BTEX concentration in Bahía Blanca City´s aquifer showed acceptable agreement with simulated scenarios. The most sensitive parameters to model results were biodegradation > foc > water table depth > Ks. This study is important for assessing the risks and developing management strategies for fuel contaminated sites.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 55%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of groundwater contamination risk by BTEX from residual fuel soil phase

2021

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“…Furthermore, BTEX have innate partitioning capabilities that allow its components reach various compartments in the subsoil. Consequently, investigating the fate and transport of BTEX is essential to reduce the adverse effects of oil leaks (Valsala and Govindarajan 2018). Selection of an appropriate mathematical model is essential to predict the behaviour and fate of hydrocarbon contaminants.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, simulation of water flow and hydraulic phenomena in soil is a complex problem due to the complex and heterogeneous nature of soils and participation numerous factors involved. There are several works carried out in the last 20 years investigating the migration of BTEX spilled into the underground environment (Park and Juan 2000;Thomas and Tellam 2004;Atteia and Guillot 2007;Valsala and Govindarajan 2018;Rodrigo-Illari et al 2018;Zanello et al 2021, among others). Park and Juan (2000) used a theory-based computer software (GW plot) to calculate soil cleanliness levels that protect groundwater at complex NAPL-contaminated sites.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thomas and Tellam (2004) assess groundwater contamination risk from gas stations in England from a mathematical model considering sorption, dissolution and biodegradation. Valsala and Govindarajan (2018) presented a mathematical model that contemplates that BTEX undergoes the same processes as considered by Tomas and Tellam (2004) but in the saturated zone. The spatial and temporal concentration of these compounds is calculated considering that they are dissolved in groundwater.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A theoretical model for predicting the behaviour of BTEX in the unsaturated zone and groundwater (Bahía Blanca, Argentina).

Zanello

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Gas stations are one of the most important sources of soil and groundwater contamination in urban areas around the world. In this work, a mathematical model was applied to assess the risk of the physical media contamination. The model is based on the chemical properties of fuels and site-specific hydrological properties. The group of hydrocarbons selected were the monoaromatic: benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX). The mathematical model was used to evaluate the behaviour of each compound in each partitioning phase (dissolved, volatile, solid and non-aqueous liquid phase). Furthermore, mass flux of BTEX reaching groundwater was calculated according to steady flow under two different conditions: (1) considering only sorption and volatilization, and (2) adding biodegradation. In all cases, the total mass of BTEX leachate was greater when biodegradation was not considered. In areas with unsaturated zone thickness greater than two meters, sorption is the main process affecting BTEX transport. Otherwise, when water table is placed at shallower depths, contaminants are predominately dissolved. In all cases, the lowest proportion of BTEX were in the volatile phase. The model presented in this work proved to be an interesting tool to evaluate the behaviour of BTEX in soil and groundwater and its applicability being directly related to environmental and urban management of pollution from gas stations. The methodology applied in this work could be extrapolated to any site of the world with the same problematic. Particularly, the theoretical model allowed to defined zones with high and low risk of contamination in Bahia Blanca, Argentina.

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Numerical modeling to assess the effect of soil texture on transport and attenuation of petroleum hydrocarbons in unsaturated zone

Srivastava

Valsala

2023

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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Interaction of dissolution, sorption and biodegradation on transport of BTEX in a saturated groundwater system: Numerical modeling and spatial moment analysis

Cited by 14 publications

References 33 publications

Assessment of groundwater contamination risk by BTEX from residual fuel soil phase

Assessment of groundwater contamination risk by BTEX from residual fuel soil phase

A theoretical model for predicting the behaviour of BTEX in the unsaturated zone and groundwater (Bahía Blanca, Argentina).

Numerical modeling to assess the effect of soil texture on transport and attenuation of petroleum hydrocarbons in unsaturated zone

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