Project 7 - Mass-Transfer Dynamics of Chlorinated-Solvent Immiscible Liquids in Porous Media

Background
Accurate risk assessment and effective remediation of chlorinated-solvent contaminated sites requires knowledge of source-zone architecture and dynamics. The factors influencing the distribution and mass-transfer dynamics of chlorinated solvents and other NAPLs in porous media have been examined in some detail at the laboratory-column scale. However, the current understanding of NAPL mass-transfer processes is far from complete. For example, the fundamental mechanisms controlling the behavior of NAPLs at the pore scale are not well understood. In addition, the impact of porous-medium heterogeneity and NAPL distributions on NAPL mass-transfer dynamics at larger scales has not been fully investigated.

Goal
To enhance the accuracy of risk assessments and improve the effectiveness of remediation strategies for sites contaminated by chlorinated solvents.

Objectives
1. Investigate the mass-transfer dynamics of chlorinated solvents at the pore scale.

2. Investigate the impact of porous-medium heterogeneity and non-uniform NAPL distribution on the mass-transfer dynamics of chlorinated solvents at the intermediate scale.

3. Investigate the influence of NAPL dissolution, sorption/desorption, and diffusive mass transfer on long-term source-zone mass flux.

4. Investigate the impact of porous-medium heterogeneity and non-uniform NAPL distribution on the efficacy of source-zone remediation technologies.

5. Develop and apply mathematical models to evaluate the impact of porous-medium heterogeneity, non-uniform NAPL distribution, and mass-transfer processes on source-zone dynamics at multiple scales.

A "Manager's Tool Kit": Site Chracterization and Evaluation of a Chlorinated-Solvent Contaminated Superfund Site in Tucson, Arizona

Assessing the Feasibility of Monitored Natural Attenuation for Remediation of Chlorinated-Solvent Contaminated Groundwater

Project 7 publications resulting from research conducted under the Superfund Research Program during the grant funding period of 2005 to present.