Natural gradient experiment on transport of jet fuel derived hydrocarbons in an unconfined sandy aquifer

• Published in: Environmental earth sciences 2005-10, Vol.48 (8), p.1040-1057
• Main Authors: Kłonowski, Maciej R, Breedveld, Gijs D, Aagaard, Per
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aquifers; Biodegradation; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Exact sciences and technology; Fuels; Geochemistry; Geology; groundwater contamination; Groundwater pollution; Hydrocarbons; Hydrogeology; Hydrology. Hydrogeology; Iron; Jet fuel biodegradation; Mineralogy; Naphthalene; Pollution, environment geology; SE Norway > Gardermoen airport; Silicates; Solutes; Toluene; Tracer and push-pull tests; Water geochemistry; Xylene
• ISSN: 0943-0105; 1866-6280; 1432-0495; 1866-6299
• DOI: 10.1007/s00254-005-0042-y

This paper deals with a field experiment, combining the push-pull and tracer tests, conducted under natural gradient conditions at the international Oslo airport. The studied aquifer, showing very complex hydrogeological settings, has been contaminated by a jet fuel spill. The tracer solutes--bromide, toluene, o-xylene, 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene and naphthalene, have been injected into the plume. Their migration and changes in concentration of the electron acceptors and metabolic by-products have been monitored. Fast removal of both the non-reactive tracer as well as the aromatic organics has been observed. The tracer pulse could only be detected 2 m downgradient from the injection points. At this point, toluene and o-xylene have been completely removed, however, trimethylbenzenes and naphthalene have been detected. Their depletion, based on calculations of available electron acceptors, can, to a large extent, be accounted for intrinsic biodegradation, with Fe(III) and sulphate reductions as the major controlling processes.