ORBi: Batlle-Aguilar Jordi - Benzene dispersion and natural attenuation in an alluvial aquifer with strong interactions with surface water

Reference : Benzene dispersion and natural attenuation in an alluvial aquifer with strong interactio...


	Document type :	Scientific journals : Article
	Discipline(s) :	Physical, chemical, mathematical & earth Sciences : Earth sciences & physical geography Engineering, computing & technology : Geological, petroleum & mining engineering
	To cite this reference:	http://hdl.handle.net/2268/9140

Title :	Benzene dispersion and natural attenuation in an alluvial aquifer with strong interactions with surface water
Language :	English
Author, co-author :	Batlle-Aguilar, Jordi [Université de Liège - ULG > Département ArGEnCo: Secteur GEO3 > Hydrogéologie et Géologie de l'Environnement > >]
	Brouyère, Serge [Université de Liège - ULg > Département Argenco : Secteur GEO3 > Hydrogéologie & Géologie de l'environnement >]
	Dassargues, Alain [Université de Liège - ULg > Département Argenco : Secteur GEO3 > Hydrogéologie & Géologie de l'environnement >]
	Morasch, Barbara [Université de Neuchâtel > Centre d'Hydrogéologie > > >]
	Hunkeler, Daniel [Université de Neuchätel > Centre d'Hydrogéologie > > >]
	Höhener, Patrick [Université de Neuchätel > Centre d'Hydrogéologie > > >]
	Diels, Ludo [Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek - VITO > > > >]
	Vanbroekhoven, Karolien [Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek - VITO > > > >]
	Seuntjens, Piet [Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek - VITO > > > >]
	Halen, Henri [Société Publique d'Aide à la Qualité de l'Environnement > > > >]
Publication date :	2009
Journal title :	Journal of Hydrology
Publisher :	Elsevier Science
Audience :	International
ISSN :	0022-1694
Keywords :	[en] groundwater ; brownfield ; benzene
	[fr] stable isotope fractionation ; natural attenuation ; groundwater - surface water interaction
Abstract :	[en] Field and laboratory investigations have been conducted at a former coke plant, in order to assess pollutant attenuation in a contaminated alluvial aquifer, discharging to an adjacent river. Various organic (BTEX, PAHs, mineral oils) and inorganic (As, Zn, Cd) compounds were found in the aquifer in concentrations exceeding regulatory values. Due to redox conditions of the aquifer, heavy metals were almost immobile, thus not posing a major risk of dispersion off-site the brownfield. Field and laboratory investigations demonstrated that benzene, among organic pollutants, presented the major worry for off-site dispersion, mainly due to its mobility and high concentration, i.e. up to 750 mg L 1 in the source zone. However, benzene could never be detected near the river which is about 160 m downgradient the main source. Redox conditions together with benzene concentrations determined in the aquifer have suggested that degradation mainly occurred within 100 m distance from the contaminant source under anoxic conditions, and most probably with sulphate as main oxidant. A numerical groundwater flow and transport model, calibrated under transient conditions, was used to simulate benzene attenuation in the alluvial aquifer towards the Meuse River. The mean benzene degradation rate used in the model was quantified in situ along the groundwater flow path using compound-specific carbon isotope analysis (CSIA). The results of the solute transport simulations confirmed that benzene concentrations decreased almost five orders of magnitude 70 m downgradient the source. Simulated concentrations have been found to be below the detection limit in the zone adjacent to the river and consistent with the absence of benzene in downgradient piezometers located close to the river reported in groundwater sampling campaigns. In a transient model scenario including groundwater–surface water dynamics, benzene concentrations were observed to be inversely correlated to the river water levels, leading to the hypothesis that benzene dispersion is mainly controlled by natural attenuation.
Research units :	Aquapôle - AQUAPOLE
Funders :	EU FP6 IP AquaTerra (Project nb 505428) ; SSD FRAC-WECO Project nb SD/TE/02A
Target :	Researchers ; Professionals ; Students
Permalink :	http://hdl.handle.net/2268/9140
DOI :	10.1016/j.jhydrol.2009.02.014
Other URL :	http://www.sciencedirect.com
Commentary :	L'original de cet article est disponible sur sciencedirect.com

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