Biogeochemical and isotopic gradients in a BTEX/PAH contaminant plume: model-based interpretation of a high-resolution field data set

Environmental Science & Technology
H PrommerChristian Griebler

Abstract

A high spatial resolution data set documenting carbon and sulfur isotope fractionation at a tar oil-contaminated, sulfate-reducing field site was analyzed with a reactive transport model. Within a comprehensive numerical model, the study links the distinctive observed isotope depth profiles with the degradation of various monoaromatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds (BTEX/PAHs) under sulfate-reducing conditions. In the numerical model, microbial dynamics were simulated explicitly and isotope fractionation was directly linked to the differential microbial uptake of lighter and heavier carbon isotopes during microbial growth. Measured depth profiles from a multilevel sampling well with high spatial resolution served as key constraints for the parametrization of the model simulations. The results of the numerical simulations illustrate particularly well the evolution of the isotope signature of toluene, which is the most rapidly degrading compound and the most important reductant at the site. The resulting depth profiles at the observation well show distinct differences between the small isotopic enrichment in the contaminant plume core and the much stronger enrichment of up to 3.3 per thousand at the plume fringes.

References

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Citations

Jun 12, 2012·Environmental Science & Technology·Boris M Van Breukelen, Massimo Rolle
Aug 13, 2013·Environmental Science & Technology·Yan-Chun ZhangPhilippe Van Cappellen
Jul 17, 2012·Journal of Contaminant Hydrology·Olaf A CirpkaWolfgang Nowak
May 27, 2011·Journal of Contaminant Hydrology·Richard T AmosJulie D Kirshtein
Nov 10, 2009·Journal of Contaminant Hydrology·Massimo RollePeter Grathwohl
Feb 9, 2016·Environmental Science & Technology·Steffen KümmelCarsten Vogt
May 1, 2012·Ground Water·Randall J Hunt, Chunmiao Zheng
Jul 29, 2010·Ground Water·C A J Appelo, Massimo Rolle
Sep 25, 2012·Current Opinion in Biotechnology·Amy V Callaghan
Feb 2, 2015·Journal of Contaminant Hydrology·Dominik HöyngFernando Mazo D'Affonseca
Dec 22, 2014·Journal of Contaminant Hydrology·Luca CarniatoHans Sapion
Jan 30, 2015·Ground Water·Ming Zhi WuHenning Prommer
Dec 22, 2009·Environmental Science & Technology·Gabriele ChiognaMassimo Rolle
Aug 14, 2010·Environmental Science & Technology·Massimo RollePeter Grathwohl
Dec 3, 2010·Environmental Science & Technology·Carsten JobeliusChristian Zwiener

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