Methane bioattenuation and implications for explosion risk reduction along the groundwater to soil surface pathway above a plume of dissolved ethanol

Environmental Science & Technology
Jie MaP J Alvarez

Abstract

Fuel ethanol releases can stimulate methanogenesis in impacted aquifers, which could pose an explosion risk if methane migrates into enclosed spaces where ignitable conditions exist. To assess this potential risk, a flux chamber was emplaced on a pilot-scale aquifer exposed to continuous release (21 months) of an ethanol solution (10% v:v) that was introduced 22.5 cm below the water table. Despite methane concentrations within the ethanol plume reaching saturated levels (20-23 mg/L), the maximum methane concentration reaching the chamber (21 ppm(v)) was far below the lower explosion limit in air (50,000 ppm(v)). The low concentrations of methane observed in the chamber are attributed to methanotrophic activity, which was highest in the capillary fringe. This was indicated by methane degradation assays in microcosms prepared with soil samples from different depths, as well as by PCR measurements of pmoA, which is a widely used functional gene biomarker for methanotrophs. Simulations with the analytical vapor intrusion model "Biovapor" corroborated the low explosion risk associated with ethanol fuel releases under more generic conditions. Model simulations also indicated that depending on site-specific conditions, methane oxidati...Continue Reading

References

Jun 1, 1996·Microbiological Reviews·R S Hanson, T E Hanson
Jun 19, 2002·Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry·René W HunzikerRené P Schwarzenbach
May 7, 2003·Applied and Environmental Microbiology·Steffen KolbRalf Conrad
Dec 6, 2003·Environmental Science & Technology·Charlotte SchuetzPeter Kjeldsen
Feb 18, 2004·Journal of Environmental Quality·Charlotte ScheutzPeter Kjeldsen
Nov 1, 1990·Applied and Environmental Microbiology·S C WhalenK A Sandbeck
Jun 27, 2006·Journal of Contaminant Hydrology·Richard T Amos, K Ulrich Mayer
Sep 27, 2006·Environmental Science & Technology·Richard T Amos, K Ulrich Mayer
Nov 28, 2006·Water Research·Natalie L CápiroPedro J J Alvarez
Jun 2, 2007·Environmental Science & Technology·George E DeVaull
Aug 23, 2007·Environmental Science & Technology·William B MillsDavid Brenner
Aug 30, 2007·FEMS Microbiology Ecology·Santosh R MohantyRalf Conrad
Jan 1, 2008·Applied and Environmental Microbiology·Ian R McDonaldJ Colin Murrell
Feb 13, 2008·Journal of Environmental Quality·S MolinsP Kjeldsen
May 20, 2008·Environmental Microbiology·Natalie L CápiroPedro J J Alvarez
Feb 28, 2009·Environmental Science & Technology·Bradley M Patterson, Greg B Davis
May 8, 2009·Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association·Kelly G PennellEric M Suuberg
Jan 15, 2010·Ground Water·Juliana G FreitasJames F Barker
Apr 7, 2010·Journal of Hazardous Materials·Andreas H KristensenPer Moldrup
Jun 10, 2011·Journal of Contaminant Hydrology·Juliana G FreitasJames F Barker
Nov 26, 2011·Journal of Contaminant Hydrology·Juliana G Freitas, James F Barker

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Mar 12, 2013·Environmental Science & Technology·Zohre Kurt, Jim C Spain
Jan 24, 2013·Journal of Contaminant Hydrology·Marcio L B da SilvaPedro J J Alvarez
Dec 1, 2015·Journal of Hazardous Materials·Jie MaShaohui Guo
Jun 16, 2015·Journal of Hazardous Materials·Yao SuRuo He
Mar 27, 2016·Journal of Hazardous Materials·Iason VerginelliEric M Suuberg
Sep 27, 2015·Journal of Contaminant Hydrology·Ean Warren, Barbara A Bekins
Sep 29, 2012·Current Opinion in Biotechnology·Jie MaPedro J J Alvarez
Jan 24, 2017·Environmental Science & Technology·Nicole C Soucy, Kevin G Mumford
Oct 21, 2014·Environmental Science & Technology·Iason Verginelli, Renato Baciocchi
Mar 4, 2017·Water Resources Research·Yijun YaoEric M Suuberg
Nov 8, 2013·Environmental Science. Processes & Impacts·Yijun YaoEric M Suuberg
Apr 11, 2021·Journal of Contaminant Hydrology·Iason Verginelli, Renato Baciocchi
May 10, 2020·Environmental Science & Technology·Jie MaLin Jiang
Jan 12, 2020·The Science of the Total Environment·Yijun YaoEric Suuberg

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Bioremediation (ASM)

Bioremediation is the treatment and removal of harmful pollutants or contaminants through the use of microorganisms. Discover the latest research here.