A Pilot-Scale Investigation of Plume and Microbial Dynamics in Response to Continuous Injection of Ethanol-BTEX Mixtures

摘要

Large-scale experiments are being conducted to evaluate the effect of spills of ethanol blended fuels on groundwater plume dynamics and the corresponding microbial response. The purpose of these experiments is to address remaining questions regarding the extent of degradation of benzene and toluene in the presence of high concentrations of ethanol; the response of microorganisms that degrade ethanol, benzene and toluene; and the generation of methane as well as other products from ethanol degradation. These experiments are being conducted in an 8 m~3 pilot-scale tank (designed to simulate an aquifer) that has both an unsaturated zone and a saturated zone fed with a constant flow rate of water. In one experiment, a 10% ethanol solution containing benzene and toluene was injected continuously at a rate of 0.4 L/d below the water table into the tank with a total flow rate of 340 L/d.