New Evaluation Scheme for Two-Dimensional Isotope Analysis to Decipher Biodegradation Processes: Application to Groundwater Contamination by MTBE

摘要

isotope pattern of an extended MTBE plume in a contaminated aquifer. By applying a novel approach to evaluate two-dimensional compound-specific isotope data they succeeded in identifying the dominant reaction mechanism of MTBE biodegradation in this aquifer. From isotope profiles and further analytical data the authors came to the conclusion that besides an anaerobic biodegradation "additional removal process(es) such as evaporation contributed to the overall MTBE removal along the plume, a phenomenon that might be significant also for other field sites' with tropical or subtropical climates with elevated groundwater temperature (25℃)." We entertain some doubt regarding this conclusion and suggest an alternative explanation of the original field data, which might be generally valid for interpreting a number of similar data sets from contaminated aquifers.