Abstract

Scenario-specific numerical simulations were performed in order to assess the diffusive spreading of volatile fuel constituents and their biodegradation in the unsaturated soil zone. This is especially important in arid regions where the groundwater table is far below the surface and groundwater recharge is limited. The model results compare well with data from a controlled outdoor test with an emplaced source of kerosene. Modelling results illustrate that the overall biodegradation rates depend mainly on properties of the fuel constituents such as Henry’s Law constant, on the individual degradation rate constants, the soil water content and temperature. The contaminant transfer rates into groundwater can be determined provided the spreading processes in the unsaturated zone are understood.

Keywords

Publication details

DOI
10.24200/jams.vol7iss2pp9-15
Journal
Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, 7(2), 9
Publisher
Sultan Qaboos University
Open access
Gold open access
License
CC BY 4.0

Cite this article

APA 7

Grathwohl, P., & Maier, U. (2002). Natural Attenuation of Volatile Hydrocarbons in Unsaturated Soil Zone. Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, 7(2), 9. https://doi.org/10.24200/jams.vol7iss2pp9-15

MLA 9

Grathwohl, Peter, and Uli Maier. "Natural Attenuation of Volatile Hydrocarbons in Unsaturated Soil Zone." Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, vol. 7, no. 2, 2002, pp. 9. https://doi.org/10.24200/jams.vol7iss2pp9-15.

Chicago (author–date)

Grathwohl, Peter, and Uli Maier. 2002. "Natural Attenuation of Volatile Hydrocarbons in Unsaturated Soil Zone." Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences 7 (2): 9. https://doi.org/10.24200/jams.vol7iss2pp9-15.

Harvard

Grathwohl, P. and Maier, U. (2002) 'Natural Attenuation of Volatile Hydrocarbons in Unsaturated Soil Zone', Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, 7(2), pp. 9. doi:10.24200/jams.vol7iss2pp9-15.

Vancouver

Grathwohl P, Maier U. Natural Attenuation of Volatile Hydrocarbons in Unsaturated Soil Zone. Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences. 2002;7(2):9. doi:10.24200/jams.vol7iss2pp9-15

IEEE

P. Grathwohl, and U. Maier, "Natural Attenuation of Volatile Hydrocarbons in Unsaturated Soil Zone," Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 9, 2002, doi: 10.24200/jams.vol7iss2pp9-15.