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RESEARCH
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Environmental Biogeochemistry: In-situ
reaction rate studies |
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Background:
The
role of biogeochemical cycling in contaminated
groundwater systems has long been established as
an important process in natural attenuation and
maintaining aquifer health and sustainability,
however, the rate at which this cycling occurs has
not been well established. Previous studies
have shown that the role of recharge events and/or
the addition of alternate electron acceptors have
a significant control on the redox dynamics of
systems (Vroblesky and Chapelle 1994; Mcguire et
al., 2002). However, few studies have
concentrated on quantifying shifts in redox zones
at small-scale mixing interfaces in reduced
systems and understanding how these zones respond
to recharge events and the addition of more
microbially efficient alternate electron
acceptors. It
is generally thought that there is increased
microbial activity at mixing interfaces though few
studies have tried to evaluate the kinetic
controls on terminal electron accepting processes
or quantify in-situ microbial reduction rates
occurring in these zones largely because of their
small, transient nature.
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Research
Goals: (1)
Design a way to more accurately interpret
microbial reduction rates in-situ at
experimentally induced mixing interfaces by
modifying existing techniques, (2) evaluate the
role of SO42- reduction at
an interface between wetland-sediment pore water
and aquifer water, and (3) determine the presence
and abundance of the existing microbial
population.
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STUDY SITE |
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Norman Landfill, Norman Oklahoma: The
Norman Landfill research site in
Norman
,
OK
is a closed municipal landfill located near the
Canadian
River
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The landfill was unlined and received unrestricted
waste from 1922 until 1985 when it was closed and
covered with an earthen cap (Adrian et al., 1990).
A leachate plume developed that extends
downgradient from the landfill (Christenson and
Cozzarelli, 1999). Overlying the leachate plume is
a wetland system and slough where many different
studies have been conducted.
For nearly 10 years the USGS and other
research groups have been investigating the
processes, both biogeochemical and hydrological,
that control contaminant transport and remediation
at the Norman Landfill research site.
CLICK
HERE FOR PICTURES OF STUDY SITE
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"MINI"
PUSH-PULL WELL DESIGN
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Goal: Simulate
the mixing interface between wetland-sediment
porewater and groundwater from the underlying
anaerobic aquifer |
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Push-
-Native
aquifer water from beneath the wetland sediments
(Well SI-102) was amended with a conservative
tracer (Br-), and in
some cases electron donor (acetate).
-Injected
into push-pull well (PP Well 102).
-Average
injection rate: 500 ml/min.
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Pull-
-Slow
extraction of "pushed" water from
push-pull well (PP Well 102).
-Water
sampled for geochemical analyses throughout
extraction.
-Average
extraction rate: 60 ml/min.
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CLICK
HERE FOR PICTURES OF PUSH-PULL TESTS
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2004 GSA
ABSTRACT
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Kinetic
Controls on Sulfate Reduction at an
Experimentally Induced Mixing Interface in a
Contaminated Wetland, Norman Landfill
Kneeshaw,
Tara A1 (tkneeshaw@geo.tamu.edu),
McGuire, Jennifer T1
(mcguire@geo.tamu.edu), Cazull, Susan
Baez1,
Smith, Erik W1,
and Cozzarelli, Isabelle M2
(1)
Geology & Geophysics Department, Texas
A&M Univ, 3115 TAMU, College Station, TX
77843-3115
(2)
U.S. Geol Survey, 431 National Ctr, Reston,
VA 20192-0001
In situ push-pull tests were used to
evaluate the rates of sulfate reduction at an
interface between wetland-sediment porewater and
groundwater from underlying anaerobic aquifer
sediments at the Norman Landfill research site,
Norman, OK. Recent studies have indicated that
small-scale mixing interfaces are zones of
increased microbial activity and geochemical
cycling. Unfortunately, the role of these
interfaces on the kinetics of biogeochemical
cycling including sulfate reduction are poorly
studied due to the small transient nature of
mixing interfaces. This study was designed to
evaluate kinetic controls on sulfate reduction
through experimentally inducing small-scale
mixing interfaces.
This was accomplished using “mini”
push-pull tests designed to simulate the
exposure of a reduced zone, limited with respect
to electron acceptor, to anaerobic groundwater
containing abundant sulfate (~100 mg/L), thus
simulating the aquifer-wetland interface.
A uniform, porous sand lens within the
wetland sediments was targeted using
small-diameter (2.54 cm, O.D.) “drive-point”
wells with a discrete, internally packed 4.5 cm
well screen.
Mini push-pull tests were then performed
by using the wells to inject 10L of aquifer
water into the targeted zone.
Sulfate-rich water used for the
“push” phase of the tests was pumped from
the anaerobic aquifer at the site and amended
with 100 mg/L bromide (as NaBr) which served as
a conservative tracer to track dilution from
mixing, advection, and dispersion.
The role of electron donor on sulfate
reduction rates was also evaluated using
push-pull tests by augmenting groundwater with
additional electron donor (e.g. acetate).
Mini push-pull tests appear to be an
effective tool to quantitatively examine
biogeochemical cycling in interface zones.
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REFERENCES
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1.
Adrian N., Mangoakar A., Phanapadipong
P., and Wainaina S. (1990) Design of a ground
water monitoring well system, Norman municipal
landfill. Unpublished
student report to Dr. Sabatini.
2.
Christenson S. and Cozzarelli I. M.
(1999) Geochemical and microbiological processes
in ground water and surface water affected by
municipal landfill leachate. U.S. Geological
Survey Toxic Substances Hydrology Program,
Proceedings of the Technical Meeting,
Charleston, SC March 8-12, 1999-Vol.3,
Subsurface Contamination, 499-500
3.
McGuire J. T., Long D. T., Klug M. J.,
Haack S. K., and Hyndman D. W. (2002) Evaluating
the behavior of oxygen, nitrate, and sulfate
during recharge and quantifying reduction rates
in a contaminated aquifer. Environmental
Science and Technology 36(12),
2693-2700.
4.
Vroblesky D. A. and Chappelle F. H. (1994)
Temporal and spatial changes of terminal
electron-accepting processes in a petroleum
hydrocarbon-contaminated aquifer and the
significance for contaminant biodegradation. Water Resources Research 30(No.
5), 1561-1570.
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February 03, 2005 01:14 PM
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