A numerical model for simulation of bioremediation of hydrocarbons in aquifers

• Published in: Ground water Vol. 36; no. 2; pp. 215 - 224
• Main Authors: Munoz, J.F. (Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.), Irarrazaval, M.J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-03-1998; National Ground Water Association; Ground Water Publishing Company
• Subjects: Aquifers; BACTERIA; BIODEGRADATION; BIOREMEDIATION; EQUATIONS; Groundwater; GROUNDWATER FLOW; GROUNDWATER POLLUTION; GROUNDWATER TABLE; Hydrocarbons; MATHEMATICAL MODELS; MATHEMATICS; MICROBIAL DEGRADATION; MICROORGANISMS; OXYGEN; PETROLEUM; Simulation; SIMULATION MODELS; TRANSPORT PROCESSES
• ISSN: 0017-467X; 1745-6584
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1745-6584.1998.tb01086.x

A numerical model was developed to describe the bioremediation of hydrocarbons in ground water aquifers considering aerobic degradation. The model solves the independent transport of three solutes (oxygen, hydrocarbons, and microorganisms) in ground water flow using the method of characteristics. Interactions between the three solutes, in which oxygen and hydrocarbons are consumed by microorganisms, are represented by Monod kinetics, solved using a Runge-Kutta method. Model simulations showed good correlation as compared with results of soil column experiments. The model was used to estimate the time needed to remediate the columns, which varied from one to two years