ISSN:
1432-0495
Keywords:
Key words: Organic compounds
;
Groundwater
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Geosciences
Notes:
Abstract . In situ microcosms were successfully used to study the degradation of a range of organic compounds in two pristine aquifers, one aerobic (Vejen) and one anaerobic (Villa Farm). Degradation and sorption behaviour in the laboratory column microcosms packed with Villa Farm sediment was very similar to that in the in situ microcosms. However, when the columns were packed with quartz and equilibrated with aerated Villa Farm groundwater, behaviour mirrored that at Vejen, indicating that oxygen rather than sediment or groundwater composition was the critical parameter. The aromatic and polyaromatic compounds (benzene, toluene, o-xylene, naphtalene) degraded under aerobic conditions only. The organochlorine compounds (trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, 1,4-dichlorobenzene and 1,2-dichlorobenzene) showed little or no sign of degradation either aerobically or anaerobically. Interpretation of the data was complicated by strong sorption to the Villa Farm sediment but tetrachloromethane, nitrobenzene, and o-nitrophenol appeared to degrade under anaerobic conditions only. Phenol degraded rapidly under both sets of conditions.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s002540050067
Permalink
