DILREACT

Compound-dependent dilution and reactive processes in groundwater

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The quantitative understanding of contaminant transport is a fundamental requirement for the protection and management of groundwater resources and for the implementation of natural attenuation and/or engineered remediation technologies. Dilution and mixing processes play a pivotal role for solute transport in porous aquifer systems. In fact, the limited extent of mixing usually controls reactive transport and natural attenuation of contaminant plumes. Laboratory and field investigations have demonstrated the presence of narrow bioactive zones at the fringes of organic contaminant plumes, where reaction partners (i.e. different substrates) are brought into contact by mixing processes. Therefore, the correct quantification of mixing is of utmost importance for an accurate description of reactive transport of contaminants in groundwater. The objective of the present DILREACT project is to deepen and improve the current understanding of mixing and mixing-controlled reactions in the subsurface. The proposed approach is based on a tight coupling between high-resolution data at the laboratory and field scales and mathematical modelling including both the development of theoretical concepts and the use of numerical codes to simulate conservative and reactive transport. Characteristics of dilution and mixing processes such as the recently observed compound-dependency in the transverse component (Chiogna et al., 2010) will be investigated in detail. Appropriate measures able to capture these effects as well as the influence of flow focusing on mixing intensity in complex heterogeneous porous media will be proposed and validated against high-resolution experimental observations. Numerical tools accurately describing mixing processes and their coupling with biogeochemical reactions will be developed and tested in a series of remediation scenarios and in an applied reactive transport modelling study at an aquifer contaminated by petroleum hydrocarbons.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Protection and sustainable use of water supply is one of the most important environmental issues facing humanity. Groundwater is the primary source of drinking water for much of the world, as well as being vital for agriculture and industry, but it is under threat from pollution.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Understanding how contaminants are transported is crucial for the protection and management of groundwater and the implementation of technologies for its remediation. Dilution and mixing processes play a key role for the transport of solutes in porous aquifer systems.

These processes are typically slow and often represent the limiting factor for the breakdown of contaminants in groundwater systems. Therefore, an understanding and accurate description of dilution and mixing is necessary for the application of remedial actions and the implementation of successful groundwater management strategies.

The EU-funded project 'Compound-dependent dilution and reactive processes in groundwater' (DILREACT) combined high-resolution laboratory and field data with multi-scale numerical modelling. Its aim was to improve understanding of processes such as incomplete mixing and the development of compound-specific concentration gradients in pore channels.

Results were used for further theoretical and applied research as well as practical applications. They included the management of groundwater resources, risk assessment, and the implementation of both natural and engineered remediation of contaminated sites. These applications will help protect groundwater as a reservoir for drinking water and as a valuable environmental resource.

DILREACT results will also benefit environmental policymakers and public and private consultants dealing with water quality issues and the management and remediation of contaminated sites. In addition, the project's findings are relevant to a wide range of disciplines dealing with flow and transport in porous media. They include reservoir engineering, carbon sequestration, chemical engineering, geology and geochemistry.