Remediation by Natural Attenuation Treatability Study for Facility 1381 (SWMU 21) at Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida

Abstract

This report presents the results of a treatability study (TS) performed by Parsons Engineering Science, Inc. (Parsons ES) at Facility 1381 (SWMU 21), Cape Canaveral Air Station (CCAS), Florida to evaluate remediation by natural attenuation (RNA) of chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons (CAHs) dissolved in the site groundwater. The TS focuses on the fate and transport of dissolved CAHs, particularly trichloroethene (TCE), dichloroethene (DCE), and vinyl chloride (VC). The exact location of residual non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) or sorbed solvents in the vadose and/or phreatic soils remains unknown, but nonetheless serves as a continuing source for the currently observed CAH plume. Site history and the results of previous investigations are summarized in this report. The use of RNA with LTM discussed in this report is intended to support remedial alternatives for Facility 1381. Comparison of CAH, electron acceptor, and biodegradation byproduct isopleth maps for Facility 1381 provides strong qualitative evidence for the biodegradation of dissolved CAHs. These geochemical data strongly suggest that reductive dehalogenation of dissolved CAHs is occurring at the site as microbes utilize natural organic carbon as a substrate. Low-level BTEX compounds have been detected in the source area and suggest previous low-level fuel releases or large releases that have since been naturally attenuated; however, current BTEX levels are too low to be a significant substrate source. Patterns observed in the distribution of CAHs, daughter products of CAHs, electron acceptors, and biodegradation byproducts further indicate that biodegradation is reducing the concentration of CAHs dissolved in site groundwater. Field-scale first-order dehalogenation rates of 0.000001/day to 0.00032/day (equivalent to half-lives of 5.9 to 1,900 years) were calculated using site-specific CAH data.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1999
Accession Number
ADA381631

Entities

Organizations

  • Parsons Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Alkenes
  • Chemical Synthesis
  • Chemistry
  • Environmental Protection
  • Fatty Acids
  • Groundwater
  • Hydrocarbon Fuels
  • Measurement
  • Medical Personnel
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Three Dimensional
  • Two Dimensional
  • Waste Disposal Facilities

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Groundwater Contamination Remediation.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics