Transport and degradation of semivolatile hydrocarbons in a petroleum-contaminated aquifer, Bemidji, Minnesota

ACS Symposium Series
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Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were used as probes to identify the processes controlling the transport and fate of aqueous semivolatile hydrocarbons (SVHCs) in a petroleum-contaminated aquifer near Bemidji, Minnesota. PAH and other SVHCs were isolated from ground water by field solid-phase extraction and analyzed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Close to the oil body, aqueous aliphatic hydrocarbon compositions are substantially different from the parent oil, suggesting microbial alteration prior to or during dissolution. Aqueous PAH concentrations are elevated above oil-water equilibrium concentrations directly beneath the oil and decrease dramatically at distances ranging from the 25 to 65 m downgradient from the leading edge of the oil body. Variations in downgradient distributions of naphthalene, fluorene and phenanthrene, coupled with their biodegradation, partitioning and volatility characteristics, suggest that the PAH are useful probes for distinguishing between the biogeochemical processes affecting SVHC transport and persistence in ground water.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Transport and degradation of semivolatile hydrocarbons in a petroleum-contaminated aquifer, Bemidji, Minnesota
Series title ACS Symposium Series
DOI 10.1021/bk-1997-0671.ch026
Volume 671
Year Published 1997
Language English
Publisher ACS Publications
Contributing office(s) National Research Program - Western Branch
Description 15 p.
First page 398
Last page 412
Country United States
State Minnesota
City Bemidji
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