Modeling enhanced in situ denitrification in groundwater

Journal of Environmental Engineering
By: , and 

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Abstract

A two-dimensional numerical solute transport model was developed for simulating an enhanced in situ denitrification experiment performed in a nitrate-contaminated aquifer on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. In this experiment, formate (HCOO-) was injected for a period of 26 days into the carbon-limited aquifer to stimulate denitrification. Calibration of the vertical-profile site model was demonstrated through error analysis and comparison with formate, nitrate, and nitrite concentration data monitored along a transect of three multilevel groundwater sampling wells for 75 days after initial injection. Formate utilization rates were approximately 142 and 38 μM/day for nitrate and nitrite reduction, respectively. Nitrate and nitrite utilization rates were approximately 29 and 8 μM/day, respectively. Nitrate utilization rates under enhanced conditions were 1 order of magnitude greater than previously reported naturally occurring rates. The nitrite production rate was approximately 29 μM/day. Persistence of nitrite was attributed to a combination of factors, including electron donor (formate) limitation late in the experiment, preferential utilization of nitrate as an electron acceptor, and greater nitrite production relative to nitrite utilization.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Modeling enhanced in situ denitrification in groundwater
Series title Journal of Environmental Engineering
DOI 10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9372(2002)128:6(491)
Volume 128
Issue 6
Year Published 2002
Language English
Publisher ASCE
Contributing office(s) Toxic Substances Hydrology Program
Description 14 p.
First page 491
Last page 504
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