Remediation Engineering: Design Concepts, Second Edition

628 Pages·2017·38.908 MB·English

by  Suthan S. Suthersan, John Horst, Matthew Schnobrich, Nicklaus Welty, Jeff McDonough

Second Edition
REMEDIATION
ENGINEERING
Design Concepts

Second Edition
REMEDIATION
ENGINEERING
Design Concepts
Suthan S. Suthersan
John Horst
Matthew Schnobrich
Nicklaus Welty
Jeff McDonough
Boca Raton London New York
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Library of Congress Cataloging‑in‑Publication Data
Names: Suthersan, Suthan S., author.
Title: Remediation engineering : design concepts / Suthan S. Suthersan, John
Horst, Matthew Schnobrich, Nicklaus Welty, and Jeff McDonough.
Description: Second edition. | Boca Raton : Taylor & Francis, CRC Press,
2017. | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016032437 | ISBN 9781498773270 (hardcover : alk. paper)
Subjects: LCSH: Soil remediation. | Groundwater--Purification. | Hazardous
waste site remediation.
Classification: LCC TD878 .S88 2017 | DDC 628.5/5--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016032437
Visit the Taylor & Francis Web site at
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This book is dedicated to the memory of Steven Bruce Blake (1956–2016), a towering
influence in all our professional lives and whose support, motivation, and continuous
encouragement enabled all of us to accomplish our dreams individually and collectively.
This book is the culmination of a long, demanding, but surely worthwhile and exciting,
journey. My wife, Sumathy, and children, Shauna and Nealon, have been a source of love,
support, encouragement, and strength all these years, and for that I am so grateful.
—Suthan Suthersan
In moments like this, you realize how deeply you rely on those you love and who love you
back—that is the true foundation of happiness, strength, and courage. To my wife, Alison, who
is an unwavering source of light in my life, I am so incredibly blessed to have you at my side.
To Lorelei and Ahren, who every day fill me with an unfathomable sense of joy and pride.
—John Horst
Life is a series of banks and rivers, with boatmen to take us across. Each passage is a new journey
marked by guides, comrades, and friends—each contributing to the voyage. None have been more
important than my wife, Maria, who has been a cheerleader and an advocate. To our boys, Macpherson,
Patrick and Peter, may your own passages be as enjoyable as mine and your gratitude to others as deep.
—Matt Schnobrich
To Katie, Holden, Eve, and Miles for being the music makers in my life and making me smile
every day. And to my parents for taking me on all those rock-collecting hikes growing up.
—Nicklaus Welty
To my Laura, who is a beacon of love, support, patience, and resiliency, and to
our son, Grayson Giuseppe, who we fully anticipate will understand the technical
concepts within this book but never understand the depths of our love for him.
—Jeff McDonough

Contents
Foreword ...................................................................................................................................................................................xvii
Preface........................................................................................................................................................................................xix
Acknowledgments ......................................................................................................................................................................xxi
Authors .....................................................................................................................................................................................xxiii
Chapter 1 Remediation Engineering: State of the Practice .....................................................................................................1
1.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................1
1.1.1 Growth of an Industry .....................................................................................................................1
1.1.2 Technical Discipline to Practice ......................................................................................................3
1.1.3 Advances in Complementary Disciplines .......................................................................................5
1.1.3.1 Advances in Remediation Hydrogeology ........................................................................5
1.1.3.2 Advances in Environmental Microbiology ......................................................................8
1.1.3.3 Environmental Geochemistry ..........................................................................................9
1.1.3.4 Geophysical Methods ....................................................................................................10
1.1.4 Role of Remediation Engineer ......................................................................................................11
1.2 Evolution and Maturation of Technologies .................................................................................................13
1.2.1 Timeline: 1980s to 2010s ...............................................................................................................14
1.2.1.1 Regulatory Influences on Technology Evolution ...........................................................14
1.2.1.2 Pump and Treat to In Situ ..............................................................................................15
1.3 Regulatory Framework ...............................................................................................................................16
1.3.1 Evolving Regulatory Influence ......................................................................................................17
1.3.2 Evolution of Cleanup Standards ....................................................................................................17
1.3.3 Risk-Based Approaches .................................................................................................................19
1.3.4 Technical Impracticability Considerations ....................................................................................20
1.4 Importance of Health and Safety ...............................................................................................................20
1.4.1 Awareness and Current Trends .....................................................................................................21
1.4.2 Potential Hazards ..........................................................................................................................22
1.4.3 Incorporation of Health and Safety into the Design Process ........................................................22
1.5 Current Trends in Remediation ..................................................................................................................23
1.5.1 Sustainable (Green) Remediation ..................................................................................................24
1.5.2 Emerging Contaminants................................................................................................................26
1.5.3 Mine Reclamation .........................................................................................................................27
1.5.3.1 Mine Tailings .................................................................................................................27
1.5.3.2 Acid Mine Drainage ......................................................................................................28
1.5.3.3 Mining Habitats .............................................................................................................28
1.5.4 Current Thinking on LNAPL Management ..................................................................................28
1.5.5 Protection of Water Resources ......................................................................................................29
1.5.5.1 Environmental Concerns from Unconventional Energy Exploration ............................30
References .............................................................................................................................................................31
Chapter 2 Contaminant Characteristics .................................................................................................................................33
2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................33
2.2 Molecular Structure of Compounds ...........................................................................................................33
2.2.1 Covalent Bonds..............................................................................................................................34
2.2.2 Polar Covalent Bonds ....................................................................................................................35
2.2.3 Hydrogen Bonds ............................................................................................................................37
2.2.4 Ionic Bonds ....................................................................................................................................38
2.2.5 Van der Waals Interactions............................................................................................................39
2.2.6 Hydrophobic Bonds .......................................................................................................................39
2.2.7 Dispersion Forces ..........................................................................................................................39
vii
viii Contents
2.3 Contaminant Types .....................................................................................................................................40
2.3.1 Organic Contaminants ..................................................................................................................40
2.3.1.1 Halogenated Organics ....................................................................................................41
2.3.1.2 Ketones ..........................................................................................................................42
2.3.1.3 Petroleum Hydrocarbons ...............................................................................................42
2.3.1.4 Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons ............................................................................43
2.3.1.5 Fuel Oxygenates .............................................................................................................43
2.3.2 Inorganic Contaminants ................................................................................................................43
2.3.2.1 Metals ............................................................................................................................43
2.3.2.2 Nitrogen Compounds .....................................................................................................44
2.3.2.3 Perchlorate .....................................................................................................................45
2.3.3 Other Bulk Parameters ..................................................................................................................45
2.3.3.1 Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons ......................................................................................45
2.3.3.2 Total Organic Carbon ....................................................................................................46
2.3.3.3 Total Dissolved Solids ..................................................................................................46
2.4 Properties of Contaminants ........................................................................................................................46
2.4.1 Solubility .......................................................................................................................................46
2.4.2 Vapor Pressure...............................................................................................................................47
2.4.3 Henry’s Law Constant ...................................................................................................................48
2.4.4 Density...........................................................................................................................................48
2.4.5 Liquid Viscosity ............................................................................................................................48
2.4.6 Fluid Properties .............................................................................................................................49
2.4.7 Sorption and Desorption Processes ...............................................................................................50
2.4.7.1 Adsorption .....................................................................................................................50
2.4.7.2 Absorption .....................................................................................................................51
2.4.7.3 Multicompartment Sorption Models .............................................................................51
2.4.7.4 Cation Exchange Capacity .............................................................................................53
2.5 Transport, Mobilization, and Partitioning in the Subsurface .....................................................................54
2.5.1 Nonaqueous-Phase Liquids ...........................................................................................................54
2.5.1.1 NAPL Architecture ........................................................................................................54
2.5.1.2 NAPL Saturation and Mobility .....................................................................................55
2.5.1.3 NAPL Weathering .........................................................................................................56
2.5.2 Hydrodynamic Transport Processes..............................................................................................57
2.5.2.1 Solute-Based Transport .................................................................................................58
2.5.3 Volatilization and Transport in the Unsaturated Zone ..................................................................60
2.6 Transformation Processes ...........................................................................................................................61
2.6.1 Abiotic Transformation .................................................................................................................61
2.6.1.1 Oxidation and Reduction Reactions ..............................................................................62
2.6.1.2 Precipitation and Solubilization .....................................................................................62
2.6.1.3 Hydrolysis ......................................................................................................................62
2.6.2 Biological Transformation .............................................................................................................63
2.6.2.1 Microbial Oxidation ......................................................................................................64
2.6.2.2 Microbial Reduction ......................................................................................................64
2.6.2.3 Cometabolic Biodegradation .........................................................................................65
References .............................................................................................................................................................65
Chapter 3 Principles of Integrated Design .............................................................................................................................69
3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................69
3.2 Remediation Design Process ......................................................................................................................69
3.2.1 Element 1: Define ..........................................................................................................................69
3.2.2 Element 2: Brainstorm ..................................................................................................................70
3.2.3 Element 3: Plan ..............................................................................................................................70
3.2.4 Element 4: Test ..............................................................................................................................71
3.2.5 Element 5: Refine ..........................................................................................................................71
3.2.6 Element 6: Deploy .........................................................................................................................71
Contents ix
3.3 Integrated Design: An Overview ................................................................................................................72
3.4 Key Factors in Remediation Design ...........................................................................................................73
3.4.1 Health and Safety in Design ..........................................................................................................73
3.4.1.1 Hazard Identification and Critical Failure Analysis ......................................................73
3.4.1.2 Hierarchy of Hazard Controls .......................................................................................77
3.4.1.3 Response Planning .........................................................................................................78
3.4.2 Predesign Efforts ...........................................................................................................................79
3.4.2.1 Concepts and Definitions ...............................................................................................79
3.4.2.2 Thought Experiments ....................................................................................................80
3.4.2.3 Real Experiments...........................................................................................................82
3.4.2.4 Predesign Characterization ............................................................................................87
3.4.3 Biogeochemical Considerations ....................................................................................................87
3.4.3.1 Fouling of Wells and Equipment ...................................................................................87
3.4.3.2 Porosity Reductions in the Aquifer ................................................................................92
3.4.3.3 Secondary Water Quality Impacts .................................................................................95
3.4.3.4 Material Compatibility .................................................................................................101
3.4.4 Environmental Considerations ....................................................................................................102
References ...........................................................................................................................................................103
Chapter 4 Remediation Hydrogeology .................................................................................................................................107
4.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................................................107
4.2 Fundamental Concepts in Hydrogeology .................................................................................................107
4.2.1 Groundwater Flow .......................................................................................................................107
4.2.1.1 Aquifers and Their Characteristics ..............................................................................107
4.2.1.2 Aquifer Building Processes, Heterogeneity, and Anisotropy .......................................110
4.2.2 Contaminant Transport Processes ................................................................................................112
4.2.2.1 Advection ......................................................................................................................113
4.2.2.2 Dispersion and Diffusion ..............................................................................................113
4.3 Evolution of Remediation Hydrogeology ..................................................................................................113
4.3.1 Pre-1950s: The Water Supply Origins of Hydrogeology ..............................................................113
4.3.2 1950s–1980s: Early Developments in Remediation Hydrogeology .............................................114
4.3.3 1980s–2000s: The First Generation of Remediation Hydrogeology ............................................114
4.3.4 2000s–Present: Remediation Hydraulics .....................................................................................114
4.3.4.1 Heterogeneous Advection and Diffusion ......................................................................115
4.3.4.2 Stratigraphic Flux .........................................................................................................115
4.3.4.3 Flux-Focused Investigation and Remediation Strategies ..............................................117
4.4 Site Characterization .................................................................................................................................118
4.4.1 Limitations of Traditional Site Investigation Methods.................................................................118
4.4.2 Smart Characterization: A New Way of Investigating Sites .......................................................120
4.4.2.1 Permeability Characterization .....................................................................................120
4.4.2.2 Concentration Mapping Tools .....................................................................................123
4.4.2.3 Direct Flux Mapping ...................................................................................................128
4.4.2.4 3D Visualization ..........................................................................................................129
4.5 Conceptual Site Models ............................................................................................................................130
4.5.1 Elements of a Conceptual Site Model .........................................................................................130
4.5.1.1 Site History and Operations .........................................................................................130
4.5.1.2 Contaminants ...............................................................................................................130
4.5.1.3 Geology .........................................................................................................................131
4.5.1.4 Hydrogeology................................................................................................................131
4.5.2 Digital CSMs: The Next Frontier ................................................................................................132
4.5.3 Using the CSM to Guide Investigation and Design and Optimize Remediation Systems ..........132
4.5.3.1 Case Study 1 ................................................................................................................132
4.5.3.2 Case Study 2 ................................................................................................................133
References ...........................................................................................................................................................135