Development of Effective Groundwater Remediation Strategies Through Coupled Experimental and Mathematical Modeling Research.

The majority of chlorinated solvent plumes originate from highly contaminated aquifer materials containing free-phase dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs).  To achieve substantial mass reduction within a reasonable time frame a number of in situ remediation technologies have been developed over the past two decades.  In this presentation, we demonstrate the importance of coupling detailed experimental studies with mathematical modeling over multiple dimensions and scales to achieve successful implementation of surfactant flushing at former dry cleaning facility.  Despite the documented benefits of such aggressive source zone treatment, significant amounts of contaminant mass may remain after treatment, particularly in complex geologic formations.  Here, we explore the use of laboratory and modeling studies to develop up-scaled mass transfer coefficients to describe the effects of contaminant mass removal on down-gradient plume development as a function of the source zone architecture.