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MICROBIAL PROCESSES AFFECTING MONITORED NATURAL ATTENUATION OF CONTAMINANTS IN THE SUBSURFACE
Citation:
AZADPOUR-KEELEY, ANN, G. SEWELL, AND H. H. RUSSELL. MICROBIAL PROCESSES AFFECTING MONITORED NATURAL ATTENUATION OF CONTAMINANTS IN THE SUBSURFACE. Chapter 5, Lehr & Keeley (ed.), Water Encyclopedia. John Wiley & Sons Incorporated, New York, NY, , 578-594, (2005).
Description:
Natural attenuation, also know as natural assimilation, intrinsic remediation, and passive remediation, along with other appellations, is defined according to the processes of biotic and abiotic transformations while stressing that bioremediation is the major cause for contaminant mass reduction. The rate and period of these processes are emphasized with respect to the viability of this remedial alternative. A natural attenuation model is presented which focuses on four phases into which contaminants partition as well as the hydrogeology of the site. In addition to a treatise on microbial physiology, a detailed description of the mechanisms of biodegradation is presented. Specific field and laboratory procedures, relevant project parameters, and investigation results are suggested to adequately demonstrate that natural attenuation is practicable alternative for soil and ground-water remediation.