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Site Characterization of Ethanol-Blended Fuel Releases
Citation:
Wilson, J. AND C. Adair. Site Characterization of Ethanol-Blended Fuel Releases. Presented at 23rd National Tanks Conference and Expo, March 19 - 21, 2012.
Impact/Purpose:
Presentation for the 23rd National Tanks Conference and Expo in St. Louis, MO on March 20, 2012.
Description:
There has been an increasing use of biofuels (ethanol in particular) in the fuel supply nationwide, and an increase in the number of stations that sell gasoline that contains more than 10% ethanol. The U.S. EPA needs to understand the fate of these materials if they are released from underground storage tank systems. A release of biofuels to ground water can have undesirable consequences. Recent field demonstrations have shown that ethanol can inhibit the natural anaerobic biodegradation of BTEX compounds, causing the plume of BTEX compounds to be larger than they otherwise would be. The ethanol is biologically degraded to acetate and molecular hydrogen. These substances can accumulate to concentrations that make the anaerobic biodegradation of BTEX compounds impossible. U.S. EPA/ORD has conducted a laboratory microcosm study and two field studies that compare the anaerobic biodegradation of ethanol in aquifer sediment from a fuel spill site to the production of molecular hydrogen and acetate.