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UNDERSTANDING THE FATE OF PETROLEUM HYDROCARBONS IN THE SUBSURFACE ENVIRONMENT
Citation:
Chen, C. UNDERSTANDING THE FATE OF PETROLEUM HYDROCARBONS IN THE SUBSURFACE ENVIRONMENT. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/J-92/228 (NTIS PB92217157), 1992.
Description:
To achieve effective remediation of subsurface petroleum hydrocarbon contamination, definite scientific and technical knowledge of their fate after they are spilled onto the ground surface or leaked from underground storage tanks is essential. his paper provides extensive details of the parameters that affect the fate of petroleum products in the underground environment. hese include: he character of the subsurface environment; the composition, physical and chemical properties of petroleum products; and the mechanisms of their mobilization, immobilization and transformation in the subsurface. ata on the physical and chemical properties of soil, groundwater and petroleum hydrocarbons are identified. he mechanisms that affect the fate of these contaminants in the subsurface include vaporization and condensation, diffusion, advection, dispersion, dissolution, adsorption, biodegradation, and abiotic reactions. he relation between these mechanisms and the properties of soil, groundwater and petroleum hydrocarbons is described by scientific principles including mathematical and chemical expressions. he distribution of the contaminated petroleum products in the subsurface as affected by these parameters and principles is also described. ome future research to close information gap is recommended.
