Grantee Research Project Results

2001 Progress Report: Transport, Fate and Risk Implications of Environmentally Acceptable Endpoint Decisions

EPA Grant Number: R828598C725
Subproject: this is subproject number 725 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R828598
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: Texas - Indiana Virtual STAR Center
Center Director: Gustafsson , Jan-Ake
Title: Transport, Fate and Risk Implications of Environmentally Acceptable Endpoint Decisions
Investigators: Rifai, Hanadi , Rixey, William G.
Current Investigators: Loehr, Raymond C.
Institution: University of Houston - University Park
Current Institution: The University of Texas at Austin
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Project Period: September 1, 2000 through August 31, 2004
Project Period Covered by this Report: September 1, 2000 through August 31, 2001
RFA: Gulf Coast Hazardous Substance Research Center (Lamar University) (1996) RFA Text |  Recipients Lists
Research Category: Hazardous Waste/Remediation , Targeted Research

Objective:

This project addresses two important issues; 1) identifying the relative risk associated with commercial and industrial chemicals is soils, and 2) determining appropriate site specific, yet cost effective approaches to remediate sites that contain contaminated soils. To protect human health and the environment and to use remediation technologies that allow industry to be competitive is a challenge. One approach that has emerged in the past few years is the concept of identifying environmentally acceptable endpoints EAE) for contaminated soils. EAE are threshold concentrations of chemicals in soil below which there should be no subsequent adverse effect to human health and the environment. The basic premise of EAE is that there can be concentrations of chemicals in soil greater than background that are safe to humans and the environment. Key questions are what are those concentrations and how does one determine them for a specific site. The proposed research addresses these questions. This research project is a joint effort between researchers in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the University of Houston (UH) and researchers at the University of Texas at Austin (UT). Dr. William Rixey and Dr. Hanadi Rifai at UH and Dr. Loehr and Dr. Randall Charbeneau at UT. The intent of this research is to develop a risk-based approach which will be a significant improvement over the current approach for estimating acceptable soil concentrations that will protect water quality uses at a downstream groundwater receptor. The overall objectives of the project are to: 1) Incorporate the chemical rate of release parameters being developed by two of the principal investigators into groundwater transport models; 2) Use relatively simple and well known transport and fate models so that the results will be understood by the profession; 3) Indicate how knowledge of release parameters and establishment of soil environmentally acceptable endpoints EAE) affect site remediation decisions. The proposed activities to accomplish these objectives are: 1) Interpretation and integration of existing chemical release data obtained by Loehr, Rixey and others, 2) Development of source zone modules that account for partitioning and rates of release, 3) Development of appropriate groundwater models that incorporate source zone characterization that account for partitioning and slow release, 4) Application of these models to site data, 5) Interpretation of the overall results to further identify EAE for contaminated soil.

Progress Summary:

Significant progress was made in Years 1 and 2 with respect to the development of analytical and numerical solution based models. As reported in previous reports, it was agreed in the 1st year that both institutions would focus on integrating slow release into models that characterize release of chemicals from sources of contamination. UH pursued the case where contamination is present in the saturated zone. A source zone model was developed that included source zone loss processes due to leaching and biodegradation. Slow and fast release and partitioning to soil as well as to a residually trapped hydrocarbon phase were incorporated into this source zone model. In Year 2 items completed or underway at UH include the following: a) Preliminary verification of the source model has occurred with some field soils for a leaching scenario. This verification has been accomplished with laboratory experiments that mimic source zone leaching to groundwater. The results clearly show the impact of slow release of contaminants from soil on groundwater concentrations. Additional verification with field soils will continue in Year 3 (described below) as originally proposed. The focus at UH has been on a source of contamination near the saturated zone, but the results are also applicable to the unsaturated zone, because the model is sufficiently general for use for both saturated and unsaturated zone conditions in future activities below. Dr. Rixey and Dr. Charbeneau completed a peer-reviewed chapter for a book to be published by SETAC in Fall 2001. This chapter describes the development of the slow release source zone model and discusses its application. Drs. Rixey and Charbeneau and a graduate student at UH are also preparing a manuscript for a peer reviewed journal that provides a verification of the model with field soils for a leaching to groundwater scenario and provides additional details regarding how the model can be used to establish risk-based soil screening levels when slow release of contaminants occurs. b) As was proposed for Year 2, we are incorporating the saturated source zone model into BIOPLUME. This work is being conducted by a graduate student at UH under the direction of Drs. Rixey and Rifai. In addition to the BIOPLUME effort, a modified version of the well-known Domenico equation for attenuation in the saturated zone that will incorporate slow release as a source term is being developed. This latter development complements the more detailed BIOPLUME approach and is also occurring to facilitate the adoption of slow release into existing risk-based approaches (e.g., ASTM E1739) used for providing screening level estimates for acceptable levels in soils. c) Continued interaction and discussion between researchers at The University of Texas at Austin and The University of Houston. This has taken place via telephone calls and interactions at professional meetings.

Future Activities:

a) Continued verification of the source risk-based frame work with field soils for the leaching to groundwater scenario. Additional verification with field soils will continue during Year 3 with an emphasis on comparison with field data as originally proposed. b) Incorporation of the saturated source zone model into BIOPLUME will be completed in Year 3. In addition to the BIOPLUME effort, the modified Domenico equation for attenuation in the saturated zone that incorporates slow release from soils will also be completed. As discussed above, this latter development complements the more detailed BIOPLUME approach and is being developed to facilitate the adoption of slow release into existing risk-based approaches used for providing screening level estimates for acceptable levels in soils.

Journal Articles:

No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 7 publications for this subproject

Supplemental Keywords:

risk assessment, soil and groundwater contamination, polyaromatic hydrocarbons., RFA, Scientific Discipline, INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, Waste, Water, TREATMENT/CONTROL, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Chemical Engineering, Waste Treatment, Remediation, Contaminated Sediments, Environmental Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Fate & Transport, Hazardous Waste, Ecology and Ecosystems, Environmental Engineering, Hazardous, Risk Assessment, environmental technology, sediment treatment, hazardous waste management, hazardous waste treatment, fate and transport, soil and groundwater remediation, risk characterization, biodegradation, contaminated sediment, risk based modeling, contaminant transport model, chemical transport, chemical contaminants, contaminated soil, kinetic studies, modeling, groundwater transport model, industrial chemicals, bioremediation of soils, groundwater remediation, contaminated groundwater, environmentally acceptable endpoints, biotransformation, groundwater contamination, water quality

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

2002

2003

Final Report

Main Center Abstract and Reports:

R828598    Texas - Indiana Virtual STAR Center

Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R822721C529 Environmentally Acceptable Endpoints: Risk Based Remediation Using Bioremediation
R822721C552 Degradative Solidification/Stabilization Technology for Chlorinated Hydrocarbons
R822721C569 Treatment and Product Recovery: Supercritical Water Oxidation of Nylon Monomer Manufacturing Waste
R822721C620 Colloidal Fouling of Membranes: Implications in the Treatment of Textile Dye Wastes and Water Reuse
R822721C626 Catalytic Hydroprocessing of Chlorinated Organics
R822721C627 The Interaction of Microbial Activity and Zero Valent Iron Permeable Barrier Technology
R822721C630 Microbial Cometabolism of Recalcitrant Chemicals in Contaminated Air Streams
R822721C633 Catalyst Lifetime Studies for Chlorocarbon Steam Reforming
R822721C635 Electrokinetic/Surfactant-Enhanced Remediation of Hydrophobic Pollutants in Low Permeability Subsurface Environments
R822721C636 Transformation Reactions of Nitroaromatic and Nitrogen Heterocyclic Compounds on Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) Surfaces: Enhancement of GAC Adsorption in Natural and Engineered Environmental Systems
R822721C640 Environmentally Friendly Organic Synthesis in Supercritical Fluids
R822721C645 Development and Evaluation of an Integrated Model to Facilitate Risk-Based Corrective Action at Superfund Sites
R822721C651 Adjustable Biopolymer Chelators for Cadmium, Lead and Mercury
R822721C653 New Electrochemically Smart Catalysts for Hazardous Waste Management and Development of Capillary Electrophoresis for Analysis of their Products
R822721C655 Soil Sampling in South Alabama Oil Fields
R822721C659 Subsurface Contamination Site Characterization via a Computer-Aided Visual Tool
R822721C661 New Insoluble supports for Protein Immobilization for Use in Metalloprotein Affinity Metal Chromatography
R822721C663 Soil Remediation with Ultra-High-Efficiency Hydrocyclones
R822721C669 Solid Acid Catalyzed Alkylation in Supercritical Fluids
R822721C679 Regeneration/Reactivation of Carbon Adsorbents by Radio Frequency (RF) Induction Heating
R822721C687 Improved Halogen Resistance of Catalytic Oxidation
R822721C696 Phytoremediation and Bioremediation of Land Contaminated By PAHs, PCBs, and TNT
R822721C697 Fundamental and Kinetic Investigation of Sorbent Technology for Optimum Mercury Emission Control
R822721C700 Effects of Natural and Cyclic Variations on Contaminant Fate and Transport
R822721C703 Enhancement of DNAPL Dissolution Rates by Dechlorinating Anaerobes
R826694C620 Colloidal Fouling of Membranes: Implications in the Treatment of Textile Dye Wastes and Water Reuse
R826694C625 Enhanced Treatment of DNAPLs Contaminated Soils and Groundwater Using Biosurfactants: In-Situ Bioremediation
R826694C626 Catalytic Hydroprocessing of Chlorinated Wastes
R826694C627 The Interaction of Microbial Activity and Zero Valent Iron Permeable Barrier Technology
R826694C629 Biofiltration of BTEX in Petroleum-Contaminated Soil Remediation Off-Gas
R826694C630 Microbial Cometabolism of Recalcitrant Chemicals in Contaminated Air Streams
R826694C633 Catalyst Lifetime Studies for Chlorocarbon Steam Reforming
R826694C635 Electrokinetic/Surfactant-Enhanced Remediation of Hydrophobic Pollutants in Low Permeability Subsurface Environments
R826694C636 Transformation Reactions of Nitroaromatic and Nitrogen Heterocyclic Compounds on Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) Surfaces: Enhancement of GAC Adsorption in Natural and Engineered Environmental Systems
R826694C640 Environmentally Friendly Organic Synthesis in Supercritical Fluids
R826694C645 Development and Evaluation of an Integrated Model to Facilitate Risk-Based Corrective Action at Superfund Sites
R826694C651 Adjustable Biopolymer Chelators for Cadmium, Lead, and Mercury Remeidation
R826694C659 Subsurface Contamination Site characterization Via a Computer-Aided Visual Tool
R826694C661 New Insoluble supports for Protein Immobilization for Use in Metalloprotein Affinity Metal Chromatography
R826694C669 Solid Acid Catalyzed Alkylation in Supercritical Reaction Media
R826694C679 Regeneration and Reactivation of Carbon Adsorbents by Radio Frequency Induction Heating
R826694C696 Phytoremediation and Bioremediation of Land Contaminated By PAHs, PCBs, and TNT
R826694C697 Fundamental and Kinetic Investigation of Sorbent Technology for Optimum Mercury Emission Control
R826694C700 Effects of Natural Cyclic Variations on Contaminated Fate and Transport
R826694C703 Enhancement of DNAPL Dissolution Rates by Dechlorinating Anaerobes
R826694C705 A Pilot Plant for Producing Mixed Ketones from Waste Biomass
R826694C722 The Effects of an Oily-Phase on VOC Emissions from Industrial Wastewater
R826694C724 Mercury Removal from Stack Gas by Aqueous Scrubbing
R826694C725 Transport, Fate and Risk Implications of Environmentally Acceptable Endpoint Decisions
R826694C731 Development and Application of a Real-Time Optical Sensor for Atmospheric Formaldehyde
R826694C734 An Advanced System for Pollution Prevention in Chemical Complexes
R828598C001 Field Study Abstract: A Model of Ambient Air Pollution in Southeast Texas Using Artificial Neural Network Technology
R828598C002 Hollow Fiber Membrane Bioreactors for Treating Water and Air Streams Contaminated with Chlorinated Solvents
R828598C003 Fugitive Emissions of Hazardous Air Pollutants from On-Site Industrial Sewers
R828598C004 Biofiltration Technology Development
R828598C005 A Risk-Based Decision Analysis Approach for Aquifers Contaminated with DNAPLs
R828598C006 In-Situ Remediation for Contaminated Soils Using Prefabricated Vertical Drains
R828598C007 Membrane Technology Selection System for the Metal Finishing Industry
R828598C008 Sequential Environments for Enhanced Bioremediation of Chlorinated Aliphatic Hydrocarbons
R828598C009 Waste Minimization in the Magnetic Tape Industry: Waterborne Coating Formulations for Magnetic Tape Manufacture
R828598C010 Soil Remediation by Agglomeration with Petroleum Coke
R828598C011 Recovery of Dilute Phosphoric Acid in Waste Streams Using Waste Gas Ammonia: The Regenerative MAP/DAP Process
R828598C012 Stochastic Risk Assessment for Bioremediation
R828598C013 Selective Removal of Heavy Metals from Wastewater by Chelation in Supercritical Fluids
R828598C014 Optimization of Treatment Technologies for Detoxification of PCB Contaminated Soils
R828598C015 Wastewater Remediation by Catalytic Wet Oxidation
R828598C016 Permanence of Metals Containment in Solidified and Stabilized Wastes
R828598C017 Combustion Enhancement by Radial Jet Reattachment - Low Generation of Hazardous Gases and High Thermal Efficiency
R828598C018 A Process To Convert Industrial Biosludge and Paper Fines to Mixed Alcohol Fuels
R828598C019 Homogeneous Catalysis in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide
R828598C020 Ultrasonic Enhancement of the Removal of Heavy Metals
R828598C021 The Binding Chemistry and Leaching Mechanisms of Advanced Solidification/Stabilization Systems for Hazardous Waste Management
R828598C022 Development of an Air-Stripping and UV/H2O2 Oxidation Integrated Process To Treat a Chloro-Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Ground Water
R828598C023 A Comparative Study of Siting Opposition in Two Counties
R828598C024 Sonochemical Treatment of Hazardous Organic Compounds II: Process Optimization and Pathway Studies
R828598C025 Laser Diagnostics of the Combustion Process within a Rotary Kiln Incinerator
R828598C026 Use of Inorganic Ion Exchangers for Hazardous Waste Remediation
R828598C027 Kaolinite Sorbent for the Removal of Heavy Metals from Incinerated Lubricating Oils
R828598C028 Destruction of Chlorinated Hydrocarbons in Process Streams Using Catalytic Steam Reforming
R828598C029 Integrated Process Treatment Train (Bioremediation {Aerobic/Anaerobic} and Immobilization) for Texas Soils Contaminated with Combined Hazardous Wastes
R828598C030 Photo-Oxidation by H2O2/VisUV of Off-Gas Atmospheric Emissions from Industrial and Environmental Remediation Sources
R828598C031 Concentrated Halide Extraction and Recovery of Lead from Soil
R828598C032 Biodegradable Surfactant for Underground Chlorinated Solvent Remediation
R828598C033 A Software Guidance System for Choosing Analytical Subsurface Fate and Transport Models Including a Library of Computer Solutions for the Analytical Models
R828598C034 Hydrodynamic Modeling of Leachate Recirculating Landfill
R828598C035 Measurement of Oxygen Transfer Rate in Soil Matrices
R828598C036 Sorbent Technology for Multipollutant Control During Fluidized Bed Incineration
R828598C037 Pollution Prevention by Process Modification Using On-Line Optimization
R828598C038 Pollution Prevention by Process Modification
R828598C039 Water Solubility and Henry's Law Constant
R828598C040 Transferring Technical Information on Hazardous Substance Research by Publishing on the World Wide Web
R828598C041 Stress Protein Responses to Multiple Metal Exposure in Grass Shrimp
R828598C042 Life-Cycle Environmental Costing for Managing Pollution Prevention in the Chemical and Petroleum Refining Industries: A Cross-Border Approach
R828598C687 Improved Halogen Resistance of Catalytic Oxidation Through Efficient Catalyst Testing
R828598C696 Phytoremediation and Bioremediation of Land Contaminated By PAHs, PCBs, and TNT
R828598C697 Fundamental and Kinetic Investigation of Sorbent Technology for Optimum Mercury Emission Control
R828598C700 Effects of Natural Cyclic Variations on Contaminated Fate and Transport
R828598C703 Enhancement of DNAPL Dissolution Rates by Dechlorinating Anaerobes
R828598C705 A Pilot Plant for Producing Mixed Ketones from Waste Biomass
R828598C722 The Effects of an Oily-Phase on VOC Emissions from Industrial Wastewater
R828598C724 Mercury Removal from Stack Gas by Aqueous Scrubbing
R828598C725 Transport, Fate and Risk Implications of Environmentally Acceptable Endpoint Decisions
R828598C731 Development and Application of a Real Time Optical Sensor for Atmospheric Formaldehyde
R828598C734 An Advanced System for Pollution Prevention in Chemical Complexes
R828598C743 Field Demonstration of Ultrasound Enhancement of Permeable Treatment Walls
R828598C744 Optical Fibers Coated With Titania Membrane/UV-Generating Crystal in a Distributed-Light Photoreactor for VOC Oxidation
R828598C749 Characterization and Modeling of Indoor Particulate Contaminants In a Heavily Industrialized Community
R828598C753 Adsolubilization and Photocatalysis in a Semiconducting Monolithic Reactor for Wastewater Treatment
R828598C754 Remote Detection of Gas Emissions in Industrial Processes
R828598C759 Searching for Optimum Composition of Phosphogypsum: Fly ash: Cement Composites for Oyster Culch Materials
R828598C761 Development of a Phytologically-Based Biosorptive Water Treatment Process
R828598C766 Chlorinated Solvent Impact and Remediation Strategies for the Dry Cleaning Industry
R828598C769 Soil/Sediment Remediation by Hot Water Extraction Combined with In-Situ Wet Oxidation
R828598C771 Fluoracrylate Polymer Supported Ligands as Catalysts for Environmentally Benign Synthesis in Supercritical Fluids
R828598C774 The Feasibility of Electrophoretic Repair of Impoundment Leaks
R828598C777 Surfactant Enhanced Photo-oxidation of Wastewaters
R828598C778 Stationary Power Generation Via Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: A Response to Pollution and Global Warming
R828598C786 Photocatalytic Recovery of Sulfur and Hydrogen From Hydrogen Sulfide
R828598C787 Biosurfactant Produced from Used Vegetable Oil for removal of Metals From Wastewaters and Soils
R828598C789 Genetic Engineering of Enzymatic Cyanide Clearance
R828598C791 Characterizing the Intrinsic Remediation of MTBE at Field Sites
R828598C799 Simultaneous Water Conservation/Recycling/Reuse and Waste Reduction in Semiconductor Manufacturing
R828598C801 Building Defined Mixed Cultures To Biodegrade Diverse Mixtures Of Chlorinated Solvents
R828598C802 Engineering of Nanocrystal Based Catalytic Materials for Hydroprocessing of Halogenated Organics
R828598C807 Commercial Demonstration of Hydrogen Peroxide Injection to Control NOx Emissions from Combustion Sources
R828598C809 Evaluating Source Grouting and ORC for Remediating MTBE Sites
R828598C810 Application of Total Cost Assessment To Process Design In the Chemical Industry
R828598C846 Quantitative Demonstration of Source-Zone Bioremediation in A Field-Scale Experimental Controlled Release System