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Strategies for Managing Risk due to Back Diffusion
Citation:
Brooks, Michael C., E. Yarney, AND J. Huang. Strategies for Managing Risk due to Back Diffusion. GROUNDWATER MONITORING AND REMEDIATION. National Ground Water Association, Westerville, OH, 41(1):76-98, (2021). https://doi.org/10.1111/gwmr.12423
Impact/Purpose:
Back diffusion of contaminants from secondary sources may hamper site remediation if it is not properly addressed in the remedial design. A review of all reported technologies and strategies that have been or could be applied to address plume persistence due to back diffusion as published in the peer-reviewed literature was conducted, and is intended to provide a state-of-the-science resource to assist in evaluating treatment options.
Description:
Back diffusion of contaminants from secondary sources may hamper site remediation if it is not properly addressed in the remedial design. There are a number of approaches and strategies that can be used to address the risk posed by back diffusion. A review of all reported technologies and strategies that have been or could be applied to address plume persistence due to back diffusion as published in the peer-reviewed literature is provided. We classify these into four major categories. The first major category consists of those approaches that do not include active measures to specifically address contamination in the low permeable zones (LPZs) and can therefore be considered passive LPZ management approaches. The remaining three major categories all use approaches to specifically address contaminants in the LPZ. The second major category consists of strategies that promote contaminant destruction through the forward diffusion of amendments into the LPZ. The third major category consists of strategies that alter physical characteristics of the secondary source zone architecture, and includes the use of amendments to modify viscosity, fracturing, and soil mixing. The final category consists of thermal and electrokinetic remediation techniques as remedial techniques less susceptible to limitations associated with permeability contrasts.
URLs/Downloads:
DOI: Strategies for Managing Risk due to Back Diffusion
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