Date of Award

9-1993

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Engineering Management

Department

Department of Systems Engineering and Management

First Advisor

Michael L. Shelley, PhD

Abstract

This study investigated the natural attenuation mechanisms and some of the parameters affecting those mechanisms in the saturated zone. A literature search revealed numerous studies of various attenuation and the associated parameters. Much of the literature emphasized biodegradation as the most promising attenuation mechanism. BIOPLUME II(TM), a fate and transport model, was used to simulate the fate and transport of contaminant plume. The effects of the model parameters were investigated by observing the distance a contaminant plume was expected to migrate over a fifty year period. The investigation was limited by the model which excludes chemical reactions and some physical and physiochemical reactions. The model simulations indicated that parameters which exhibited significant influence on natural attenuation include hydraulic conductivity, reaeration, and coefficient of anaerobic biodegradation. These three parameters were investigated further to observe how they affected natural attenuation in concert. Results from the model simulations indicated that the lower the value of hydraulic conductivity and the higher the value of aerobic and anaerobic coefficients, the more favorable are conditions for natural attenuation. A regression analysis was performed on the data to generate a mathematical relationship between site parameters and natural attenuation.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-GEE-ENV-93S-12

DTIC Accession Number

ADA270706

Comments

The author's Vita page is omitted.

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