Date of Award

3-2002

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Department of Systems Engineering and Management

First Advisor

Michael L. Shelley, PhD

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine chlorinated solvent contamination levels in an upward flow constructed wetland at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB), Ohio. A stratified grid sampling methodology will be used in sampling the contaminated groundwater. Analysis will be accomplished by means of purge-and-trap gas chromatography. The contaminant concentration levels will be used to enhance the design and construction of man-made wetlands used to remove chlorinated solvents from aquifers. PCE levels declined from an average of 33.97 ppb in the inflow stream to an average of 3.65 ppb in the upper layer, a 91% reduction. High concentrations occurred in areas where high hydraulic pressure gradients and hydraulic conductivities combined to allow contaminated water to migrate to the upper layers of the wetland with minimal contact time for reduction. Removing these areas from the data set increased the PCE reduction efficiency to nearly 98% with an upper level concentration average of 0.84 ppb. Trichloroethene (TCE) inflow rates averaged 0.63 ppb while TCE concentrations in the upper layer averaged 0.175 ppb. TCE concentrations peaked in the middle layer of the wetland suggesting that reduction of PCE was occurring there and in the bottom layer.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-GEE-ENV-02M-07

DTIC Accession Number

ADA400720

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