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Natural Attenuation of Hydrocarbon Compounds in Groundwater

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Consequences of Microbial Interactions with Hydrocarbons, Oils, and Lipids: Biodegradation and Bioremediation

Part of the book series: Handbook of Hydrocarbon and Lipid Microbiology ((HHLM))

Abstract

Natural attenuation (NA) is a widely used strategy for the risk-based management of groundwater contaminated with hydrocarbons. New process-based conceptual models highlight the spatial distribution of biodegradation processes in plumes, controlled by microbial activity, electron acceptor bioavailability, and aquifer properties, as a key control on NA performance. The plume fringe is identified as a critical interface for enhanced microbial activity and biodegradation of hydrocarbons in plumes. Mass transport and process heterogeneity in aquifers must be adequately resolved to ensure reliable estimates of hydrocarbon attenuation. The adoption of mass discharge as a performance measure and use of high-resolution multilevel monitoring devices is recommended to address these issues. These concepts are illustrated with a case study example. Stable isotope methods are important tools in NA assessments and, when combined with hydrochemical analyses, offer new possibilities to characterize contaminant sources, biodegradation pathways, redox processes, element cycling, the relative contribution of different attenuation processes, and quantify biodegradation of hydrocarbons in groundwater.

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  1. Groundwater Protection and Restoration Group, Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, University of Sheffield, Mappin Street, S1 3JD, Sheffield, UK

    Steven F Thornton

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    Robert Steffan

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Thornton, S.F. (2017). Natural Attenuation of Hydrocarbon Compounds in Groundwater. In: Steffan, R. (eds) Consequences of Microbial Interactions with Hydrocarbons, Oils, and Lipids: Biodegradation and Bioremediation. Handbook of Hydrocarbon and Lipid Microbiology . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44535-9_3-1

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