Second Natural-Gradient Tracer Experiment

Beard, L. M.; Boggs, J. M.; Stauffer, T. B.; MacIntyre, W. G.; ,

Second Natural-Gradient Tracer Experiment

by L. M. Beard, Tennessee Valley Authority, Norris, United States,
J. M. Boggs, Tennessee Valley Authority, Norris, United States,
T. B. Stauffer, Tennessee Valley Authority, Norris, United States,
W. G. MacIntyre, Tennessee Valley Authority, Norris, United States,

Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Symposium on Ground Water

Abstract:

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has begun a second large-scale groundwater field experiment at the Columbus Groundwater Research test site in Mississippi. This research is a continuation of the work begun in 1983 as part of the Solid Waste Environmental Studies of the Electric Power Research Institute. The second tracer experiment (MADE 2) includes the injection of selected hydrocarbons to better define the transport processes in saturated flow systems and estimate overall characteristics of retarded/unretarded tracer plumes. A data set will be provided for evaluating transport models and for assessing reliability of using laboratory measured parameters to predict transport. Four hydrocarbons -- benzene, naphthalene, ¹⁴-C labeled para-xylene, and o-dichlorobenzene (BNXO) are included with a conservative tracer (tritium). In June 1990, the tracer solution, containing the tritium and BNXO solution, was injected. In addition to sampling at the 300 samplers, sampling will be conducted at 56 new samplers. These samplers are designed specifically for sampling volatile organic compounds. Sampling events consist of: (1) fenceline sampling for breakthrough analysis of the hydrocarbons; (2) reconnaissance sampling to define the plume boundary prior to the snapshots; and (3) snapshots to serve as a primary database for modeling.

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