Natural Attenuation of Groundwater Contaminants: New Paradigms, Technologies, and Applications
Cleaning up the large number of groundwater contamination sites is a significant and complex environmental challenge. The environmental industry is continuously looking for remediation methods that are both effective and cost-efficient. Over the past 10 years there have been amazing, important developments in our understanding of key attenuation processes and technologies for evaluating natural attenuation processes, and a changing institutional perspective on when and where Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA) may be applied.
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- Level Expert
- Duration 28 hours
- Course by Rice University
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Offered by
About
Cleaning up the large number of groundwater contamination sites is a significant and complex environmental challenge. The environmental industry is continuously looking for remediation methods that are both effective and cost-efficient. Over the past 10 years there have been amazing, important developments in our understanding of key attenuation processes and technologies for evaluating natural attenuation processes, and a changing institutional perspective on when and where Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA) may be applied. Despite these advances, restoring groundwater contaminated by anthropogenic sources to allow for unrestricted use continues to be a challenge. Because of a complex mix of physical, chemical, and biological constraints associated with active in-situ cleanup technologies, there has been a long standing focus on understanding natural processes that attenuate groundwater contaminant plumes. We will build upon basic environmental science and environmental engineering principles to discover how to best implement MNA as a viable treatment for groundwater contamination plumes. Additionally we will delve into the history behind and make predictions about the new directions for this technology. Any professional working in the environmental remediation industry will benefit from this in-depth study of MNA. We will use lectures, readings, and computational exercises to enhance our understanding and implementation of MNA. At the completion of this course, students will have updated understanding and practical tools that can be applied to all possible MNA sites.Modules
Course Overview
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3
Videos
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3
Readings
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1
Discussion
1
Discussions
- Get to Know Your Classmates!
3
Videos
- Course Trailer
- Course Overview
- Course Navigation
3
Readings
- General Course Information
- Discussion Forum Guidelines
- Pre-Course Survey
Week 1 Lectures
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6
Videos
6
Videos
- Changing Paradigms for Groundwater Remediation
- Active Remedation vs. MNA
- History of MNA: Fuels, Solvents, Three Lines of Evidence
- Key MNA Protocols
- New Technologies, New Thinking about MNA
- Three Key MNA Processes: 1) Degradation; 2) Storage; 3) Dilution
Week 1 Assignments
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1
Readings
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Week 1 Quiz
1
Readings
- Week 1 Homework Exercises (Optional)
Week 2 Lectures
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7
Videos
7
Videos
- Requirements for Biodegradation
- Thermodynamic Feasibility of Biodegradation
- All About Electron Donors and Acceptors
- Biodegradation Mechanisms: Chlorinated Solvents vs Hydrocarbons
- Reactions at Interfaces and Sustained Treatment: Emerging Concepts
- Biodegradation Kinetics: from Monod to First-Order Models
- Mass Balance Type Calculations
Week 2 Assignments
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1
Readings
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Week 2 Quiz
1
Readings
- Week 2 Homework Exercises (Optional)
Week 3 Lectures
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6
Videos
6
Videos
- Abiotic Degradation Principles
- Which Minerals Degrade which Contaminants?
- Reaction Models
- Methods and Challenges for Documenting Abiotic Degradation
- Other Abiotic Reactions: Hydrolysis
- Application: Does Abiotic Degradation Explain Attenuation Observed at Field Site?
Week 3 Assignments
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1
Readings
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Week 3 Quiz
1
Readings
- Week 3 Homework Exercises (Optional)
Week 4 Lectures
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6
Videos
6
Videos
- Matrix Diffusion Principles
- Diffusion vs Dispersion
- Matrix Diffusion in the Lab and Field
- Matrix Diffusion Sampling
- Groundwater Models for Matrix Diffusion
- Degradation Processes Within Low-k Zones
Week 4 Assignments
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1
Readings
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Week 4 Quiz
1
Readings
- Week 4 Homework Exercises (Optional)
Week 5 Lectures
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6
Videos
6
Videos
- Groundwater Flow Review
- Darcy vs. Seepage Velocity
- Attenuation Due to Mixing and Dispersion
- Mass Flux/Mass Discharge Concepts for Estimating Dilution
- Mass Flux/Mass Discharge Measurement Methods
- Plume Magnitude Classification System/Mass Discharge Wrap Up
Week 5 Assignments
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1
Readings
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Week 5 Quiz
1
Readings
- Week 5 Homework Exercises (Optional)
Week 6 Lectures
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6
Videos
6
Videos
- Types of Isotope Analysis and Sampling Techniques/Lab Analysis
- Interpreting CSIA Data
- Emerging Technologies with Isotopes: Pathways and Modeling
- Demonstrating In-Situ Biodegradation
- Molecular Evidence of Biodegradation
- Stable Isotope Probing
Week 6 Assignments
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1
Readings
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Week 6 Quiz
1
Readings
- Week 6 Homework Exercises (Optional)
Week 7 Lectures
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6
Videos
6
Videos
- High Resolution Characterization for MNA
- Designing an MNA Monitoring Program
- Monitoring Frequency
- Trend Analysis
- Monitoring Well Dynamics
- Key MNA Calculations and Graphics
Week 7 Assignments
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1
Readings
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Week 7 Quiz
1
Readings
- Week 7 Homework Exercises (Optional)
Week 8 Lectures
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6
Videos
6
Videos
- How Long, How Far? Key Questions for Modeling Tools
- Fate and Transport Equations for MNA
- Analytical Groundwater Models for MNA
- Estimating Remediation Timeframes
- MNA Lessons from "Big Data" Studies
- Numerical Groundwater Computer Models and MNA
Week 8 Assignments
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1
Readings
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Week 8 Quiz
1
Readings
- Week 8 Homework Exercises (Optional)
Week 9 Lectures
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6
Videos
6
Videos
- BioPIC: Bio Pathway Identification Criteria Screening Tool for MNA
- Applicability of MNA for Different Contaminant Classes
- Natural Source Zone Depletion (NSZD)
- Thermal Monitoring of Natural Source Zone Depletion (Thermal NSZD)
- Low Risk Sites, Transition Assessments, and MNA
- Where MNA Might Go From Here
Week 9 Assignments
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2
Readings
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Week 9 Quiz
2
Readings
- Week 9 Homework Exercises (Optional)
- End-of-Course Survey
Pedro Alvarez
Charles Newell
David Adamson