LNAPL Like You Have Never Seen Before: An Novel Non-Destructive, HRSC UV-Based Surveying Tool

Presented by Julio Zimbron Ph.D. (E-Flux, Fort Collins, CO).

July 9, 2024

This novel UV-based HRSC technology was described at the 2024 Battelle Chlorinated Conference in Denver Colorado, during our Learning Lab presentation:

“A Permanent Ground Portal for Non-Destructive HRSC UV Visualization of LNAPL Soil Contamination”

Current HRSC tools are most often used once. E-Flux has developed a non-destructive UV-based alternative that adds a time-dependent dimension to HRSC data at a temporal density prohibitive to current methods.This presentation will describe data collected with this novel technology at multiple field sites, in which repeat surveys are conducted on the same location. Detailed changes in contaminant distribution at the pore scale are documented in various media using UV lights. Additionally, each survey includes white light images, showing detailed formation lithology overlapping the contaminant distribution. This type of information is key for understanding the mechanisms driving LNAPL mobility and stability at field sites under changing conditions.

 

NSZD: An Important Concept for the Management of Petroleum and LNAPL Contaminated Sites

Presented by Julio Zimbron Ph.D. (E-Flux, Fort Collins, CO).
Hosted by Sam Rosolina Ph.D. [Microbial Insights, Knoxville, TN].

This presentation includes an overview of biogeochemical processes related to NSZD, and examples of methods for data collection that are easy to implement, and yet critical to manage LNAPL contaminated sites. These include: mapping the lateral extent of LNAPL sources based on unsaturated zone soil biogas surveys, methods to quantify NSZD rates of LNAPL, and comparison of field-measured NSZD rates with active remedies.

 

 
 

Phytoremediation as a Sustainable Remedial Alternative
at a Hydrocarbon Contaminated Site

Presented by Brent Searcy, P.E. (ETIC Arcadia, Pleasant Hill, CA).
Coauthors: Sean Bowen, Tim Hendrickson, and Ryan Haughy (ETIC)

This presentation describes a phytoremediation project at a petroleum impacted site in California’s San Joaquin Valley. The project involves replacing a conventional groundwater pump-and-treat and soil vapor extraction system with a site-wide phytoremediation approach involving over 1,000 planted poplar and willow trees. The effectiveness of phytoremediation was based on the enhancement of microbial degradation of the contaminant due to the planted trees.

 

 
 

ASTSWMO 2019 L.U.S.T. Natural Source Zone Depletion Workshop

Presented by Julio ZImbron Ph.D. (E-Flux, Fort Collins, CO).

As part of a Petroleum Cleanup Toolbox panel at the 2019 ASTSWMO LUST Conference in New Orleans, LA (Sept. 17-19), E-Flux presented the talk “Natural Source Zone Depletion of Petroleum Soil Contamination”. Julio Zimbron, Ph.D. (E-Flux) presented an introduction to the concepts behind natural source zone depletion (NSZD), including NSZD geochemistry, methods to measure NSZD rates at field sites, and NSZD data use.