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Modeling expected solute concentration in randomly heterogeneous flow systems with multicomponent reactions.
Maria E Malmström1, Georgia Destouni, Philippe Martinet
1Industrial Ecology, Chemical Engineering and Technology, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden. malmstro@ket.kth.se
Environmental Science & Technology
|June 8, 2004
Summary
This study introduces a coupled LaSAR-PHREEQC model for assessing solute transport in heterogeneous subsurface environments. The model efficiently simulates geochemical reactions and flow, showing significant attenuation of Zn2+ from acid mine drainage due to sorption and precipitation.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Geochemistry
- Hydrogeology
Background:
- Subsurface environmental problems often involve complex reaction systems in heterogeneous flow fields.
- Accurate modeling of solute transport and geochemical reactions is crucial for environmental risk assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a coupled stochastic advective-reactive modeling (LaSAR) and geochemical (PHREEQC) approach.
- To efficiently model solute concentrations in heterogeneous subsurface flow systems with multicomponent reactions.
- To assess the impact of flow heterogeneity on contaminant attenuation.
Main Methods:
- Coupling of the LaSAR model for physical solute transport with the PHREEQC geochemical model.
- Utilizing stochastic advective-reactive modeling to handle field-scale solute spreading in heterogeneous flow fields.
- Simulating acid mine drainage spreading, focusing on Zn2+ attenuation through sorption and precipitation.
Main Results:
- The LaSAR-PHREEQC approach offers computational efficiency for reactive transport problems.
- Flow heterogeneity significantly impacts expected solute concentrations downstream of contaminant sources.
- Zn2+ concentrations from acid mine drainage can be substantially attenuated by sorption and precipitation.
Conclusions:
- The LaSAR-PHREEQC model provides an efficient tool for assessing reactive solute transport in heterogeneous subsurface environments.
- The approach facilitates the handling of quantifiable uncertainty in environmental model applications.
- Understanding geochemical processes and flow heterogeneity is key to predicting contaminant fate and transport.