Modeling in Situ Bioremedition of Perchlorate-Contaminated Groundwater

<p>Perchlorate-contaminated groundwater is a significant problem for the Department of Defense and the United States Air Force. An innovative technology was recently developed which uses dual-screened treatment wells to mix an electron donor into perchlorate-contaminated groundwater in order to effect in situ bioremediation of the perchlorate by indigenous perchlorate reducing bacteria without the need to extract the contaminated water from the subsurface. In this study a model that simulates operation of the technology is calibrated and validated using 761 days of observational data obtained from a field-scale technology evaluation project. A genetic algorithm was used with the first 113 days of data to derive a set of best-fit parameters to describe perchlorate reduction kinetics for the electron donor citrate utilized in the evaluation study. The calibrated parameter values were then used to predict technology performance from day 114 through day 761. Measurements of goodness-of-fit statistics indicate the model appears to qualitatively reproduce the salient characteristics of the observed data when utilizing the new best-fit parameter values. Therefore it appears the model may be a useful tool for designing and operating this technology at other perchlorate-contaminated sites.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>