Utilization of BIOSCREEN to Calculate Retardation Factor of Petroleum Contaminants, and Biodegradation Rate for a Site in Montpelier, Indiana

Author

Brittany M. Garner

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Schmitz, Darrel W.

Committee Member

Clary, Renee M.

Committee Member

Brown-Johnson, Ashli

Date of Degree

12-11-2015

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Geosciences (Environmental Geosciences)

Degree Name

Master of Science

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Department of Geosciences

Abstract

In March 1994, a report was issued to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management after Jim Allen Maintenance, Inc. found levels of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) exceeding the level appropriate for action (100 parts per million) during an underground storage tank closure report assessment. Creek Run L.L.C Environmental Engineering was contracted by Jay Petroleum to complete an initial site characterization. Through quarterly monitoring of benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and methyl tert-butyl ether for 11 years, Creek Run L.L.C determined that biodegradation was occurring. Upon using BIOSCREEN, a contaminant transport modeling software that simulates natural attenuation over time, it was determined that the retardation factor was 1.4, and the biodegradation rate constant was 4.6 per year. This indicates that the contaminant migration is slow in comparison to groundwater flow, and the rate of biodegradation is at an appropriate value to allow natural attenuation to occur on its own.

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11668/19030

Recommended Citation

Garner, Brittany M., "Utilization of BIOSCREEN to Calculate Retardation Factor of Petroleum Contaminants, and Biodegradation Rate for a Site in Montpelier, Indiana" (2015). Theses and Dissertations. 4920.
https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td/4920