Effects of Hydrodynamic Condition on DNAPL Dissolution: Experimental Observation

The dissolution process of NAPLs is significantly important in predicting the transport and/or fate of the contaminants and designing remedial systems. In this research, experimental observations on dissolution of TCE pool under various hydrodynamic conditions are done using an aquifer model. Hydrodynamic parameters such as linear pore velocity and dispersion coefficient are estimated from the results of preliminary tracer tests using bromide as conservative tracer before doing the TCE dissolution experiments. It is found that hydrodynamic parameters are distinctly affected by the clay lens imbeded in the aquifer model. Nonequilibrium and transient dissolution rates are observed from the results of TCE dissolution experiments.