On the figure below, illustrate what the pattern of contaminant distribution mig
ID: 106993 • Letter: O
Question
On the figure below, illustrate what the pattern of contaminant distribution might look like for a spill of gasoline at this site. Of particular concern are two components below. Use any information from the textbook and your notes, estimate the concentrations of these two contaminants in the environmental medium. Estimate the retardation factor. What is the general approach in cleaning up a contaminated site like this one? Benzene, logKow = 2.04, solubility in water = 1780 mg/L Ethylbenzene, logKow = 3.15, solubility in water = 140 mg/L.Explanation / Answer
The following figure shows the layer of fractured clay and the the layer below it shows the presence of aquifier. This shows that the clay consists of insufficient water due to which cracks are developed on the surface and contaminates get deposited in between the cracked structure. This is similar to layered deposition pattern were the deposition of contaminants gives an appearence as if they are deposited in definite layers which are nothing but the cracks.
1)Concentration of the contaminants:-
Concentration of benzene=1708*2.04=3484.32mg/L
Concentration of ethylbenzene=140*3.15=441mg/L
2)Estimation of retardation factor:-
The retardation factor is calculated by subtracting the low ko values of both benzene and ethylbenzene.
Retardation factor=3.15-2.04=1.11
3)The approach in cleaning the contaminants will not be a simple process because the contaminant particles are struck in between the cracks of the fractured clay structure and for cleaning first the clay is provided with sufficient amount of water so that the contaminants rise along with water. Now the water is fed through multiple processes of removing benzene and ethylbenzene so that considerable amount of contaminants are removed.
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