[30] 2. A pollutant called BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and zylene) is o

Question

[30] 2. A pollutant called BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and zylene) is often stored in UST's (underground storage tanks). Consider a scenario where several hundred liters of BTEX has leaked from an UST about 2 meters above the water table. (a) How could you caculate or estimate the amount of BTEX that reaches the groundwater? (b) What will happen when the BTEX reaches the groundwater in terms of LNAPL's, DNAPL's and mass transfer? (c) What will happen to the BTEX in saturated soils in terms of microbial activity? (d) As the BTEX moves and changes, where it will be the most dangerous or problematic to people and the environment? (e) What processes might you encourage to remediate the BTEX spills?

Explanation / Answer

(a)We can estimate the amount of BTEX by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy.Gas chromatography column solid gel like polyethylene glycol is used as stationary phase having thickness 1 micrometer is used, initial and final tem.are also recorded.Injector and interface tem.are maintain at 200 and 230degree Celsius.

Mass spectrometer scan range ,interval sampling rate is controlled.

(b)When BTEX reches the ground water in terms of non-aquous phase liquids(LNAPL'S),Dense non-aquous phase liquid's(LNAPL'S) and mass transfer, they affect the ground water quality. Mostly LNAPL'S related ground water problem arises from release of petroleum products which are differently soluble in water and interfere with quality.

(c) When BTEX concentration reaches to saturation in soil , it effects the microbial growth as BTEX concentration causes reduction in oxygen concentration in soil. Some anaerobic organism can grow in presence of BTEX.

(d)Dangerous problems arises due to BTEX among the people is that it causes many cancers ,genetic disorders and abnormalities in the metabolic activities.Environmental problems due to BTEX includes ground water quality degradation, biomagnification etc.

(e)By using microbes like bacteria, algae ,some plants we can remediate the BTEX affected soil, water.

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