title: Measuring the flux at the interface of coal-tar impacted sediment and river water near a former MGP site.
abstract: Determining water movement through contaminated sediment is critical for characterizing transport of chemicals from the sediment to the overlying water. Field studies to characterize the water flow across the sediment-water interface within a river adjacent to a former manufactured gas plant site were conducted. For this purpose, a new design of an interfacial flow meter was developed and tested. The in situ components of the system consisted of: a cylinder with an interfacial area of 2342 cm2; a dome attached to the cylinder; and a flow tube that allows water to flow from inside the dome to the river at the rate equal to the specific discharge across the sediment-water boundary. A 'heat-pulse' method was used to measure flow by heating the center of the flow tube for a brief time period and measuring the temperature profile within the tube over time. The system was calibrated to measure volumetric flux in the range 1.5-4.0 cm d(-1), however using a flow-addition method, the measurement of lower velocities also was accomplished, and calibration at higher fluxes is possible. From the groundwater flow at the interface of the coal-tar impacted sediment and information on the sediment pore water concentrations of several PAHs (poly-cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), the mass flux of these PAHs to the river were estimated. Information on PAH mass flux at the sediment-water interface is useful for site assessment, including the evaluation of remediation alternatives and longer term site characterization.
authors: School of Civil Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA. soilhyun@korea.ac.kr
authors: Seunghun
authors: S
authors: Hyun
authors: Chad T
authors: CT
authors: Jafvert
authors: Byron
authors: B
authors: Jenkinson
authors: Carl
authors: C
authors: Enfield
authors: Brian
authors: B
authors: Johnson
mesh_terms: D003033:Coal Tar / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000032:analysis; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014872:Water Movements; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D007220:Industrial Waste; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D003033:Coal Tar