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Guide for Assessing Biodegradation and Source Identification of Organic Ground Water Contaminants using Compound Specific Isotope Analysis (CSIA).

PB2009105967

Publication Date	2008
Personal Author	Hunkeler, D.; Meckenstock, R. U.; Lollar, B. S.; Schmidt, T. C.; Wilson, J. T.
Page Count	82
Abstract	Managing the risk associated with hazardous organic compounds in ground water at hazardous waste sites often requires detailed knowledge of the extent of degradation of the organic contaminants at the site. An evaluation of the contribution of natural biodegradation or abiotic transformation processes in ground water is usually crucial to the selection of Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA) as a remedy for a site. Documentation that the organic contaminant is actually being degraded is important for performance monitoring of MNA, performance monitoring of active in situ bioremediation, and performance monitoring of many other active remedial technologies. The traditional approach of monitoring a reduction in the concentrations of contaminants at sites often does not offer compelling documentation that the contaminants are actually being degraded. When data on concentrations are the only data available, it is difficult or impossible to exclude the possibility that the reduction in contaminant concentrations are caused by some other process such as dilution or dispersion, or that the monitoring wells failed to adequately sample the plume of contaminated ground water. Stable isotope analyses can provide unequivocal documentation that biodegradation or abiotic transformation processes actually destroyed the contaminant. When organic contaminants are degraded in the environment, the ratio of stable isotopes will often change, and the extent of degradation can be recognized and predicted from the change in the ratio of stable isotopes. Recent advances in analytical chemistry make it possible to perform Compound Specific Isotope Analysis (CSIA) on dissolved organic contaminants such as chlorinated solvents, aromatic petroleum hydrocarbons, and fuel oxygenates, at concentrations in water that are near their regulatory standards. At many hazardous waste sites, progress toward cleanup of contamination in ground water depends on successful identification of the true source of the contamination.
Keywords	Hazardous organic compounds Ground water Hazardous waste sites Risk management Contaminants Biodegradation Source identification Monitored Natural Attenuation Compound Specific Isotope Analysis (CSIA) Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA)
Source Agency	Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development
Corporate Authors	Neuchatel Univ. (Switzerland).; Toronto Univ. (Ontario).; National Risk Management Research Lab., Ada, OK.
Supplemental Notes	Prepared in cooperation with Toronto Univ. (Ontario). Sponsored by National Risk Management Research Lab., Ada, OK.
Document Type	Technical Report
NTIS Issue Number	200910

Guide for Assessing Biodegradation and Source Identification of Organic Ground Water Contaminants using Compound Specific Isotope Analysis (CSIA).

Guide for Assessing Biodegradation and Source Identification of Organic Ground Water Contaminants using Compound Specific Isotope Analysis (CSIA).
PB2009105967

Publication Date	2008
Personal Author	Hunkeler, D.; Meckenstock, R. U.; Lollar, B. S.; Schmidt, T. C.; Wilson, J. T.
Page Count	82
Abstract	Managing the risk associated with hazardous organic compounds in ground water at hazardous waste sites often requires detailed knowledge of the extent of degradation of the organic contaminants at the site. An evaluation of the contribution of natural biodegradation or abiotic transformation processes in ground water is usually crucial to the selection of Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA) as a remedy for a site. Documentation that the organic contaminant is actually being degraded is important for performance monitoring of MNA, performance monitoring of active in situ bioremediation, and performance monitoring of many other active remedial technologies. The traditional approach of monitoring a reduction in the concentrations of contaminants at sites often does not offer compelling documentation that the contaminants are actually being degraded. When data on concentrations are the only data available, it is difficult or impossible to exclude the possibility that the reduction in contaminant concentrations are caused by some other process such as dilution or dispersion, or that the monitoring wells failed to adequately sample the plume of contaminated ground water. Stable isotope analyses can provide unequivocal documentation that biodegradation or abiotic transformation processes actually destroyed the contaminant. When organic contaminants are degraded in the environment, the ratio of stable isotopes will often change, and the extent of degradation can be recognized and predicted from the change in the ratio of stable isotopes. Recent advances in analytical chemistry make it possible to perform Compound Specific Isotope Analysis (CSIA) on dissolved organic contaminants such as chlorinated solvents, aromatic petroleum hydrocarbons, and fuel oxygenates, at concentrations in water that are near their regulatory standards. At many hazardous waste sites, progress toward cleanup of contamination in ground water depends on successful identification of the true source of the contamination.
Keywords	Hazardous organic compounds Ground water Hazardous waste sites Risk management Contaminants Biodegradation Source identification Monitored Natural Attenuation Compound Specific Isotope Analysis (CSIA) Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA)
Source Agency	Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development
Corporate Authors	Neuchatel Univ. (Switzerland).; Toronto Univ. (Ontario).; National Risk Management Research Lab., Ada, OK.
Supplemental Notes	Prepared in cooperation with Toronto Univ. (Ontario). Sponsored by National Risk Management Research Lab., Ada, OK.
Document Type	Technical Report
NTIS Issue Number	200910