Effect of dissolved organic matter and bacteria on contaminant transport in riverbank filtration

Song Bae Kim, M. Yavuz Corapcioglu, Dong Ju Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

44 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A mathematical model for the transport of hydrophobic organic contaminants in an aquifer under simplistic riverbank filtration conditions is developed. The model considers a situation where contaminants are present together with dissolved organic matter (DOM) and bacteria. The aquifer is conceptualized as a four-phase system: two mobile colloidal phases, an aqueous phase, and a stationary solid phase. An equilibrium approach is used to describe the interactions of contaminants with DOM, bacteria, and solid matrix. The model is composed of bacterial transport equation and contaminant transport equation. Numerical simulations are performed to examine the contaminant transport behavior in the presence of DOM and bacteria. The simulation results illustrate that contaminant transport is enhanced markedly in the presence of DOM and bacteria, and the impact of DOM on contaminant mobility is greater than that of bacteria under examined conditions. Sensitivity analysis demonstrates that the model is sensitive to changes of three lumped parameters: K1 + (total affinity of stationary solid phase to contaminants), K 2+ (total affinity of DOM to contaminants), and K 3+ (total affinity of bacteria to contaminants). In a situation where contaminants exist simultaneously with DOM and bacteria, contaminant transport is mainly affected by a ratio of K1 +/K2+/K3+, which can vary with changes of equilibrium distribution coefficient of contaminants and/ or colloidal concentrations. In riverbank filtration, the influence of DOM and bacteria on the transport behavior of contaminants should be accounted to accurately predict the contaminant mobility.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-23
Number of pages23
JournalJournal of Contaminant Hydrology
Volume66
Issue number1-2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2003 Oct

Keywords

  • Bacteria
  • Colloid-facilitated transport
  • Dissolved organic matters
  • Hydrophobic organic contaminant
  • Riverbank filtration

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Water Science and Technology

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