Use of environmental isotopes (13C, 15N, and 18O) for evaluating sources and fate of nitrate and tetrachloroethene in an alluvial aquifer
Environmental isotopes and geochemical parameters were used to evaluate the sources and fate of nitrate (NO3-) and tetrachloroethene (PCE) in an alluvial contaminated aquifer. Isotope data and redox parameters data indicated that biodegradation does not play any role in the attenuation of these comp...
| Autores: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Estado: | Versión aceptada para publicación |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2010 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya) |
| Repositorio: | Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:recercat.cat:2445/163697 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/2445/163697 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Hidrologia d'aigües subterrànies Aqüífers Isòtops estables en ecologia Groundwater hydrology Aquifers Stable isotopes in ecological research |
| Sumario: | Environmental isotopes and geochemical parameters were used to evaluate the sources and fate of nitrate (NO3-) and tetrachloroethene (PCE) in an alluvial contaminated aquifer. Isotope data and redox parameters data indicated that biodegradation does not play any role in the attenuation of these compounds along the groundwater flow system. Furthermore, nitrate isotopes and concentration data allowed the authors to distinguish two nitrate inputs and relate them to their possible sources. The primary source originates from septic waste and the secondary source is associated with nitrogenous fertilizer application. Regarding PCE, the δ13C values do not change for almost 1000 m along the groundwater flow system despite large decreases of PCE concentration, thus confirming that physical processes do not alter the isotopic composition of organic compounds; this finding has a significant implication for the use of carbon isotope ratios for fingerprinting sources of PCE in VOC plumes. This study has shown that combined use of environmental isotopes and geochemical parameters is an efficient approach for water resource management studies in sites polluted by various types of contaminants. |
|---|