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Guan J, Huang J, Sun Y, Li C, Wan Y, Wei G, Kang R, Pang H, Shi Q, McHugh T, Ma J. Understanding petroleum vapor fate and transport through high resolution analysis of two distinct vapor plumes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169464. [PMID: 38123082 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
No field study has provided a detailed characterization of the molecular composition and spatial distribution of a vadose zone plume of petroleum volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which is critical to improve the current understanding of petroleum VOC transport and fate. This is study reports a high-resolution analysis of two distinct vapor plumes emanating from two different light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) sources (an aliphatic-rich LNAPL for Zone #1vs an aromatic-rich LNAPL for Zone #2) at a large petrochemical site. Although deep soil vapor signatures were similar to the source zone LNAPL signatures, the composition of the shallow soil vapors reflected preferential attenuation of certain hydrocarbons over others during upward transport in the vadose zone. Between deeper and shallower soil gas samples, attenuation of aromatics was observed under all conditions, but important differences were observed in attenuation to aliphatic compound classes. Attenuation of all aliphatic compounds was observed under aerobic conditions but little attenuation of any aliphatics was observed under anoxic conditions without methane. In contrast, under methanogenic conditions, paraffins attenuated more than isoparaffins and naphthenes. These results suggest that isoparafins and naphthenes may present more of a vapor intrusion risk than benzene or other aromatic hydrocarbons commonly considered to be petroleum vapor intrusion risk drivers. While the overall vapor composition changed significantly within the vadose zone, diagnostic ratios of relatively recalcitrant alkylcyclopentanes were preserved in shallow soil vapor samples. These alkylcyclopentanes may be useful for distinguishing between petroleum vapor intrusion and other sources of petroleum VOCs detected in indoor air.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjie Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing 102249, China; College of Chemical Engineering and Environment, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing 102249, China
| | - Jierui Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing 102249, China; College of Chemical Engineering and Environment, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing 102249, China
| | - Yue Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing 102249, China; College of Chemical Engineering and Environment, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing 102249, China
| | - Chong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing 102249, China; College of Chemical Engineering and Environment, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing 102249, China
| | - Yuruo Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing 102249, China; College of Chemical Engineering and Environment, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing 102249, China
| | - Guo Wei
- Beijing Beitou Eco-environment Co., Ltd, Canal East St. 6th, Beijing 101117, China
| | - Rifeng Kang
- Beijing Beitou Eco-environment Co., Ltd, Canal East St. 6th, Beijing 101117, China
| | - Hongwei Pang
- Beijing Beitou Eco-environment Co., Ltd, Canal East St. 6th, Beijing 101117, China
| | - Quan Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing 102249, China; College of Chemical Engineering and Environment, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing 102249, China
| | - Thomas McHugh
- GSI Environmental Inc., 2211 Norfolk Street, Suite 1000, Houston, TX 77098, USA
| | - Jie Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing 102249, China; College of Chemical Engineering and Environment, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing 102249, China.
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