Numerical models of phosphate esters in the Chattahoochee River

A numerical model was constructed to assess the magnitude of organophosphoric acid triester sinks in the Chattahoochee River and to identify concentration patterns downstream of point source discharges. The model was built using WASP5 and supporting software packages. The model simulated mass transport of tri-butyl phosphate, tri (2-butoxyethyl) phosphate, and tri (2-chloroethyl) phosphate within a reach of the river bounded by Buford Dam and Northern Atlanta. Several potential mechanisms for the removal of the phosphate esters from the water column were considered. These were biodegradation, sorption to settling solids, volatilization, and oxidation by free radicals. Of the three phosphate esters considered by the model, tri (2-chloroethyl) phosphate was predicted to be the most resistant to degradation by natural attenuation processes. Tri (2- butoxyethyl) phosphate showed the most potential for degradation in surface waters. Biodegradation and sorption to settling solids were predicted to be the most effective processes for the removal of tri (2-butoxyethyl) phosphate. Concentration patterns at several locations downstream of point source discharges were predicted for the three compounds. Concentration patterns were found to be affected by the diurnal flow variation caused by the operation of two hydroelectric dams within the modeled reach.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2004

Author dc:creator

• Haffey, Samuel Fraad, 1973-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Peter Shanahan.

• Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/29405

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/29405