Measurement and Modeling of Nitrate-Nitrogen Transport in Subsurface Bioreactors
A field-scale bioreactor (6.1 m by 6.1 m) installed by researchers in the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign was selected for this study. The nitrate-N concentrations of the bioreactor were monitored in 16 monitoring wells installed at 1.5 m intervals and 0.76 m from each corner. A Finite Element Method routine was used for transient, two-dimensional groundwater flow, and the Random Walk Method was used for two-dimensional nitrate-N transport. The storage coefficient, the dispersivity and the first-order decay coefficient were estimated as 0.18 cm-1, 0.86, 16.7 cm, and 0.2 hr-1, respectively through a nonlinear regression approach. The results of this study will lead to a better understanding of nitrate-N transport through bioreactors, and consequently, the development of design standards and operating protocols for field-scale systems.
University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign