Effect of water table fluctuations on petroleum contamination distribution

Research was conducted to study the effects of raising the water table level at different rates on petroleum contamination distribution. The experiments were carried out using a two-dimensional sand tank model. The experimental Light Non Aqueous Phase Liquid (LNAPL) was No. 2 Diesel fuel and the experimental media was sand (Sieve 20). A known quantity of fuel (5.65 Liters) was leaked into the tank at a leak rate of 0.75 L/hr. The water table level was raised at four different rates, 0.2, 1.4, 9.8, and 20 cm/hr. As the water table level was raised, the LNAPL layer rose to a certain height before breakthrough of water through the LNAPL layer occurred. The height at which breakthrough occurred was higher for the fastest rate of water table rise. The time to breakthrough of water through the LNAPL layer was longest for the slowest rate. The time to breakthrough of water through the LNAPL layer approached a similar value for the faster rise rates, 9.8 cm/hr and 20.0 cm/hr. The soil samples were analyzed for Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) and the results of the soil sample analysis showed that for faster water table level rise rates, the hydrocarbon concentration at each sampling location was higher. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Water Resource Management

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Year

1992

Author dc:creator

• Sabapathi, Jaishankar

Contributors dc:contributor

• David K. Kreamer

Statement dc:rights

• IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

https://oasis.library.unlv.edu/rtds/268

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:oasis.library.unlv.edu:rtds-1267