Monitored natural attenuation has been particularly used at sites where petroleum hydrocarbons and chlorinated solvents have contaminated soil and groundwater. One of the important aspects of the methodology that has been recognized recently is that the mass removal rates, the most important parameter to determine effectiveness of the methodology, is controlled by the groundwater flow regime and the aquifer heterogeneity. Considering this recognition, the primary objective of this study is to quantitatively describe the relationship between the natural attenuation rates and aquifer heterogeneity using numerical simulation techniques. To represent different levels of aquifer heterogeneity, the hydraulic conductivity distribution (ln K) is statistically simulated with the numerical algorithm, Turning Bands Random Field Generator, by changing the statistical parameters, Coefficient of Variation (CV) and correlation length (h) and Visual MODFLOW and RT3D software programs are used for the simulation of groundwater flow and chlorinated solvent transport. Simulation results showed that degradation rates and the shape of the contaminant plumes show variations for different heterogeneity levels. Increasing CV resulted in the decrease in the transport of the plume and shrinkage in the areal extend. On the other hand, &ldquo / h&rdquo / determined the shape and the size of the plume through its affect on mechanical dispersion. For a given &ldquo / h&rdquo / , degradation rates increased with increasing CV, but change in &ldquo / h&rdquo / did not show a regular trend. Such findings are expected to be beneficial when assessing the effectiveness of natural attenuation process for a selected site during the feasibility studies without need for detailed site characterization.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2008. / Committee Chair: Dr. Joseph B. Hughes; Committee Member: Dr. Jian Luo; Committee Member: Dr. Jim C. Spain; Committee Member: Dr. Patricia Sobecky; Committee Member: Dr. Spyros G. Pavlostathis

Submitted by DIMITRI ILICH KERBAUY VELOSO null (dimitriveloso@hotmail.com) on 2016-05-03T21:03:36Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Final.pdf: 8318470 bytes, checksum: 1f59566750ab6e5e25d4b72baa3db621 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Juliano Benedito Ferreira (julianoferreira@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-05-06T13:58:33Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 veloso_dik_me_rcla.pdf: 8318470 bytes, checksum: 1f59566750ab6e5e25d4b72baa3db621 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-05-06T13:58:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 veloso_dik_me_rcla.pdf: 8318470 bytes, checksum: 1f59566750ab6e5e25d4b72baa3db621 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-04-20 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / A contaminação de solos e águas subterrâneas pode colocar em risco a saúde humana além de inviabilizar a exploração de recursos naturais por longos períodos, com sérios prejuízos ambientais, administrativos e financeiros. Este trabalho realizou um estudo em área contaminada no município de Santa Ernestina-SP, com o intuito de avaliar o atual cenário de contaminação deste local por meio da investigação geofísica pelos métodos de Eletrorresistividade e Polarização Induzida. A área foi contaminada em 2007 devido a um acidente ferroviário que causou o derramamento de 58000 litros de óleo diesel. O monitoramento da área foi realizado durante os quatro anos subsequentes ao acidente, a partir de sondagens manuais a trado, poços de monitoramento, coleta de amostras de água subterrânea e levantamento de dados geológicos e hidrogeológicos, integrados em sucessivos relatórios disponibilizados na Agência Ambiental (CETESB) de Araraquara-SP. A escolha dos métodos de Eletrorresistividade e Polarização Induzida foi feita com o objetivo de analisar as relações de contrastes entre as propriedades elétricas do meio subsuperficial e dos contaminantes em solo e água subterrânea. Foram realizadas 11 linhas paralelas de imageamento elétrico em arranjo Wenner, com geração de modelos de inversão geofísica 2D na forma de seções de resistividade e cargabilidade, e modelos integrados de visualização 3D, a partir dos quais foram gerados mapas de profundidade (horizontes de 1m, 3m, 5m e 7m). Os resultados de resistividade elétrica indicaram zonas rasas de baixa resistividade (valores em torno de 150Ω.m) que ocorrem de forma restrita, próximas aos principais locais de infiltração de contaminantes. Esta assinatura geofísica foi correlacionada à presença de resquícios de contaminantes em zona insaturada, onde os processos de atenuação natural conduziram à queda da resistividade do meio geológico a partir da diluição e dissolução de compostos orgânicos e iônicos. Os resultados para cargabilidade viabilizaram um novo ponto de vista investigativo sobre o monitoramento de áreas contaminadas. Por meio destes dados, foi possível associar a ocorrência de biodegradação à provável presença de minerais metálicos neoformados (sulfetos e óxidos) durante e após a ação dos processos de atenuação natural. A formação destes minerais deve estar associada principalmente à alteração das condições físico-químicas do ambiente geológico e à disponibilidade de íons em solos tropicais contaminados por hidrocarbonetos, tais como Fe+3 e, principalmente, S-2 . O conjunto dos resultados aponta para um panorama geral de avançado estágio de descontaminação da área, com atuação efetiva dos processos de atenuação natural, decorridos sete anos do acidente. / Soil and groundwater contamination presents hazards for human health and can spoiling natural resources for long time giving serious environmental, administrative and financial damages. This paper carried out a study in a contaminated area in Santa Ernestina-SP, in order to evaluate the present scenery of contamination by geophysical methods of DC Resistivity and Induced Polarization methods. The contamination site is due to a railway accident ocurred in 2007 that spilled 58.000 liters of diesel. Since the accident, site monitoring had been done during four years and comprised manual probing, monitoring wells, groundwater samples and geological and hydrogeological data, integrated in successive reports provided by the Environmental Agency (CETESB/ Araraquara - SP). Geophysical methods of DC Resistivity and Induced Polarization were used to detect contrasts in physical properties and its connection with soil and groundwater contamination. It was carried out an electrical imaging that consisted in 11 parallel lines organized in Wenner array. This acquisition allowed generating 2D inversion models for electrical resistivity and chargeability, in addiction to an integrated 3D display model for each parameters, that allowed generating depth maps (1m, 3m , 5m and 7m horizons). The electrical resistivity results indicated low resistivity shallow zones (values around 150Ω.m) that occurs confined, near the sites of contaminant infiltration. This geophysical signature was correlated to traces of contaminants presents into the unsaturated zone, which natural attenuation process led to reduction of the environmental resistivity due to dilution and dissolution of organic and ionic compounds. The chargeability results had enabled a new side of investigation related to the monitoring of contaminated sites. Through this data, it was possible to link the occurrence of biodegradation to likely presence of metallic minerals neoformation (sulfides and oxides) during and after the natural attenuation activity. Minerals neoformation is propably associated with changes in physicochemical environmental‟s conditions in addict to availability of ions (Fe+3 and, mainly, S-2 ) in tropical contaminated soils.The results‟overview suggests an advanced decontamination stage of the site, for which one the natural attenuation processes has been effective more than seven years since the accident.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:26:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2005-10-13Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:54:12Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 moreira_ca_me_rcla.pdf: 8326908 bytes, checksum: aabce1d39adb0817d36429889d591481 (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Este trabalho discute a aplicabilidade do método geofísico Eletromagnético Transiente (TEM) a partir de análise comparativa com o método de Eletrorresistividade, em uma área industrial contaminada por derivados de petróleo e atualmente sob processos de Atenuação Natural. Dentre os contaminantes presentes no solo e água subterrânea estão o Benzeno, Tolueno, Xileno, 1,2 Dicloroetano, Sódio, Cloreto e Sulfato. A remediação da área é realizada exclusivamente por Atenuação Natural, ou seja, ação de processos físicos, químicos e biológicos responsáveis pela degradação, dispersão e diluição dos contaminantes. Foram utilizadas as técnicas de sondagem eletromagnética de loop central, caminhamento eletromagnético, sondagem elétrica vertical e caminhamento elétrico. Os resultados apresentam uma anomalia de baixa resistividade adjacente aos poços de injeção, e anomalias de alta resistividade sob estes poços. A grande área abrangida pela anomalia de baixa resistividade é fruto principalmente da biodegradação dos contaminantes de fase líquida leve não aquosa - LNAPL, cujas sucessivas quebras em compostos mais simples por ação de microorganismos resulta em ácidos orgânicos que corroem grãos minerais, que são liberados ao meio sob a forma iônica. A pequena área abrangida pela anomalia de alta resistividade é produto da concentração de contaminantes pouco degradados, caracterizados por elevada resistividade em relação á água. O TEM se mostrou aplicável no estudo de áreas contaminadas e o processo de Atenuação Natural está sendo eficaz na remediação da área. / This work discuss the applicability of the Transient Electromagnetic Method (TEM) from comparative analysis with the Electrical Method, in an industrial area contaminated by oil derived and currently under processes of Natural Attenuation. Amongst the contaminants presents in the soil and groundwater they are the Benzene, Toluene, Xylene, 1,2 Dichloroetene, Sodium, Chloride and Sulphate. A remediation of the area is carried through exclusively by Natural Attenuation, or either, action of physical, chemical and biological processes responsible for the degradation, dispersion and dilution of contaminants. The techniques of electromagnetic sounding of central loop, electromagnetic tomography, vertical electric sounding and electric tomography had been used. The results present an anomaly of low adjacent resistivity to the injection wells, and anomalies of high resistivity under these wells. The great area enclosed for the anomaly of low resistivity is fruit mainly of the biodegradation of the contaminants of light non-aqueous phase liquid - LNAPL, whose successive breakings in simpler composites for action of microorganisms result in acid organic that corrode mineral grains, that are set free to the way under the ionic form. The small area enclosed for the anomaly of high resistivity is product of the concentration of contaminants little degraded, characterized for raised resistivity in relation a water. The TEM if it showed applicable in the study of contaminated areas and the process of Natural Attenuation is being efficient in the remediation of the area.

abstract: This work focuses on a generalized assessment of source zone natural attenuation (SZNA) at chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbon (CAH) impacted sites. Given the numbers of sites and technical challenges for cleanup there is a need for a SZNA method at CAH impacted sites. The method anticipates that decision makers will be interested in the following questions: 1-Is SZNA occurring and what processes contribute? 2-What are the current SZNA rates? 3-What are the longer-term implications? The approach is macroscopic and uses multiple lines-of-evidence. An in-depth application of the generalized non-site specific method over multiple site events, with sampling refinement approaches applied for improving SZNA estimates, at three CAH impacted sites is presented with a focus on discharge rates for four events over approximately three years (Site 1:2.9, 8.4, 4.9, 2.8kg/yr as PCE, Site 2:1.6, 2.2, 1.7, 1.1kg/y as PCE, Site 3:570, 590, 250, 240kg/y as TCE). When applying the generalized CAH-SZNA method, it is likely that different practitioners will not sample a site similarly, especially regarding sampling density on a groundwater transect. Calculation of SZNA rates is affected by contaminant spatial variability with reference to transect sampling intervals and density with variations in either resulting in different mass discharge estimates. The effects on discharge estimates from varied sampling densities and spacings were examined to develop heuristic sampling guidelines with practical site sampling densities; the guidelines aim to reduce the variability in discharge estimates due to different sampling approaches and to improve confidence in SZNA rates allowing decision-makers to place the rates in perspective and determine a course of action based on remedial goals. Finally bench scale testing was used to address longer term questions; specifically the nature and extent of source architecture. A rapid in-situ disturbance method was developed using a bench-scale apparatus. The approach allows for rapid identification of the presence of DNAPL using several common pilot scale technologies (ISCO, air-sparging, water-injection) and can identify relevant source architectural features (ganglia, pools, dissolved source). Understanding of source architecture and identification of DNAPL containing regions greatly enhances site conceptualization models, improving estimated time frames for SZNA, and possibly improving design of remedial systems. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Civil and Environmental Engineering 2013

Um estudo de caso e dois experimentos controlados de campo foram realizados, a fim de avaliar o impacto do etanol nos processos de atenuação natural que atuam em plumas de contaminação em fase dissolvida de gasolina. No estudo de caso, foi monitorada uma pluma de contaminação de E22 (gasolina com 22% de etanol em volume) em Itaguaí (RJ). Os dois experimentos controlados foram realizados no aqüífero de Borden, no Canadá, para estudar plumas de E10 e E95 (gasolinas com 10 e 95% de volume de etanol, respectivamente). Neste caso, foram realizadas injeções dos contaminantes abaixo do nível d\'água, gerando plumas que foram monitoradas. O etanol, em subsuperfície, particiona rapidamente para a água subterrânea, deixando a fase residual, e é transportado com a velocidade da água subterrânea. Os outros compostos orgânicos de gasolina migram com velocidades menores. Benzeno e tolueno apresentam velocidades mais próximas do etanol, enquanto trimetilbezenos e naftalenos são os mais retardados. Estas diferenças de migração dos compostos resultaram na separação espacial entre as plumas ao longo do período monitorado. A maior concentração de etanol detectada foi de 12.762 mg/L, que corresponde a um volume de etanol em água de 1,63%. As baixas concentrações de etanol não evidenciam que ele tenha exercido efeito cosolvente pronunciado na solubilidade dos compostos da gasolina. Os compostos orgânicos apresentaram perdas de massa ao longo do tempo de monitoramento. A biodegradação dos contaminantes foi observada pelo consumo de oxigênio dissolvido e metonogênese. O etanol apresentou a maior diminuição de massa e foi biotransformado mesmo sob condições anóxicas. O composto que apresentou a menos perda de massa foi o benzeno. A maior persistência de benzeno é atribuída à sua velocidade de migração próxima à água subterrânea associada ao efeito de consumo preferencial de receptores de elétrons pelo etanol. No estudo de caso, o desaparecimento de etanol pode estar relacionado à sua alta taxa de biodegradação, fato observado nos experimentos de campo. Entretanto, o efeito cosolvente na pluma, que explicaria o deplecionamento dos compostos mais móveis, como benzeno e tolueno, na pluma não foi comprovado nos experimentos. / A case study and two controlled field experiments were conducted to evaluate the impact of ethanol on the natural attenuation processes affecting dissolved phase of gasoline plumes. The case study was conducted in Itaguaí (RJ) where an E22 (gasoline with 22 % by volume of denatured ethanol) contaminant plume was studied. The controlled field experiments were conducted at the Borden aquifer in Canada to study plumes E10 and E95. In this case, contaminants were injected below the water table and plumes were monitored down gradient. In subsurface, ethanol partitions fastly from the residual phase and is transported with the ground water velocity. The other organic compounds migrate with lower velocities. Benzene and toluene present velocities close to ethanol, while trimethylbenzenes and naphthalene are the most retarded. These transport differences resulted in the spatial separation between the plumes throughout the monitoring period. The highest ethanol concentration detected was 12,762 mg/L, which corresponds to 1.63 % of ethanol volume in water. The ethanol concentrations detected do not support the cosolvency effect on the gasoline constituents of the plumes. The organic compounds presented mass losses throughout the monitoring period. Biodegradation was also demonstrated through dissolved oxygen consumption and methanogenesis. Ethanol presented the highest mass losses and was biotransformed under anoxic conditions. Benzene presented the smallest mass loss. Benzene´s higher persistence is related to the migration close to the ground water velocity and the preferential consumption of electron acceptors by ethanol. In the case study, the disappearance of ethanol can be related to its higher biodegradation rate, which was detected through the field experiments. However, the cosolvent effect in the plume, which would explain the depletion of the most mobile compounds such as benzene and toluene was not observed during the field experiments.

Estudos recentes constataram a existência de processos que permitem a atenuação natural dos contaminantes presentes nos lixiviados. O adequado entendimento destes processos pode originar benefícios possíveis de serem aplicados em aterros antigos, novos ou naqueles que ainda serão concebidos. O presente estudo avaliou o comportamento e a atenuação de contaminantes dos líxiviados no solo, por meio de experimento desenvolvido em colunas de percolação e, para a avaliação da atenuação este teste é indicado por refletir as condições naturais e as características adsortivas do solo, propiciando uma melhor simulação da atenuação. O lixiviado e o solo utilizados neste experimento são provenientes do aterro sanitário de São Carlos - SP. O solo utilizado foi caracterizado quanto à composição física, química, biológica e mineralógica para verificar o transporte do percolado nas colunas e a interação solo-contaminante. Na área do aterro foram feitas perfurações, ensaios de condutividade hidráulica e avaliação da geologia local, para conhecimento das características físicas, químicas, biológicas, mineralógicas e geológicas do solo in situ. Este foi classificado como arenoso, apresentando características físicas e químicas que não se enquadram nos parâmetros adequados para sua utilização em áreas de disposição de resíduos sólidos urbanos, pois, a capacidade de troca de cátions, superfície específica, potencial hidrogeniônico e classe textural arenosa, evidenciam que este solo possui deficiente capacidade de retenção e imobilização de contaminantes. Além disso, pela observação in situ, constata-se que a área de disposição de resíduos sólidos de São Carlos esta situado sobre rochas da Formação Botucatu, sendo que a mineralogia do solo presente no local é composta de quartzo, caulinita, goethita, hematita, gibsita e ilita. O ensaio de condutividade hidráulica indicou que o solo presente na base do Aterro sanitário não atende a valor de permeabilidade exigida por norma, o que poderá permitir a infiltração de água da chuva, aumentando a produção do lixiviado e sua movimentação no perfil, podendo atingir as águas subterrâneas. Assim, foram traçadas curvas características do transporte de contaminantes nas amostras efluentes monitoradas durante o processo de percolação, coletadas a cada 0,25 volume de poros até atingir 10,0 volume de poros percolados. As curvas características do transporte de contaminantes traçadas apresentaram baixas concentrações de Chumbo, Cádmio, Ferro, Zinco, Manganês, Cálcio, Magnésio, Cobre, Cromo nas amostras fluentes. Já o Sódio, Potássio, Cloro, Níquel e Alumínio foram preferencialmente percolados com o lixiviado, evidenciando a variação da faixa de concentração de cada elemento no percolado. Os perfis de concentração dos metais pesados mostraram que existe uma frente de contaminação. As curvas de retenção de metais no solo mostraram que a preferência de sorção apresentada pelos solos nas colunas foi : Cobre > Cádmio > Cálcio > Zinco > Magnésio > Potássio > Manganês > Fósforo > Ferro > Níquel > Alumínio. Cujos valores retidos no solo das colunas podem estar evidenciando a capacidade deste solo em reter contaminantes.O solo em questão apresentou baixo potencial para retenção dos contaminantes presentes no lixiviado, classificado como arenoso e, com características químicas que não se enquadram nos parâmetros adequados para sua utilização em áreas de disposição de resíduos sólidos urbanos. / Recent studies had found the existence of processes that allow a natural attenuation of the leachates\'s cotaminants. An adequate understanding of these processes may originate benefits, that may be applied in ancient, new or to be created landfills. This work evaluated the contaminant\'s behavior and attenuation, contaminants existing in soil\'s leaching, throughout an experiment developed in percolation columns. This is the indicated examination for evaluate the attenuation, because it reflects soil\'s natural conditions and adsorptive characteristics, providing a better simulation of it\'s attenuation. The leachate and the soil used in this experiment came from Sao Carlos-SP landfill. The used soil has been characterized as its mineralogical\'s and physical chemical-biological\'s composition, looking for the percolated\'s transportation inside the columns, and for the interaction soil-contaminant. The landfill\'s area has been several times drilled, tested as it\'s hydraulic conductivity and assessment of local geology, in order to know the physical, chemical, biological, mineralogical and geological in situ soil\'s characteristics. This, has been classified as sandy, and, by presenting chemical characteristics that does not reach the adequated value for utilization on solid urban wastes, due to the values of CTC, SE, pH, and the textural sandy class, what shows a deficient buffering capacity in retaining and immobilisating contaminants. By observation in situ, has been found that Sao Carlos\'s solids disposal waste is located over rocks from the Botucatu formation, and the mineralogy of it is composed of quartz, caulinith, goethith, hematith, gibsith an ilith. The hydraulic conductivity test has indicated that the soil in the base of the sanitary landfill does not reaches the permeability values required by the standards, what may allow rain water\'s infiltration, and raises the amount of leachate and it\'s movement onto the ground, and even the leachete to reach the underground waters. So, has been drawn the characteristics curves of the contaminant\'s transportation in the effluents samples found during the percolation process, collected by every 0,25 VP until it reaches 10,0 VP percolated. The characteristical curves of the contaminant\'s transportation drawn showed low concentrations in the effluent samples of Lead, Cadmium, Iron, Zinc, Manganese, Calcium, Magnesium, Cooper, Chromium. Also, Sodium, Potassium, Chlorine, Nickel and Aluminium had been preferencially percolated within the leachate, what evidentiates the variation in the range of concentrations of every percolated element. The concentration profiles from heavy metal\'s had shown that there is a front of contamination. The retention curves from the soil\'s retaining metal showed that the preferency for the sorption was: Cooper > Cadmium > Calcium > Zinc > Magnesium > Potassium > Manganese > Phosphorus > Iron > Nickel > Aluminium, whose values may point the soil\'s ability in retaining contaminants. The studied soil has presented low potential in retain contaminants from the leachete, and is characterized as sandy, and it\'s chemical features shall not be framed according the standards parameters to be utilized in solid urban waste\'s disposal.

Chlorinated solvents are common contaminants in soil and water. Under anaerobic conditions microbes are capable of transforming chlorinated solvents into ethylene which would result in a remediation of the contaminated area. In order to use natural attenuation as a remediation method evidence of continuous degradation is required. Furthermore, the degradation must occur at a sufficient rate and continuous monitoring of the site is needed until the demanded levels are achieved. A field study was performed on the basis of data from a dry-cleaning facility contaminated mainly by perchloroethylene. The purpose of the study was to define the existing situation regarding distribution and transformation of contaminant in order to evaluate the possibilities of using natural attenuation as a method of remediation. Degradation of perchloroethylene proceeds through successive removal of chlorine, with the formation of trichloroethylene, dichloroethylene, vinyl chloride and ethylene. There exists evidence of degradation as far as vinyl chloride on the site but whether transformation continues to ethylene is not established. The computer model Biochlor was used to simulate distribution and degradation of the contaminants. The site possesses a complex hydrogeology and the existing data are not sufficient to distinguish the effect of degradation from other factors such as spreading of contaminant between different layers of soil. Since degradation failed to be quantified, natural attenuation can not be recommended as a safe remediation method at the considered site without further investigations. / Klorerade lösningsmedel är vanligt förekommande föroreningar i mark och vatten. Under anaeroba förhållanden kan mikrober omvandla klorerade kolväten till eten vilket leder till rening av det förorenade området. För att kunna använda denna naturliga nedbrytning som saneringsmetod krävs bevis för att nedbrytning fortskrider i tillräcklig utsträckning för att rena området och därefter krävs kontinuerlig provtagning till dess målen för saneringen har uppnåtts. En fallstudie utfördes utifrån data från en kemtvättsfastighet förorenad av i första hand perkloreten. Syftet var att kartlägga föroreningssituationen med avseende på spridning och nedbrytning av de klorerade föreningarna för att undersöka om naturlig nedbrytning var en möjlig framtida saneringsmetod. Nedbrytning av perkloreten sker stegvis genom att klor avspjälkas, under bildande av produkterna trikloreten, dikloreten, vinylklorid och etengas. Nedbrytning av förorening har konstaterats ske på fastigheten fram till vinylklorid men huruvida nedbrytning avstannat där eller fullföljts till etengas är ej klarlagt. Datormodellen Biochlor användes för att simulera spridning och nedbrytning av utsläppet. Fältplatsen har en komplex hydrogeologi och befintliga fältdata var inte tillräckliga för att särskilja nedbrytningens effekt från faktorer såsom spridning av förorening mellan olika jordlager. Eftersom nedbrytningen inte kunde kvantifieras kan naturlig nedbrytning inte rekommenderas som säker saneringsmetod på denna fältplats utan kompletterande analyser.

No description available.

Reductive dechlorination is a significant natural attenuation process in chloroethene-contaminated aquifers where organic carbon combined with reducing redox conditions support active dechlorinating microorganisms. At sites where natural organic carbon (NOC) associated with the aquifer matrix provides fermentable organics, the ability to measure the NOC is needed to assess the potential for the long-term sustainability of reductive dechlorination. This study focused on developing a method to measure the potentially bioavailable organic carbon (PBOC) associated with aquifer sediment. To measure NOC and evaluate its biodegradability, liquid extraction techniques on aquifer sediment were investigated. Single extractions with different extracting solutions showed that extractable organic carbon associated with the sediment ranged from 1-38% of the total organic carbon content (TOCs). Bioassay experiments demonstrated that 30-60% of the extractable organic carbon can be utilized by a microbial consortium. Alternating between 0.1% pyrophosphate and base solutions over multiple extractions increased the rate of removal efficiency and targeted two organic carbon pools. The result of the investigation was a laboratory method to quantify organic carbon from the aquifer matrix in terms of the PBOC. In the second part, the extractable PBOC was shown to biodegrade under anaerobic conditions, to produce H2 at levels necessary to maintain reductive dechlorination, and to support reductive dechlorination in enrichment cultures. For the third part of the research, the difference in extractable organic carbon inside and outside of a chloroethene-contaminated plume was examined through the combination of PBOC laboratory data and field parameters. Supported by ground-water constituent data, the PBOC extraction and bioassay studies showed that less extractable organic carbon was present inside than outside of the chloroethene plume. The final part of the research investigated the distribution of PBOC extractions across six contaminated sites. PBOC extractions were directly correlated to the TOCs, soft carbon content, and level of reductive dechlorination activity at the sites. Based on these correlations, a range for organic carbon potentially available to subsurface microorganisms was proposed where the upper bound consisted of the soft carbon and the lower bound consisted of the PBOC. / Ph. D.