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Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1007/s10967-007-0628-9
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Title (Primary) Radon as a tracer to determine the mean residence times of groundwater in decontamination reactors
Author Treutler, H.C.; Just, G.; Schubert, M.; Weiss, H. ORCID logo
Source Titel Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
Year 2007
Department ANA; GWS
Volume 272
Issue 3
Page From 583
Page To 588
Language englisch
Abstract The groundwater at a former gasoline production site in Germany is heavily contaminated with aromatic hydrocarbons (mostly benzene) and is currently being treated in bioreactors under anaerobic conditions. To determine the reaction kinetics it is essential to know the mean residence time of the groundwater in these reactors. Most of the commonly used tracers (dyes and salts) did not give reliable results because of their interaction with the mineral matrix in the reactors. In this study radon (222Rn) dissolved in the groundwater is used as the tracer. The flow rate of groundwater through the reactors is 1 l/h. Over a period of 8 hours the radon-spiked groundwater was injected into the natural groundwater which has a very low radon concentration. The radon concentration of the discharged water is measured online at the reactor outlet. An increasing radon concentration at the reactor exit indicates the shortest residence time of the water. The time-dependent progress of the radon concentration provides detailed information about the flow behavior and residence times of water in the reactor.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=2370
Treutler, H.C., Just, G., Schubert, M., Weiss, H. (2007):
Radon as a tracer to determine the mean residence times of groundwater in decontamination reactors
J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 272 (3), 583 - 588 10.1007/s10967-007-0628-9