Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2008AK72B

Transport and biodegradation of Hydrocarbons in Soil Contaminated with Conventional or Alternative Fuel

Institute: Alaska
Year Established: 2008 Start Date: 2008-03-01 End Date: 2009-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $34,881 Total Non-Federal Funds: $13,796

Principal Investigators: Silke Schiewer

Project Summary: This study focuses on the fate of hydrocarbons in the soil after the occurrence of fuel spills. Since conventional diesel fuel is a nonrenewable resource and can lead to the pollution of ecosystems and groundwater supply, increased focus is directed towards biofuel from renewable resources. However, the environmental impact of biofuel spills is unknown. Therefore, the present research aims to assess the fate of biofuel in the soil taking into account a broad range of processes that naturally occur, including volatilization, biodegradation, and subsurface transport. The overall goal is to better understand the fate of hydrocarbons in the environment, comparing alternative fuel to conventional fuel. Mathematical models calibrated by experimental tests conducted in soil columns will be used to predict the transport of hydrocarbons in saturated and unsaturated soil.