The fundamental step in the identification of the most appropriate strategy for the remediation of sites contaminated with dense nonaqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs) is a comprehensive characterization of the contaminated source region as the morphology of DNAPL strongly governs the mass transfer processes. The influence of DNAPL distribution geometry and groundwater flow velocity on mass reduction was explored through the evaluation of a series of laboratory studies conducted in a two-dimensional tank under different hydrodynamic conditions. An image analysis procedure was used to determine the distribution of DNAPL saturation and the morphology of the contaminated region. Experimental observations revealed a dependence of mass transfer rate on the aqueous phase velocity under high flow regimes, whereas the mass transfer rate was controlled mainly by morphometric indexes under low velocity flow conditions. Experimental results indicate that higher mass reduction and contaminant fluxes are obtained at low saturation values. The mass flux emanating from an elongated source aligned perpendicularly to the direction of water flow is greater due to a higher DNAPL-water contact surface in comparison to a lower mass flux from horizontal pools with high saturation. These aspects should be considered in an inverse modeling technique for locating the source zone and also in all remediation approaches based on an increase in water circulation through a contaminated zone (i.e., pump and treat). © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2011.

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