2-DIMENSIONAL MODELING OF AQUIFER REMEDIATION INFLUENCED BY SORPTION NONEQUILIBRIUM AND HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY HETEROGENEITY

A computational model was developed to simulate aquifer remediation by pump and treat for a confined, perfectly stratified aquifer. A split- operator finite element numerical technique was utilized to incorporat e flow field heterogeneity and nonequilibrium sorption into a two-dime nsional, radially symmetric advective-dispersive transport model. Simu lations reproduced the tailing behavior commonly observed at remedial sites. Predicted remediation times were observed to increase as the de gree of hydraulic conductivity heterogeneity and/or sorption nonequili brium increased. Dimensional analysis was used to facilitate the gener al application of simulation results to a range of aquifer/contaminant systems. The effects of sorption nonlinearity, sorption capacity hete rogeneity, and intermittent pumping were also analyzed.