Abiotic degradation can be a substantial or even the primary attenuation process for TCE and other chlorinated hydrocarbons in long dilute plumes and at sites undergoing or transitioning to monitored natural attenuation (MNA). MI offers an Abiotic Panel that includes Magnetic Susceptibility, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), and Percent Clay to identify aquifers where abiotic degradation is a plausible mechanism for observed trends in contaminant concentrations or mass.
ABIOTIC PANEL:
MAGNETIC SUSCEPTIBILITY
Abiotic degradation of PCE, TCE, cis-DCE, and carbon tetrachloride by magnetite can be an important attenuation mechanism. While no direct chemical test is available, magnetite is the most abundant mineral in natural sediments that exhibits magnetic behavior. Therefore, magnetic susceptibility provides an inexpensive and valuable estimate of the quantity of magnetite in environmental samples.
X-RAY DIFFRACTION (XRD)
XRD can provide relative abundances of reactive iron bearing minerals including pyrite and the crystalline form of mackinawite. Both minerals will transform PCE, TCE, and carbon tetrachloride.
PERCENT CLAY
While less well studied than the other iron-bearing minerals, various phyllosilicate clays have been shown to be capable of degradation of PCE, TCE, cis-DCE, vinyl chloride, and carbon tetrachloride.
HOW TO USE THE ABIOTIC PANEL:
As part of a multiple lines of evidence approach, use magnetic susceptibility and the abiotic panel to identify aquifers where it is plausible that chlorinated compounds may be degraded through an abiotic mechanism.
Use the Abiotic Panel to help answer…
- Are iron bearing minerals present that can degrade site contaminants?
- Is abiotic degradation of chlorinated compounds plausible at my site?
- Is abiotic degradation a reasonable explanation for decreasing contaminant concentrations and lack of daughter products?
- Is the 14C TCE degradation rate consistent with degradation rates observed in the field?