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Characteristics of petroleum-contaminated groundwater during natural attenuation: a case study in northeast China

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate a petroleum-contaminated groundwater site in northeast China. We determined the physicochemical properties of groundwater that contained total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) with a view to developing a scientifically robust strategy for controlling and remediating pollution of groundwater already contaminated with petroleum. Samples were collected at regular intervals and were analyzed for dissolved oxygen (DO), iron (Fe3+), sulfate (SO42−), electrical conductivity (Eh), pH, hydrogen carbonate (HCO3−), and enzyme activities of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (HRP), catechol 1,2-dioxygenase (C12O), and catechol 2,3-dioxygenase (C23O). We used factor analysis in SPSS to determine the main environmental characteristics of the groundwater samples. The results confirmed that the study site was slightly contaminated and that TPH levels were decreasing slightly. Some of the physicochemical variables showed regular fluctuations; DO, Fe3+, and SO42− contents decreased gradually, while the concentrations of one of the microbial degradation products, HCO3−, increased. Microorganism enzyme activities decreased gradually. The microbiological community deteriorated noticeably during the natural attenuation process, so microbiological degradation of pollutants receded gradually. The HCO3− content increased and the pH and Eh decreased gradually. The groundwater environment tended to be reducing.

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Funding

This study was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41203050) and Natural Foundation of Jilin Province(Grant No.Natural Science Foundation of China).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Lab of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, People’s Republic of China

    Hong Qian, Yuling Zhang, Jiali Wang, Chaoqun Si & Zaixing Chen

  2. College of Environment and Resources, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, People’s Republic of China

    Hong Qian, Yuling Zhang, Jiali Wang, Chaoqun Si & Zaixing Chen

  3. Institute of Water Resources and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, People’s Republic of China

    Hong Qian, Yuling Zhang, Jiali Wang, Chaoqun Si & Zaixing Chen

  4. Yanbian Water Conservancy Bureaus, Yanbian, 133000, People’s Republic of China

    Hong Qian

Authors
  1. Hong Qian
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  2. Yuling Zhang
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  3. Jiali Wang
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  4. Chaoqun Si
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  5. Zaixing Chen
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Correspondence to Yuling Zhang.

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Qian, H., Zhang, Y., Wang, J. et al. Characteristics of petroleum-contaminated groundwater during natural attenuation: a case study in northeast China. Environ Monit Assess 190, 80 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-017-6449-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-017-6449-6

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