Characterization of a heterogeneous DNAPL source zone in the Borden aquifer using partitioning and interfacial tracers: Residual morphologies and background sorption

A partitioning interwell tracer test (PITT) was performed in the Borden sand aquifer to characterize an aged heterogeneous DNAPL source zone. This zone evolved during 5 years of natural groundwater flow following the infiltration of 50 L chlorinated solvents DNAPL. To assess the lateral variability of remaining DNAPL mass and morphology, four sweepzones were analyzed. The low saturation residual nature of the source zone required correction of tracer breakthrough data for natural background sorption. Corrected estimates of the DNAPL percentage remaining (total 13.2–16.6%), average saturation (0.05–0.18%) and distribution across the sweepzones were in good agreement with previous findings based on detailed transect monitoring, core analyses and ground-penetrating radar reflection. Using a newly defined metric “average spherical radius equivalent (ASRE)”, sweepzone estimates of the average size of DNAPL presence indicated the dominance of single pore DNAPL blobs and suggested the absence of DNAPL pools. Tracer tests indicated that DNAPL presence in the most DNAPL depleted sweepzone was potentially overestimated due to increased sediment sorption by residualized Sudan IV that was added to the DNAPL infiltrate. As hydrophobic compounds are normally present in spent solvent DNAPL, this suggests that additional sorption needs to be considered when using PITTs to characterize aged DNAPL source zones.