Gradients controlling natural attenuation of ammonium

Oxidation of reduced pollutants such as NH4+ in groundwater often takes place at steep redox gradients where oxygenated water is being mixed into polluted water such as landfill leachate. In order to identify controlling parameters and quantify the influence of environmental factors for NH4+ degradation, sensitivity analysis was performed by means of scenario specific numerical modelling. Geometrical factors such as aquifer thickness have been shown to be very influential on the capability of natural attenuation of pollutants in groundwater. The scenarios investigated here include biodegradation at redox gradients in groundwater, so called fringe processes, for (i) a partly contaminated aquifer with two reaction fronts, (ii) and a spatially variable aquifer thickness. In addition, (iii) the influence of groundwater recharge and (iv) restricted supply of O2 to contaminated water by slow dispersion and diffusion across the capillary fringe are investigated. Contaminated aquifer thickness, zones of enhanced mixing due to flow focussing and diffusion/dispersion coefficients in the capillary fringe are identified qualitatively as controlling factors for natural attenuation under complex conditions, whereas predictive functions will require further research.