Modeling of soil vapor extraction (SVE) systems — Part II. Biodegradation aspects of soil vapor extraction

The biodegradation aspects of a previously presented model were examined with regard to the effect of vacuum and of uncertainty in the Monod reaction-rate constant on the bioreaction contribution. Data from the literature of Monod parameters were applied to the simulator to examine whether claims in the literature, of very significant biodegradation of non-halogenated aliphatics and aromatics by bioventing, were realistic. Generally, the conservative claim of 15% remediation by aerobic biodegradation was found to be realistic. Circumstances where the increase in vacuum had no positive effect on remediation time nor on remediation cost were presented. Predicting biological phenomena in nature is extremely difficult due to the influence of many variables and the impact of their interdependence on parametric sensitivity.