Chlorinated Solvents Phytoremediation: Uptake and Diffusion
Abstract
Trichloroethylene and 1,1,2,2 -tetrachloroethane were taken up by hybrid poplar trees and released to the atmosphere. Volatilization to the atmosphere took place directly from the transpiration pathway and occurs through diffusion from the conductive xylem tissues. Laboratory-scale measurements show the flux of the volatile compounds was a function of vertical distance up the stem, evapotranspiration rates, and the concentration of VOCs in the feed solution. Full-scale measurements corroborate this theory as concentrations and fluxes of chlorinated VOCs were measured directly from the trunks of trees at field-scale phytoremediation systems treating contaminated groundwater. This research provides the first definitive measurements of diffusion directly from the xylem tissues in live plants and of VOCs released to the atmosphere in a field-scale phytoremediation application. In addition, mass removal and volatilization rates for full-scale phytoremediation projects can be calculated using methods outlined in this work and evapotranspiration rates for the plot.
Recommended Citation
J. G. Burken and X. Ma, "Chlorinated Solvents Phytoremediation: Uptake and Diffusion," Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Remediation of Chlorinated and Recalcitrant Compounds, pp. 767 - 774, Battelle Memorial Institute, Dec 2002.
Department(s)
Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering
International Standard Book Number (ISBN)
978-157477132-9
Document Type
Article - Conference proceedings
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2024 Battelle Memorial Institute, All rights reserved.
Publication Date
01 Dec 2002
