Assessing the potential for natural or enhanced in-situ bioremediation at a TCE-contaminated site by coupling process analysis and modeling

Groundwater and soil contamination by chlorinated hydrocarbons has recently become of increasing concern and extensive researches have been conducted to develop technologies for remediating both contaminated groundwaters and soils. In this framework in-situ technologies are promising for remediating contaminated groundwater in that they would keep the ecosystem largely undisturbed and would be cost effective. The aim of the present study is the assessment of natural attenuation potential at a TCE-contaminated site in Northern Italy. This site has a long history of contamination (approximately 50 years) mainly due to industrial activities. The study illustrates the steps involved in implementing natural or enhanced attenuation screening protocols at this site and represent an outstanding example of effective coupling of process analysis and modeling. In fact microcosm studies properly integrated with modeling results might suggest the feasibility for enhancing in-situ reductive dechlorination at the investigated site in order to achieve the stringent legislation limits. Such promising results will be verified through a field test performance before implementing the process at full-scale