Agent-based model to simulate groundwater remediation with nanoscale zero valent iron

Abstract

Soils, air and water have been deeply contaminated by anthropogenic activities continuously spread over time. One of the most dangerous pollutant in groundwater is represented by chlorinated organic solvents, which acts as a Dense Non Aquifer Phase Liquid (DNAPL) contaminant. Many laboratory experiments have shown that nZVI encapsulated into micelles could treat DNAPL pollution directly into the groundwater but very few in situ experimentations have been tested. Agent-Based Model (ABM) is a powerful tool to simulate and to gain better insights in complex systems. In this paper we present an ABM simulation of DNAPL contaminated groundwater remediation. The model simulates a dehalogenation process of Trichloroethylene (TCE) with the application of encapsulated nZVI, directly injected into the DNAPL contaminant source. © 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.