Review on migration and entrapment of light nonaqueous phase liquids in the subsurface environment
Groundwater contamination by Light Non-aqueous Phase liquids (LNAPLs) has attracted massive research attention over the past decades to ensure a safe environment for living beings. The knowledge of LNAPL distribution and entrapment in the subsurface environment is still scattered, preventing a cle...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Desalination and Water Treatment |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1944398625001110 |
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| Summary: | Groundwater contamination by Light Non-aqueous Phase liquids (LNAPLs) has attracted massive research attention over the past decades to ensure a safe environment for living beings. The knowledge of LNAPL distribution and entrapment in the subsurface environment is still scattered, preventing a clear view of the occurring processes. This review discusses the effect of (1) groundwater table fluctuation, (2) sand arrangement and particle size, and (3) spilled LNAPL volume on LNAPL behavior and entrapment in the subsurface. From the available literature, changes in the groundwater table increase LNAPL entrapment in the initial wet soil conditions by over 130 % and reduce trapped LNAPL in saturated soil by 101.65 % promoting the contaminant loss through enhanced dissolution and degradation in the unsaturated zone. Researchers have investigated LNAPL movement in layered heterogeneous sand to understand the effects of local low permeability on the contaminant velocities. It showed that LNAPL displacement was 20.78 %, 20.5 %, and 10 % in the coarse, medium, and fine sand, respectively. An increasing LNAPL volume with consistent groundwater fluctuations has a limited impact on LNAPL behavior, although a higher LNAPL spill volume can notably depress the capillary fringe. The influence of the three studied factors on the migration and transformation of pollutants, however, remains uncertain, which necessitates further studies on the migration and entrapment of LNAPL in the capillary fringe zone to mitigate LNAPL contamination in the saturated zone. Additionally, future studies should investigate the LNAPL migration in double porous soil and multiple LNAPL injections under groundwater fluctuation. A deeper understanding of these factors is essential for developing predictive models and effective remediation techniques to mitigate groundwater contamination. This review serves as a foundation for future research, guiding efforts toward sustainable contamination management strategies. |
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| ISSN: | 1944-3986 |