Isotopic characterization of dissolved CO2 in Groundwater in a contaminated area with jet fuel in the municipality of Paulínia (SP)

Published
2016-02-04
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14295/ras.v29i3.27979
Keywords: CO2. Isotopic signature. Biodegradation. BTEX. Jet fuel. CO2. Assinatura isotópica. Biodegradação. BTEX. Querosene de aviação.

    Authors

  • Rogério Bordignon Pós-graduação em Geociências e Meio Ambiente
  • Elias Hideo Teramoto LEBAC - Laboratório de Estudo de Bacias
  • Hung Kiang Chang LEBAC - Laboratório de Estudo de Bacias Departamento de Geologia Aplicada - UNESP, Campus de Rio Claro
  • Emílio Carlos Bassinello Hespanhol LEBAC - Laboratório de Estudo de Bacias

Abstract

A new method of dissolved gas sampling in groundwater monitoring wells with screen section below water table is presented in this paper. Sampling of dissolved CO2 was successfully conducted in a jet fuel contaminated groundwater in the city of Paulínia/SP. Several studies have confirmed that biodegradation is responsible for changes in the values of δ13C of CO2, CH4 and DIC (dissolved inorganic carbon) present in the groundwater. The analysis of the samples collected by the proposed methodology indicated that in the majority of the samples biodegradation did not change significantly the isotopic signature of the dissolved CO2 in the aquifer. This can be explained by high concentrations of CO2 in the soil of the region and depleted natural values of δ13C (~ -24.1‰), which masks the isotopic signature produced by biodegradation processes. Thus, one must exercise caution in interpreting isotopic values of CO2 collected in monitoring wells.

How to Cite
Bordignon, R., Teramoto, E. H., Chang, H. K., & Hespanhol, E. C. B. (2016). Isotopic characterization of dissolved CO2 in Groundwater in a contaminated area with jet fuel in the municipality of Paulínia (SP). Águas Subterrâneas, 29(3), 301–314. https://doi.org/10.14295/ras.v29i3.27979