Geochemical Modeling and Environmental Management
Professors John E. Van Benschoten and Alan J. Rabideau

In soil and groundwater systems, mathematical models usually are an essential component of environmental management.  This is because these systems are physically and chemically complex, and the movement of water and contaminants may be slow.  Thus, estimates of the fate of contaminants over time scales of years, or even decades, may be needed.  Mathematical simulation models can be used to answer questions such as “When, if ever, will contaminants from a hazardous waste site reach a nearby drinking water well?”, or alternatively, “What soil  cleanup level is needed to ensure there is not a significant health risk to persons who drink water from the well?”

UB researchers have worked to develop models of the interfacial chemistry between metal ions and sorbents such as soils and natural zeolites.  Soils, for example, are extremely complex mixtures of minerals and organic matter.

Based on support from several EPA grants, UB faculty and graduate students have developed a new modeling approach to describe metal ion interactions with heterogeneous sorbents such as soils.  The ‘Variable Reactivity Model’ provides a relatively simple mathematical framework for describing the complex processes that occur at the solid/water interface.  This chemical model has been linked to a traditional groundwater transport to allow prediction of ion migration in the subsurface.  To date, the model has been tested using data from batch and column laboratory experiments conducted by UB graduate students, as well as data reported in the literature.  Future research directions will include the development of better laboratory and computational procedures to adapt the model to a particular site as well as application of the model to field sites to predict contaminant transport and the effectiveness of site cleanup strategies. 

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