Transport and Biogeochemical Fate of Organic Substances in Aquatic Environments

Organic Substances are transported in both particulate and dissolved phases in aquatic environments. However, our understanding of the processes affecting phase exchange and removal are incomplete. In order to predict the short- and long-term fate of toxic organic substances in a variety of aquatic environments, it is necessary to determine the physical properties of these compounds and establish kinetic data on their removal rates using a combination of field studies and laboratory experiments. The objectives of this project are to investigate the composition and concentration of organic matter associated with dissolved and particulate phases in surface and subsurface waters and compare these data with distributions based on laboratory partitioning experiments and partitioning models and to develop data on the rates at which organic matter is transformed (and remineralized) in aquatic environments and on the products that result. The information will be used to establish the relative importance of different removal processes under a variety of environmental conditions. Ultimately these results will be incorporated into particle and solute transport models. For additional information about this project, see project page: Organic Compounds in Near-Surface Environments: Understanding Fate in a Changing Biogechmical Landscape.

REPORTS PUBLISHED 2003-2012

Zhang, C., Eganhouse, R.P., Pontolillo, J., Cozzarelli, I.M., and Wang, Y., 2012, Determination of nonylphenol isomers in landfill leachate and municipal wastewater using steam distillation extraction coupled with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry: Journal of Chromatography A, v. 1230, p. 110-116. doi:10.1016/j.chroma.2011.12.109 (on-line abstract of journal article)

Baedecker, M.J., Eganhouse, R.P.,. Bekins, B.A., and Delin, G.N., 2011, Loss of volatile hydrocarbons from an LNAPL oil source: Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, v. 126, no. 3-4, p.140-152. (on-line abstract of journal article)

Bekins, B.A., Baedecker, M.J., Eganhouse, R.P., and Herkelrath, W.N., 2011, Long-term natural attenuation of crude oil in the subsurface, in GQ10, , in Hoehn. E., and Schirmer, M., eds., Groundwater Quality Management in a Rapidly Changing World, Proceedings 7th International Groundwater Quality Conference held in Zurich, Switzerland, 13–18 June 2010, IAHS Publ. 342, p. 123-127. (on-line abstract of article)

Cozzarelli, I.M., Bekins, B.A., Eganhouse, R.P., Warren, E., and Essaid, H.I., 2010, In situ measurements of volatile aromatic hydrocarbon biodegradation rates in groundwater: Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, vol. 111, p. 48–64, doi:10.1016/j.jconhyd.2009.12.001. (on-line abstract of journal article)

DiFilippo, E.D., and Eganhouse, R.P., 2010, Assessment of PDMS-water partition coefficients: Implications for passive environmental sampling of hydrophobic organic compounds: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 44, no. 18, p. 6917-6925. (on-line abstract of journal article)

Eganhouse, R.P., Pontolillo, J., Gaines, R.B., Frysinger, G.S., Gabriel, F.L.P., Kohler, H.E., Giger, W., and Barber, L.B., 2009, Isomer-Specific Determination of 4-Nonylphenols Using Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography/Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry: Environmental Science and Technology, v. 43, no. 24, p. 9306–9313. (on-line abstract of journal article)

Sanford, W.E., Voytek, M.A., Powars, D.S., Jones, B.F., Cozzarelli, I.M., Cockell, C.S., and Eganhouse, R.P., 2009, Pore-water chemistry from the ICDP-USGS core hole in the Chesapeake Bay impact structure - Implications for paleohydrology, microbial habitat, and water resources in Gohn, G.S., Koeberl, C., Miller, K.G., and Reimold, W.U., eds., The ICDP-USGS Deep Drilling Project in the Chesapeake Bay Impact Structure: Results from the Eyreville Core Holes: GSA Special Paper 458, p. 867-890.

Eganhouse, R.P., and Pontolillo, J., 2008, Susceptibility of Synthetic Long-Chain Alkylbenzenes to Degradation in Reducing Marine Sediments: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 42, no. 17, p. 6361-6368. (on-line abstract or on-line paper in pdf format, 1365 KB, published by the American Chemical Society, not subject to U.S. copyright)

Eganhouse, R.P., and Pontolillo, J., 2008, DDE in Sediments of the Palos Verdes Shelf, California: In Situ Transformation Rates and Geochemical Fate: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 42, no. 17, p. 6392 - 6398. (on-line abstract or on-line paper in pdf format, 926 KB, published by the American Chemical Society, not subject to U.S. copyright)

Eganhouse, R.P. and Pontolillo, J., 2008, Assessment of 1-chloro-4-[2,2-dichloro-1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethenyl]benzene (DDE) transformation rates on the Palos Verdes Shelf, CA: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2007-1362, 119 p. (on-line abstract or on-line report in pdf format, 2.79 MB)

Field, J.A., and Eganhouse, R.P., 2008, In honor of Walter Giger: setting standards of excellence in environmental organic chemistry: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 42, no. 17, p. 6307-6308.

Eganhouse, R.P., 2004, Molecular markers and their use in environmental organic geochemistry, in Hill, R.J., Leventhal, J., Aizenshtat, Z., Baedecker, M.J., Claypool, G., Eganhouse, R., Goldhaber, M., and Peters, K., eds., Geochemical Investigations in Earth and Space Science - A Tribute to Isaac R. Kaplan: Special Publication Series No. 9, The Geochemical Society, Elsevier, Amsterdam, p. 143-158

Hill, R.J., Leventhal, J., Aizenshtat, Z., Baedecker, M.J., Claypool, G., Eganhouse, R., Goldhaber, M., and Peters, K., eds., 2004, Geochemical Investigations in Earth and Space Sciences - A Tribute to Isaac R. Kaplan: Special Publication Series No. 9, The Geochemical Society, Elsevier, Amsterdam. (on-line description of book)

Essaid, H.I., Cozzarelli, I.M., Eganhouse, R.P., Herkelrath, W.N., Bekins, B.A., and Delin, G.N., 2003, Inverse modeling of BTEX dissolution and biodegradation at the Bemidji, MN crude-oil spill site, Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, v. 67, pp 269-299. (on-line abstract)


FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PROJECT, CONTACT:
Robert P. Eganhouse
U.S. Geological Survey, 432 National Center, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA 20192
Email: eganhous@usgs.gov
Telephone: 703-648-5879

For information on additional projects in the National Research Program, see Indexes to NRP projects and bibliographies.

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