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Chaos Theory and its Applications to Remediation
The field of Chaos, or more specifically Chaotic Advection, offers promising results for improving remediation efforts. A developing project (as proposed by A. C. Bagtzoglou, P. Oates, and E. Loehmann), known as Chaotic Advection Enhanced Remediation (CAEREM), proposes that by installing a series of oscillating wells into an aquifer, chaotic mixing can be induced in an effort to increase mixing in the aquifer. This chaotic groundwater flow would result in an increase in natural attenuation. The purpose of the mixing is to distribute microbial nutrients and electron acceptors to stimulate the growth of microbes that can process and eliminate contaminants in an effort to enhance bioremediation. Should they be approved, genetically modified organisms can be introduced as well for improved results. Such methods can be applied to shallow, deep, and confined aquifers, so long as the contaminants involved can be synthesized by the organisms utilized.
The CAEREM model proposes that a system of three oscillating wells would be used to induce chaotic mixing. Without
removing or adding any water to the aquifer, one of the wells is assigned a random pump magnitude and a random direction, either withdrawing or injecting. The other wells are assigned the opposite flow direction and the pump magnitude assigned to the first well is randomly divided to the remaining two to balance the action of the first well, whether it be withdrawal or injection. In this way, chaotic conditions are maximized and induced to mix the nutrient plume into the contaminant plume.
The oscillating well experimental model designed for CAEREM has proven to successfully create good mixing. Further laboratory experiments have demonstrated that chaotic mixing on the cell growth of the biological oxidation organism Saccharomyces Cerevisiae enhances and speeds up the growth of the organism. The experiment was conducted using two cylinders that rotated in different directions and speeds. While it has been demonstrated that chaotic advection stimulates biodegradation, it has not been shown to serve as the perfect solution to remediation. Rather, CAEREM should be combined with the common procedures of pumping and treating to improve remediation rates.
Sources:
water.usgs.gov
The CAEREM model proposes that a system of three oscillating wells would be used to induce chaotic mixing. Without
removing or adding any water to the aquifer, one of the wells is assigned a random pump magnitude and a random direction, either withdrawing or injecting. The other wells are assigned the opposite flow direction and the pump magnitude assigned to the first well is randomly divided to the remaining two to balance the action of the first well, whether it be withdrawal or injection. In this way, chaotic conditions are maximized and induced to mix the nutrient plume into the contaminant plume.The oscillating well experimental model designed for CAEREM has proven to successfully create good mixing. Further laboratory experiments have demonstrated that chaotic mixing on the cell growth of the biological oxidation organism Saccharomyces Cerevisiae enhances and speeds up the growth of the organism. The experiment was conducted using two cylinders that rotated in different directions and speeds. While it has been demonstrated that chaotic advection stimulates biodegradation, it has not been shown to serve as the perfect solution to remediation. Rather, CAEREM should be combined with the common procedures of pumping and treating to improve remediation rates.
Sources:
water.usgs.gov
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