Fuzzy Systems Modeling of In Situ Bioremediation of Chlorinated Solvents

A large-scale vadose zone-groundwater bioremediation demonstration was conducted at the Savannah River Site (SRS) by injecting several types of gases (ambient air, methane, and nitrous oxide and triethyl phosphate mixtures) through a horizontal well in the groundwater at a 175 ft depth. Simultaneously, soil gas was extracted through a parallel horizontal well in the vadose zone at a 80 ft depth Monitoring revealed a wide range of spatial and temporal variations of concentrations of VOCs, enzymes, and biomass in groundwater and vadose zone monitoring boreholes over the field site. One of the powerful modern approaches to analyze uncertain and imprecise data chemical data is based on the use of methods of fuzzy systems modeling. Using fuzzy modeling we analyzed the spatio-temporal TCE and PCE concentrations and methanotroph densities in groundwater to assess the effectiveness of different campaigns of air stripping and bioremediation, and to determine the fuzzy relationship between these compounds. Our analysis revealed some details about the processes involved in remediation, which were not identified in the previous studies of the SRS demonstration. We also identified some future directions for using fuzzy systems modeling, such as the evaluation of the mass balance of the vadose zone - groundwater system, and the development of fuzzy-ruled methods for optimization of managing remediation activities, predictions, and risk assessment.