Mass transfer, aging and reactions at NAPL interfaces in porous media

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Release of non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) into natural porous media is a widespread environmental problem. Transfer of pollutants across the NAPL-water phase boundary determines both the extent of groundwater contamination as well as the persistence of residual NAPL phases in porous media. Previous research has shown that NAPL-water interfaces are subject to "aging" phenomena in aqueous environments, e.g., development of skin-like viscous films. However, surprisingly litte is known about the factors and mechanisms that control such film formation of NAPLs in aqueous porous media and about the effects of such films on mass transfer of organic contaminants from the NAPL to the aqueus phase. In the proposed project we will address these knowledge gaps in order to (i) achieve a process based understanding of reactions and environmental conditions leading to the formation of viscous phase boundaries of NAPLs in porous media (aging) and to (ii) develop and vali-date a physical model of such boundary layers to quantify time-dependent interfacial phenomena in multi-component NAPL-water systems (mass transfer). To this end we will carry out batch and flow-through experiments with model and real NAPLs in water and aqueous porous media and make intense use of chemical probe techniques. We will utilize chemical and rheological analysis, microscopic process modeling and, in cooperation with partners within the research group, we will apply new designs of spectroscopic and electrochemical tools for spatially highly resolved investigations of the interface as well as contribute to reactive transport modeling at NAPL-contaminated porous media.