Rice University - Natural Attenuation of Groundwater Contaminants: New Paradigms, Technologies, and Applications
- Offered byCoursera
- Public/Government Institute
Natural Attenuation of Groundwater Contaminants: New Paradigms, Technologies, and Applications at Coursera Overview
Duration | 28 hours |
Total fee | Free |
Mode of learning | Online |
Difficulty level | Advanced |
Official Website | Explore Free Course  |
Credential | Certificate |
Natural Attenuation of Groundwater Contaminants: New Paradigms, Technologies, and Applications at Coursera Highlights
- Shareable Certificate Earn a Certificate upon completion
- 100% online Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.
- Flexible deadlines Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.
- Advanced Level
- Approx. 28 hours to complete
- English Subtitles: French, Portuguese (European), Russian, English, Spanish
Natural Attenuation of Groundwater Contaminants: New Paradigms, Technologies, and Applications at Coursera Course details
- Cleaning up the large number of groundwater contamination sites is a significant and complex environmental challenge. The environmental industry is continuously looking for remediation methods that are both effective and cost-efficient. Over the past 10 years there have been amazing, important developments in our understanding of key attenuation processes and technologies for evaluating natural attenuation processes, and a changing institutional perspective on when and where Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA) may be applied. Despite these advances, restoring groundwater contaminated by anthropogenic sources to allow for unrestricted use continues to be a challenge. Because of a complex mix of physical, chemical, and biological constraints associated with active in-situ cleanup technologies, there has been a long standing focus on understanding natural processes that attenuate groundwater contaminant plumes.
- We will build upon basic environmental science and environmental engineering principles to discover how to best implement MNA as a viable treatment for groundwater contamination plumes. Additionally we will delve into the history behind and make predictions about the new directions for this technology.
- Any professional working in the environmental remediation industry will benefit from this in-depth study of MNA. We will use lectures, readings, and computational exercises to enhance our understanding and implementation of MNA. At the completion of this course, students will have updated understanding and practical tools that can be applied to all possible MNA sites.
Natural Attenuation of Groundwater Contaminants: New Paradigms, Technologies, and Applications at Coursera Curriculum
Course Overview and MNA as an Evolving Technology
Course Trailer
Course Overview
Course Navigation
Changing Paradigms for Groundwater Remediation
Active Remedation vs. MNA
History of MNA: Fuels, Solvents, Three Lines of Evidence
Key MNA Protocols
New Technologies, New Thinking about MNA
Three Key MNA Processes: 1) Degradation; 2) Storage; 3) Dilution
General Course Information
Discussion Forum Guidelines
Pre-Course Survey
Week 1 Homework Exercises (Optional)
Week 1 Quiz
Biodegradation Principles
Requirements for Biodegradation
Thermodynamic Feasibility of Biodegradation
All About Electron Donors and Acceptors
Biodegradation Mechanisms: Chlorinated Solvents vs Hydrocarbons
Reactions at Interfaces and Sustained Treatment: Emerging Concepts
Biodegradation Kinetics: from Monod to First-Order Models
Mass Balance Type Calculations
Week 2 Homework Exercises (Optional)
Week 2 Quiz
Abiotic Degradation Principles
Abiotic Degradation Principles
Which Minerals Degrade which Contaminants?
Reaction Models
Methods and Challenges for Documenting Abiotic Degradation
Other Abiotic Reactions: Hydrolysis
Application: Does Abiotic Degradation Explain Attenuation Observed at Field Site?
Week 3 Homework Exercises (Optional)
Week 3 Quiz
Attenuation and Storage in Low K Zones
Matrix Diffusion Principles
Diffusion vs Dispersion
Matrix Diffusion in the Lab and Field
Matrix Diffusion Sampling
Groundwater Models for Matrix Diffusion
Degradation Processes Within Low-k Zones
Week 4 Homework Exercises (Optional)
Week 4 Quiz
Dilution as an Attenuation Process - Sometimes
Groundwater Flow Review
Darcy vs. Seepage Velocity
Attenuation Due to Mixing and Dispersion
Mass Flux/Mass Discharge Concepts for Estimating Dilution
Mass Flux/Mass Discharge Measurement Methods
Plume Magnitude Classification System/Mass Discharge Wrap Up
Week 5 Homework Exercises (Optional)
Week 5 Quiz
Better Technologies: Compound Specific Isotopes & Molecular Biological Tools
Types of Isotope Analysis and Sampling Techniques/Lab Analysis
Interpreting CSIA Data
Emerging Technologies with Isotopes: Pathways and Modeling
Demonstrating In-Situ Biodegradation
Molecular Evidence of Biodegradation
Stable Isotope Probing
Week 6 Homework Exercises (Optional)
Week 6 Quiz
Monitoring for MNA
High Resolution Characterization for MNA
Designing an MNA Monitoring Program
Monitoring Frequency
Trend Analysis
Monitoring Well Dynamics
Key MNA Calculations and Graphics
Week 7 Homework Exercises (Optional)
Week 7 Quiz
Modeling Tools to Support MNA
How Long, How Far? Key Questions for Modeling Tools
Fate and Transport Equations for MNA
Analytical Groundwater Models for MNA
Estimating Remediation Timeframes
MNA Lessons from "Big Data" Studies
Numerical Groundwater Computer Models and MNA
Week 8 Homework Exercises (Optional)
Week 8 Quiz
New Directions for MNA
BioPIC: Bio Pathway Identification Criteria Screening Tool for MNA
Applicability of MNA for Different Contaminant Classes
Natural Source Zone Depletion (NSZD)
Thermal Monitoring of Natural Source Zone Depletion (Thermal NSZD)
Low Risk Sites, Transition Assessments, and MNA
Where MNA Might Go From Here
Week 9 Homework Exercises (Optional)
End-of-Course Survey
Week 9 Quiz
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