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The application of resistivity and IP-measurements as investigation tools at contaminated sites : a case study from Kv. Renen 13, Varberg, SW Sweden

Åkesson, Sofia LU (2015) In Dissertations in Geology at Lund University GEOR02 20151
Department of Geology
Abstract
An old industry estate, Kv. Renen 13, is located in central Varberg, southwest Sweden, and is known from previous investigations as highly polluted. Pollution started in the late 19th century with textile manufacturing, and in the 1960´s changed into a precision mechanics industry using chlorinated solvents, primary trichloroethene (TCE) and 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA), as well as cyanide and metals. Wastewater was taken out through an es-cape valve to a sedimentation basin, which most likely leaked. With good subsurface conditions for dispersal, both in the sediments and in the highly fractured bedrock, a large area of the subsurface is polluted from contaminants due to the situation at Kv. Renen 13.
This thesis investigates the... (More)
An old industry estate, Kv. Renen 13, is located in central Varberg, southwest Sweden, and is known from previous investigations as highly polluted. Pollution started in the late 19th century with textile manufacturing, and in the 1960´s changed into a precision mechanics industry using chlorinated solvents, primary trichloroethene (TCE) and 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA), as well as cyanide and metals. Wastewater was taken out through an es-cape valve to a sedimentation basin, which most likely leaked. With good subsurface conditions for dispersal, both in the sediments and in the highly fractured bedrock, a large area of the subsurface is polluted from contaminants due to the situation at Kv. Renen 13.
This thesis investigates the subsurface conditions by using resistivity and induced polarization measurements, geo-physical methods based on different materials’ physical responses to an electrical current. Resistivity (Ωm) is a physical property of the ability to isolate against electrical current. Induced polarization (IP) measures the chargea-bility of a material, i.e. how electrical charges polarize and depolarize when subjected to an electrical current that is turned off after an interval of time. The aim with these geophysical surveys was to create a 3D model of the subsur-face ground conditions. The measurements were made at three occasions, to be able to investigate if it is possible to measure variation through time, and use the method for monitoring of in situ remediation.
As a result of the survey, a fracture zone with a southwest-northeast direction crossing the industrial estate, could be identified. This fracture zone was not identified at the estate before and within the zone, there is a possibility of spreading the contamination. Variations in underground conditions through time in the subsurface were measurable using the geophysical methods, and the method shows good potential to be used for in situ monitoring of pollutant remediation.
The work is part of the research project TRansparent Underground STructore, TRUST. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
Kv. Renen 13 i centrala Varberg är sedan tidigare känt som kraftigt förorenat. På fastigheten har det från slutet av 1800-talet fram till 2003 funnits verksamheter i form av textilindustri som avlösts av finmekanisk verkstadsindustri. Det är framförallt den sistnämnda verksamheten som har orsakat rådande situation med höga halter klorerade lösningsmedel, trikloreten (TCE) och 1,1,1-trikoletan (TCA), som i verksamheten använts som fettlösande medel. Dessutom har det använts en del metaller och cyanid. Processvatten har letts ut via ett internt avloppsystem till en sedimentationsbassäng i trädgården och indikationer finns på att bassängen har läckt. Stora delar av centrala Varberg är förorenat med klorerade lösningsmedel och metaller p.g.a.... (More)
Kv. Renen 13 i centrala Varberg är sedan tidigare känt som kraftigt förorenat. På fastigheten har det från slutet av 1800-talet fram till 2003 funnits verksamheter i form av textilindustri som avlösts av finmekanisk verkstadsindustri. Det är framförallt den sistnämnda verksamheten som har orsakat rådande situation med höga halter klorerade lösningsmedel, trikloreten (TCE) och 1,1,1-trikoletan (TCA), som i verksamheten använts som fettlösande medel. Dessutom har det använts en del metaller och cyanid. Processvatten har letts ut via ett internt avloppsystem till en sedimentationsbassäng i trädgården och indikationer finns på att bassängen har läckt. Stora delar av centrala Varberg är förorenat med klorerade lösningsmedel och metaller p.g.a. de tidigare verksamheterna på Kv. Renen 13. Detta till följd av att spridningsförutsättningarna är goda, både i de lösa avlagringar och i den sprickrika berggrunden.
I det här examensarbetet har markförhållandena undersökts med geofysikiska mätningar i form av resistivitetsegen-skaper och inducerad polarisation. Resistivitet är en materialegenskap som mäter ett materials resistans mot en elektrisk ström. Inducerad polarisation (IP) undersöker markens uppladdningsförmåga. Geofysik kan vara svårt att använda i urbana miljöer då det finns mycket som stör och ger upphov till brus i mätdata. Målet med undersökning-en har varit att skapa en 3D- modell av markförhållandena. Mätningarna har gjorts vid flera tillfällen för att under-söka möjligheten att se förändringar med tiden och på sikt använda metoden för övervakning av in situ-saneringar. Som kalibrering för de geofysikska mätdata, har grundvattnet provtagits och analyserats.
Resultatet av undersökningarna visar en trolig sydvästlig-nordostlig sprickzon som korsar fastigheten och ger goda spridningsförutsättningarna av föroreningen. Förändringar med tiden var mätbara i marken och metoden visar god potential för att användas för övervakning av förändringar.
Arbetet ingår i forskningsprojektet TRansparent Underground STructore, TRUST. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Åkesson, Sofia LU
supervisor
organization
course
GEOR02 20151
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
geophysics, resistivity, induced polarization, contaminated site, hydrogeology, trichloroethene, TCE
publication/series
Dissertations in Geology at Lund University
report number
442
language
English
id
8000853
date added to LUP
2015-09-28 16:57:50
date last changed
2017-09-28 04:09:43
@misc{8000853,
  abstract     = {{An old industry estate, Kv. Renen 13, is located in central Varberg, southwest Sweden, and is known from previous investigations as highly polluted. Pollution started in the late 19th century with textile manufacturing, and in the 1960´s changed into a precision mechanics industry using chlorinated solvents, primary trichloroethene (TCE) and 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA), as well as cyanide and metals. Wastewater was taken out through an es-cape valve to a sedimentation basin, which most likely leaked. With good subsurface conditions for dispersal, both in the sediments and in the highly fractured bedrock, a large area of the subsurface is polluted from contaminants due to the situation at Kv. Renen 13.
This thesis investigates the subsurface conditions by using resistivity and induced polarization measurements, geo-physical methods based on different materials’ physical responses to an electrical current. Resistivity (Ωm) is a physical property of the ability to isolate against electrical current. Induced polarization (IP) measures the chargea-bility of a material, i.e. how electrical charges polarize and depolarize when subjected to an electrical current that is turned off after an interval of time. The aim with these geophysical surveys was to create a 3D model of the subsur-face ground conditions. The measurements were made at three occasions, to be able to investigate if it is possible to measure variation through time, and use the method for monitoring of in situ remediation.
As a result of the survey, a fracture zone with a southwest-northeast direction crossing the industrial estate, could be identified. This fracture zone was not identified at the estate before and within the zone, there is a possibility of spreading the contamination. Variations in underground conditions through time in the subsurface were measurable using the geophysical methods, and the method shows good potential to be used for in situ monitoring of pollutant remediation.
The work is part of the research project TRansparent Underground STructore, TRUST.}},
  author       = {{Åkesson, Sofia}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Dissertations in Geology at Lund University}},
  title        = {{The application of resistivity and IP-measurements as investigation tools at contaminated sites : a case study from Kv. Renen 13, Varberg, SW Sweden}},
  year         = {{2015}},
}