Matrix Diffusion Toolkit

TRRP Training: 2022 Program

presented by: GSI Environmetal Inc.

Texas Risk Reduction Program regulations (TRRP; 30 TAC 350) establish consistent risk-based protocols for assessment and response to soil, groundwater, or surface water impacts associated with environmental releases of regulated wastes or substances.

Presented by GSI Environmental Inc., this popular and informative training series is a must for professionals who need a working understanding of TRRP and those needing to stay up-to-date with the latest TCEQ TRRP guidance and policies.

TRRP Training Course (2 Days): Provides an overview of the TRRP framework and step-by-step training on property assessment and response action procedures established under the TRRP rule

Attendees will become acquainted with rules, key guidance and policies covering affected property assessments, protective concentration levels, and response actions. The course material presents strategies for efficient project management in compliance with TRRP and explains the various report forms adopted by TCEQ.

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Sponsored by:
Texas Association of Environmental Professionals (TAEP) TAEP is the premier organization for environmental professionals in the State of Texas. The goals of TAEP include the advancement of the environmental profession and the establishment of a forum to discuss important environmental issues. TAEP members receive a 10% discount. Please call 713.522.6300 for the code.

Dates and Location

Dates

June 14th and 15th, 2022

Location

Crowne Plaza River Oaks 2712 SW Freeway Houston, Texas 77098 713.523.8448 http://www.crowneplaza.com/

Price and Registration

Early-Bird Price

(Paid by May 1, 2022)
$XXX

Standard Price

(Paid after May 1, 2022)
$XXX

TAEP Membership Price

$XXX

Government Price

$XXX
Lodging and meals are not
included in course cost

Practical tool for understanding complex process

The Matrix Diffusion Toolkit, developed for the Department of Defense’s Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP), is a free software tool that can assist site personnel to effectively and efficiently estimate what effects matrix diffusion will have at their site, and transfer the results to stakeholders. Matrix diffusion describes the process where compounds that have diffused into low-permeability zones such as silt and clay layers in the subsurface serve as indirect, low-level sources of contamination to transmissive zones over time. This process has the potential to sustain dissolved contaminant concentrations in groundwater after the source is removed or after remediation removes or isolates contamination from transmissive compartments. 

Quantifying how matrix diffusion processes may influence decisions is becoming a critical part of long-term management of many contaminated sites.

The Toolkit is Microsoft® Excel-based and provides the following, easy-to-use tools to calculate and evaluate matrix diffusion effects:

1) Square Root Model:

A module to provide planning-level estimates of the mass discharge (in units of grams per day) caused by release from a low-k diffusion-dominated unit (typically silt or clay) into a high permeability advection-dominated unit (typically sand or gravel). Estimates of concentration and mass remaining in the high permeability unit, after the source is removed, are also provided.

Additionally, the Square Root Model also utilizes a Monte Carlo-type approach to analyze uncertainty in the actual concentration, porosity, apparent tortuosity factor exponent, and retardation factor measurements. With this tool, groundwater practitioners can estimate the accuracy of the hydrologic measurements that are being used for the matrix diffusion calculation.

2) Dandy-Sale Model:

A module allowing users to perform: i) contaminant transport via advection and transverse diffusion in the transmissive layer, and ii) transport via transverse diffusion in the low-k zone. The module provides planning-level estimates of:

Low-k Zone:

  1.  Aqueous, sorbed, and total concentration; and
  2.  Aqueous, sorbed, and total mass.

Transmissive Zone:

  1.  Aqueous, sorbed, and total concentration;
  2.  Aqueous, sorbed, and total mass; and
  3.  Mass discharge.

3) Matrix Diffusion Related Tools

An additional feature that provides a review of theory and methods related to matrix diffusion:

  • NAPL Dissolution Calculator: a module that estimates the transverse diffusion of contaminants into the groundwater passing over the top of a Non-aqueous Phase Liquid (NAPL) pool and the transverse diffusion of contaminants into the low-k unit underlying the pool;
  • Plume Magnitude Information: a summary of the Plume Magnitude Classification System (Newell et al., 2011) and its application to site investigation and remediation;
  • Low-k Zone Remediation Alternatives: a summary of current alternatives for the remediation of low-k zones; and
  • 14-Compartment Model: a discussion on the quantitative application of the 14 Compartment Model (Sale et al., 2008a).

Features

The Matrix Diffusion Toolkit provides a valuable tool for developing site conceptual models, supporting site characterization efforts, planning remedial designs, and determining if matrix diffusion will affect remediation goals for groundwater sites. The software can assist site personnel in updating or creating a more accurate conceptual site model, which will enable them to determine if matrix diffusion processes are significant enough to cause “rebounding” of downgradient plume concentrations above remediation goals after plume remediation or isolation is complete. Having this information available before a remedy is implemented could assist site stakeholders in selecting more appropriate remedies and effectively and efficiently addressing the potential issues of matrix diffusion with regulators. Furthermore, addressing extended remediation time frames caused by matrix diffusion would lead to savings in project costs.

Technical Support

Limited technical support is available from Shahla K. Farhat (skfarhat@gsienv.com).

System Requirements

The Matrix Diffusion Toolkit requires a computer capable of running Microsoft® Excel (2007/2010) for Windows 7.

Operation requires an IBM-compatible PC equipped with a Pentium or later processor running at a minimum of 450 MHz. A minimum of 256 MB of system memory (RAM) is strongly recommended. Computers not meeting these recommendations will experience slow running times and/or problems with memory

Downloads

Changes in version 1.1: Some of the apparent tortuosity factor exponents have been updated and clarified.

Changes in version 1.2: The concentration units displayed for the low-k zone aqueous and transmissive zone concentration graphs in the Dandy-Sale module have been corrected.

Changes in version 1.21: An error in the Monte Carlo analysis has been corrected (all concentrations were erroneously being multiplied by 5).

Changes in version 1.22: An error in the DSM loading concentration units has been corrected (all concentrations were erroneously being treated as mg/L).

Unzip all the files to the same folder. The zipped file contains the Matrix Diffusion Toolkit spreadsheet, associated pdf files, the Help file, and the User’s Manual.