Tracking chlorinated contaminants in the subsurface usingcompound-specific chlorine isotope analysis: A review of principles,current challenges and applications
Jeremy Zimmermann, Landon James Szasz Halloran & Daniel Hunkeler
| Abstract |
Many chlorinated hydrocarbons have gained notoriety as persistent
organic pollutants in the environ-ment. Engineered and natural
remediation efforts require a monitoring tool to track the progress
ofdegradation processes. Compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA)
is a robust method to evaluate theorigin and fate of contaminants
in the environment and does not rely on concentration
measurements.While carbon CSIA has established itself in the
routine assessment of contaminated sites, studiesincorporating
chlorine isotopes have only recently become more common. Although
some aspects ofchlorine isotope analysis are more challenging than
carbon isotope analysis, having additional isotopicdata yields
valuable information for contaminated site management. This review
provides an overview ofchlorine isotope fractionation of
chlorinated contaminants in the subsurface by different processes
andpresents analytical techniques and unresolved challenges in
chlorine isotope analysis. A summary ofsuccessfulfield applications
illustrates the potential of using chlorine isotope data. Finally,
approaches inmodelling chlorine isotope fractionation due to
degradation, diffusion, and sorption processes arediscussed. |
| Keywords |
Compound-specific isotope analysis; Contaminants; Chlorine isotopes; Degradation pathways; Isotope fractionation; Gas chromatography-isotope-ratio mass spectrometry |
| Citation | Zimmermann, J., James Szasz Halloran, L., & Hunkeler, D. (2019). Tracking chlorinated contaminants in the subsurface usingcompound-specific chlorine isotope analysis: A review of principles,current challenges and applications. Chemosphere, 244, 125476-125495. |
| Type | Journal article (English) |
| Date of appearance | 11-2019 |
| Journal | Chemosphere |
| Volume | 244 |
| Pages | 125476-125495 |
| URL | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125476 |