Optimization in bioventing: modeling and air flow field evaluation

Bioventing is an in site remediation technique, which is useful for decontaminating polluted subsoil. Air is injected into the subsoil to enhance the bacteria biodegradation activity. A multiphase mathematical model describing the removal of hydrocarbon in the unsaturated zone will be described and the problem of the optimal design of a decontamination intervention will be formulated. In order to simplify the computational approach to the problem, a conjecture will be introduced, affirming that control of the subsoil airflow field allows the pollutant removal phenomenon to be controlled. Different objective functions, useful for evaluating the airflow field, will be introduced and their characteristics will be examinated with a numerical test.