ABSTRACT
Numerous reports of ground water pollution have caused considerable attention to be given to assessing and/or quantifying subsurface transport and fate processes. A large number of research-oriented field studies of the transport and fate of selected contaminants have been conducted or are ongoing. The use of batch and column microcosm studies for assessing subsurface transport and fate processes is increasing and finding wide applicability. This chapter highlights examples of classes of microcosms used in studies of the subsurface environment. Slurry microcosms have typically been used to determine if indigenous microbes in the subsurface environment are capable of degrading organic contaminants. The results of the study by Wilson (1985) indicated anaerobic degradation for the four compounds, although the disappearance was not rapid. Homogenized subsurface (HS) microcosms are those in which extracted subsurface material is mixed or sieved prior to placement in columns. Kuhn et al. (1985) researched microbial transformations of substituted benzenes during infiltration of river water to ground water.
