Clorobenzeni: caratterizzazione dello stato di contaminazione della falda ed individuazione delle fonti inquinanti mediante analisi isotopica

The aim of this paper is to present monochlorobenzene (MCB) isotopic fingerprinting results for contaminant sources characterization in an industrial site. Different studies demonstrated that MCB can degrade under anaerobic conditions too, but few literature studies concerning MCB isotope fractionation are known. In the study area, the historical contamination by chlorobenzenes was well known and remediation actions were implemented. Nevertheless, in recent time, groundwater increasing concentrations of MCB were observed. In this industrial site there are different plants that were active in the past too and for this reason is not easy to distinguish between old and new contaminant contribution. After a first investigation phase were collected samples for isotopic analysis (13C/12C). Thanks to different contaminants mix distribution and isotope signatures (δC ranging from -24,5 to -31.2‰) it was possible to show differences between the industrial site area contamination and the down gradient area outside the site boundaries.