Performance of a PRB for the Remediation of Acidic Groundwater in Acid Sulfate Soil Terrain
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 136, Issue 7
Abstract
Contaminated groundwater resulting from pyrite oxidation of acid sulfate soils (ASSs) is a major environmental problem in coastal Australia. A column test was carried out for an extended period with recycled concrete to study the efficiency of the reactive materials for neutralizing acidic groundwater. Results show that the actual acid neutralization capacity of the recycled concrete could decrease to less than 50% of the theoretical value due to armoring effects. Nevertheless, the performance is good as a spot treatment in ASS Terrain using a near-zero cost waste product. Based on the test results and site characterization, a permeable reactive barrier (PRB) with recycled concrete was designed and installed in ASS terrain on the Shoalhaven River floodplain, southeastern, Australia in October 2006. The performance of the PRB was studied over two and half years to assess the potential of recycled concrete (1) to neutralize the groundwater acidity and (2) to remove the dissolved heavy metals such as iron and aluminum from in situ acidic groundwater. To date, performance monitoring of the PRB shows that recycled concrete can successfully improve the pH of groundwater from acidic to mildly alkaline. In addition, it successfully removes groundwater iron and aluminum. Results reported here also reveal a slow decrease in the performance of the PRB due to armoring effects probably caused by precipitation of iron and aluminum on the surface of the reactive recycled concrete materials.
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Acknowledgments
The writers would like to acknowledge Glenys Lugg (Manildra Group), Bob Rowlan and Andreas Dillman (University of Wollongong) for their assistance during this study.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 136 • Issue 7 • July 2010
Pages: 897 - 906
Copyright
© 2010 ASCE.
History
Received: Dec 11, 2008
Accepted: Dec 7, 2009
Published online: Dec 10, 2009
Published in print: Jul 2010
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