Efficacy of Permeable Reactive Barriers in Mitigating Tetrachloroethene Ingress into Highway Drainage Concrete Pipe in Saturated Media
Publication: Journal of Pipeline Systems Engineering and Practice
Volume 14, Issue 2
Abstract
Work herein is focused on evaluating factors affecting tetrachloroethene (PCE) contaminant ingress into the subsurface concrete pipe embedded in the saturated soil profile and assessing the efficacy of permeable reactive barriers (PRB) in mitigating PCE concentration. A three-dimensional groundwater flow and solute transport numerical model is established using MODFLOW paired with reactive transport (RT3D) software, in which the model is developed using a finite-difference numerical scheme. The analyses parameters are developed from data for a site in Wilson, North Carolina, at which subsurface chlorinated organic solvents from a dry-cleaning facility occurred in the presence of subsurface highway concrete drainage pipe. Modeling results after 10 years of simulation period indicated that the natural attenuation process taking place in the native soils with coefficients of , and reduced the PCE concentrations breaking through the concrete pipe by 30.7% and 34.1%, respectively. On the other hand, with a greater percent of the soil sorption as manifested by organic carbon content, the PCE concentration breaking through the pipe increased by 137% for the same simulation period as a result of the prolonged presence of PCE concentration within the pipe trench. The hydraulic conductivity of the PRB () modestly affects the level of PCE breaking through the pipe, while the increase in thickness of the PRB was found to be the most effective in decreasing the level of PCE ingress into the pipe.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article. Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
This study is supported via funding from Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University project number (PSAU/2023/R/1444). In addition, the authors would like to acknowledge the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) for supporting this work.
References
AECOM (AECOM Technical Services of North Carolina, Inc.). 2018. Groundwater monitoring report of 1313 Ward Boulevard project, Wilson, NC. Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Dept. of Environmental Quality.
AECOM (AECOM Technical Services of North Carolina, Inc.). 2020. Risk assessment of 1313 Ward Boulevard project, Wilson, NC. Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Dept. of Environmental Quality.
Alhomair, S., Z. Faeli, P. Hosseini, M. Gabr, M. Pour-Ghaz, and C. Parker. 2021. “Assessment of mitigation measures against benzene breakthrough into subsurface concrete pipe.” J. Pipeline Syst. Eng. Pract. 12 (1): 04020064. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)PS.1949-1204.0000512.
Alhomair, S., P. Hosseini, M. Gabr, M. Pour-Ghaz, and D. Kanppe. 2019. “Migration of aqueous benzene through a subsurface concrete utility pipe under saturated soil conditions.” In Proc., Geo-Congress 2019: Geoenvironmental Engineering and Sustainability, Geotechnical Special Publication 312, edited by C. L. Meehan, S. Kumar, M. A. Pando, and J. T. Coe, 115–124. Reston, VA: ASCE.
ARCADIS. 1999. Comprehensive site assessment report of former cleaners, Wilson, NC. Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Dept. of Environmental Quality.
Aronson, D., and P. H. Howard. 1997. Anaerobic biodegradation of organic chemicals in groundwater: A summary of field and laboratory studies. North Syracuse, NY: Environmental Science Center, Syracuse Research Corporation.
ASTM. 1994. Emergency standard guide for risk-based corrective action applied at petroleum release sites. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
Bagarello, V., S. Sferlazza, and A. Sgroi. 2009. “Testing laboratory methods to determine the anisotropy of saturated hydraulic conductivity in a sandy-loam soil.” Geoderma 154 (1–2): 52–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2009.09.012.
Clement, T. P., Y. Sun, B. S. Hooker, and J. N. Petersen. 1998. “Modeling multispecies reactive transport in ground water.” Groundwater Monit. Rem. 18 (2): 79–92. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6592.1998.tb00618.x.
Deiss, L., A. J. Franzluebbers, A. Amoozegar, D. Hesterberg, M. Polizzotto, and F. W. Cubbage. 2017. “Soil carbon fractions from an alluvial soil texture gradient in North Carolina.” Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 81 (5): 1096–1106. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2016.09.0304.
Ebert, M., R. Köber, A. Parbs, V. Plagentz, D. Schäfer, and A. Dahmke. 2006. “Assessing degradation rates of chlorinated ethylenes in column experiments with commercial iron materials used in permeable reactive barriers.” Environ. Sci. Technol. 40 (6): 2004–2010. https://doi.org/10.1021/es051720e.
Eljamal, O., K. Sasaki, and T. Hirajima. 2011. “Numerical simulation for reactive solute transport of arsenic in permeable reactive barrier column including zero-valent iron.” Appl. Math. Modell. 35 (10): 5198–5207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apm.2011.04.040.
Erto, A., I. Bortone, A. Di Nardo, M. Di Natale, and D. Musmarra. 2014. “Permeable adsorptive barrier (PAB) for the remediation of groundwater simultaneously contaminated by some chlorinated organic compounds.” J. Environ. Manage. 140 (Jul): 111–119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.03.012.
Faeli, Z., S. Alhomair, P. Hosseini, M. Gabr, and M. Pour-Ghaz. 2021. “Factors affecting multiphase benzene breakthrough into drainage concrete pipe in the unsaturated subsurface profile.” J. Pipeline Syst. Eng. Pract. 12 (3): 05021004. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)PS.1949-1204.0000554.
Fitts, C. R. 2013. “3-Principles of flow.” In Groundwater science, 47–96. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier.
Gallinati, J. D., S. D. Warner, C. L. Yamane, F. S. Szerdy, D. A. Hankins, and D. W. Major. 1995. “Design and evaluation of an in-situ groundwater treatment wall composed of zero-valent iron.” Ground Water 33 (5): 834–835.
Geotechdata.info. 2013. “Soil permeability coefficient.” Accessed October 7, 2013. http://geotechdata.info/parameter/permeability.html.
Gillham, R. W., and S. F. O’Hannesin. 1994. “Enhanced degradation of halogenated aliphatics by zero-valent iron.” Ground Water 32 (6): 958–967. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.1994.tb00935.x.
Gillham, R. W., J. Vogan, L. Gui, M. Duchene, J. Son, P. L. Mccarty, and B. M. Henry. 2010. “Iron barrier walls for chlorinated solvent remediation.” In In Situ remediation of chlorinated solvent plumes, edited by H. F. Stroo and C. H. Ward, 537–571. New York: Springer.
GSI Environmental. 2014. “GSI chemical properties database.” Accessed April 11, 2018. http://www.gsi-net.com/en/publications/gsi-chemical-database.html.
Harbaugh, A. W. 2005. MODFLOW-2005, the US geological survey modular groundwater model: The groundwater flow process. Reston, VA: US Dept. of the Interior, USGS.
Holsen, T. M., J. K. Park, D. Jenkins, and R. E. Selleck. 1991. “Contamination of potable water by permeation of plastic pipe.” J. Am. Water Works Assoc. 83 (8): 53–56. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1551-8833.1991.tb07199.x.
Hosseini, P., S. Alhomair, Z. Faeli, M. Pour-Ghaz, M. Gabr, D. Knappe, and C. Parker. 2020. “Degradation model for the tensile strength of PVC and rubber gasket materials exposed to benzene and PCE-saturated aqueous solutions.” Transp. Res. Rec. 2674 (2): 274–283. https://doi.org/10.1177/0361198120906126.
ITRC (Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council). 2011. Permeable reactive barrier: Technology update. Washington, DC: ITRC.
Lu, G., T. P. Clement, C. Zheng, and T. H. Wiedemeier. 1999. “Natural attenuation of BETX compounds: Model development and field-scale application.” Ground Water 37 (5): 707–717. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.1999.tb01163.x.
Ma, Q., and Z. Luo. 2017. “Use of permeable reactive barrier for groundwater remediation at one wastewater treatment plant site.” Fresenius Environ. Bull. 26 (12A): 8278–8285.
Muchitsch, N., T. Van Nooten, L. Bastiaens, and P. Kjeldsen. 2011. “Integrated evaluation of the performance of a more than seven year old permeable reactive barrier at a site contaminated with chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons (CAHs).” J. Contam. Hydrol. 126 (3–4): 258–270. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconhyd.2011.08.007.
Obiri-Nyarko, F., S. J. Grajales-Mesa, and G. Malina. 2014. “An overview of permeable reactive barriers for in situ sustainable groundwater remediation.” Chemosphere 111 (Sep): 243–259. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.03.112.
Ott, N. 2000. Permeable reactive barriers for inorganics. Washington, DC: USEPA.
Puls, R. W., D. W. Blowes, and R. W. Gillham. 1999. “Long-term performance monitoring for a permeable reactive barrier at the US coast guard support center, Elizabeth City, North Carolina.” J. Hazard. Mater. 68 (1–2): 109–124. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3894(99)00034-5.
Qiu, Z. F., and J. J. Wang. 2015. “Experimental study on the anisotropic hydraulic conductivity of a sandstone–mudstone particle mixture.” J. Hydrol. Eng. 20 (11): 04015029. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)HE.1943-5584.0001220.
Rad, P. R., and A. Fazlali. 2020. “Optimization of permeable reactive barrier dimensions and location in groundwater remediation contaminated by landfill pollution.” J. Water Process Eng. 35 (Jun): 101196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2020.101196.
Smyl, D., F. Ghasemzadeh, and M. Pour-Ghaz. 2016. “Modeling water absorption in concrete and mortar with distributed damage.” Constr. Build. Mater. 125 (Oct): 438–449. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.08.044.
USEPA. 1998. Evaluation of demonstrated and emerging technologies for the treatment of contaminated land and groundwater (Phase III) treatment walls and permeable reactive barriers. EPA 542-R-98-003. Washington, DC: USEPA.
USEPA. 1999. Use of monitored natural attenuation at superfund, RCRA corrective action, and underground storage tank sites. Washington, DC: Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response.
USEPA. 2002. “Permeation and leaching.” In Technical information review. Washington, DC: USEPA.
Withers and Ravenel. 2007. Prioritization assessment report and prioritization assessment report of 1313 Ward Boulevard project, Wilson, NC. Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Dept. of Environmental Quality.
Withers and Ravenel. 2008. Prioritization assessment report and prioritization assessment report of 1313 Ward Boulevard project, Wilson, NC. Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Dept. of Environmental Quality.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 22, 2022
Accepted: Jan 9, 2023
Published online: Mar 3, 2023
Published in print: May 1, 2023
Discussion open until: Aug 3, 2023
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.