In Situ Treatment of Arsenic-Contaminated Groundwater via Extraction Well–Integrated Permeable Reactive Barriers
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 150, Issue 5
Abstract
A pumice–maghemite (P-maghemite) composite was developed using the chemical coprecipitation method with a 20% iron loading ratio by weight. The characterization of the composite using SEM and XRD indicated the effective loading and dispersion of nanoparticles on the surface of the developed base materials. Thereafter, in situ sequestration experiments were conducted in the laboratory for an arsenic-polluted aquifer system using two well-integrated permeable reactive barrier (PRB) modules filled with the developed composite. A vertical fixed-bed column setup was used for the columnar PRB, whereas a sand tank experimental setup was employed for the well-screen-integrated PRB; both PRB systems were fed by a synthetic solution representing the arsenic-contaminated groundwater. More than 99% arsenic removal was observed in the columnar PRB, with an average effluent concentration of at the end of the experiment, which is well below the acceptable limit of drinking water for arsenic (). Removal of arsenic by the 4-cm-wide well-screen-integrated PRB from to less than shows a great potential of the developed composite for arsenic remediation at slower groundwater flow rates. A maximum arsenic removal of 99% was attained at the start of the experiment, which decreased to 97% after 1 month of PRB operation. The effluent concentration of all other major ions also was reduced considerably in the PRB modules. The hydraulic conductivity of the developed media was reduced by 35% in the columnar PRB and by approximately 20% in the well-screen-integrated PRB. The high arsenic removal efficiency in continuous flow-through remediation systems indicates the applicability of the developed PRB system in in situ remediation of arsenic-contaminated groundwater.
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Data Availability Statement
ll data generated or used during the study appear in the published paper and the Supplemental Materials.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank the University Grant Commission (UGC) for the JRF/SRF Fellowship received by Dr. Shashi Ranjan. This study is financially supported jointly by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Water Technology Initiative project (DST/TM/WTI/2K15/118), and Newton Bhabha fund (DST-NERC 003386).
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Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 150 • Issue 5 • May 2024
Copyright
© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 4, 2023
Accepted: Dec 8, 2023
Published online: Feb 24, 2024
Published in print: May 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Jul 24, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Arsenic
- Business management
- Chemical compounds
- Chemical elements
- Chemical treatment
- Chemicals
- Chemistry
- Composite materials
- Cooling (wastewater treatment)
- Engineering fundamentals
- Engineering materials (by type)
- Environmental engineering
- Field tests
- Groundwater
- Heavy metals
- Materials characterization
- Materials engineering
- Mitigation and remediation
- Permeability (material)
- Practice and Profession
- Tests (by type)
- Waste management
- Waste treatment
- Water (by type)
- Water and water resources
- Water management
- Water treatment
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