title: Improving the sustainability of granular iron/pumice systems for water treatment.
abstract: Metallic iron (Fe(0)) is currently used in subsurface and above-ground water filtration systems on a pragmatic basis. Recent theoretical studies have indicated that, to be sustainable, such systems should not contain more than 60% Fe(0) (vol/vol). The prediction was already validated in a Fe(0)/sand system using methylene blue as an operational tracer. The present work is the first attempt to experimentally verify the new concept using pumice particles. A well-characterized pumice sample is used as operational supporting material and is mixed with 200 g of a granular Fe(0), in volumetric proportions, varying from 0 to 100%. The resulting column systems are characterized (i) by the time dependent evolution of their hydraulic conductivity and (ii) for their efficiency for the removal of Cu(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II) from a three-contaminants-solution (about 0.3 mM of each metal). Test results showed a clear sustainability of the long term hydraulic conductivity with decreasing Fe(0)/pumice ratio. In fact, the pure Fe(0) system clogged after 17 days, while the 25% Fe(0) system could operate for 36 days. The experimental data confirmed the view that well-designed Fe(0) PRBs may be successful at removing both reducible and non-reducible metal species.
authors.affiliation: Università degli Studi Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria, MECMAT, Mechanics and Materials Department, Faculty of Engineering, Via Graziella, Loc. Feo di Vito, 89122 Reggio Calabria, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bilardi
authors.forename: Paolo S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Calabrò
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caré
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Moraci
authors.forename: Chicgoua
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Noubactep
mesh_terms: D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017640:Silicates / Q000737:chemistry*; D018508:Water Purification
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D017640:Silicates; D007501:Iron; C005144:pumice