title: Fifteen-year assessment of a permeable reactive barrier for treatment of chromate and trichloroethylene in groundwater.
abstract: The fifteen-year performance of a granular iron, permeable reactive barrier (PRB; Elizabeth City, North Carolina) is reviewed with respect to contaminant treatment (hexavalent chromium and trichloroethylene) and hydraulic performance. Due to in-situ treatment of the chromium source zone, reactive and hydraulic longevity of the PRB has outlived the mobile chromate plume. Chromium concentrations exceeding 3 μg/L have not been detected in regions located hydraulically down-gradient of the PRB. Trichloroethylene treatment has also been effective, although non-constant influent concentrations of trichloroethylene have at times resulted in incomplete dechlorination. Daughter products: cis-1,2-dichloroethylene, vinyl chloride, ethene, and ethane have been observed within and down-gradient of the PRB at levels <10% of the influent trichloroethylene. Analysis of potentiometric surfaces up-gradient and across the PRB suggests that the PRB may currently represent a zone of reduced hydraulic conductivity; however, measurements of the in-situ hydraulic conductivity provide values in excess of 200 m/d in some intervals and indicate no discernible loss of bulk hydraulic conductivity within the PRB. The results presented here are particularly significant because they provide the longest available record of performance of a PRB. The longevity of the Elizabeth City PRB is principally the result of favorable groundwater geochemistry and hydrologic properties of the site.
authors.affiliation: United States Environmental Protection Agency, National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Ground Water and Ecosystems Restoration Division, 919 Kerr Research Drive, Ada, OK, 74820, USA. Electronic address: wilkin.rick@epa.gov.
authors.forename: Richard T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Wilkin
authors.forename: Steven D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Acree
authors.forename: Randall R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Puls
authors.forename: Tony R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Leilani L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Woods
mesh_terms: D002840:Chromates / Q000032:analysis*; D019075:Electrophoresis, Capillary; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D060587:Groundwater / Q000737:chemistry*; D062070:Hydrology; D007501:Iron; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D009657:North Carolina; D014241:Trichloroethylene / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D002840:Chromates; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D014241:Trichloroethylene; D007501:Iron
keywords: Chromium; Granular iron; Groundwater remediation; Long-term performance; Permeable reactive barrier; Trichloroethylene