Contaminant Flux Reduction Barriers for Managing Difficult-to-Treat Source Zones in Unconsolidated Media
Abstract
The overall objective of this project was to evaluate if inexpensive flow reduction agents delivered via permeation grouting technology could help manage difficult-to-treat chlorinated solvent source zones. This approach aims to provide two benefits for improving groundwater quality at chlorinated volatile organic carbon (CVOC) sites by: 1. physically reducing the mass flux of contaminants leaving the source zone by using permeation grouting, thereby reducing risk and making the downgradient plume more amenable for management by natural attenuation processes; and 2) increasing the Natural Source Zone Depletion (NSZD) rate within the source by diverting competing electron acceptors around the source zone to create an enhanced reductive dechlorination zone (ERDZ). This report describes the results of a Small-Scale Demonstration that achieved an average 64% reduction in flow through three small barriers. This was lower than the performance objective of a 90% reduction in flow and was likely caused by the low permeability of the silty sands in the test area. Finally, applications of one acre in area or more are significantly less costly than conventional in-situ remediation technologies ($996K per acre and $21 per cubic yard for a one acre site).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 20, 2017
- Accession Number
- AD1040267
Entities
People
- Charles J. Newell
- Elaine Higgins
- Poonam Kulkarni
Organizations
- GSI Environmental (United States)