Advances in Permeable Reactive Barrier Technologies

Abstract

Permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) are passive groundwater treatment systems that decontaminate groundwater as it flows through a permeable treatment medium under natural gradients. PRBs currently are being used to treat a wide variety of groundwater contaminants, including chlorinated solvents, other organics, metals, inorganics, and radionuclides. Zero-valent iron currently is the most common reactive material used in a PRB, but a variety of other adsorptive, reactive, and biodegradation-enhancing materials also are being used. Advantages of PRB treatment systems include: (1) In situ remediation; (2) Passive operation; (3) No required aboveground structures; (4) Potentially less expensive than pump-and- treat systems in the long term PRB technologies are advancing rapidly, as the treatment method gains popularity as an alternative to pump-and-treat systems. In tact, permeable barriers have evolved into a whole new class of technologies, as new PRB configurations and new barrier media are being developed to treat a variety of contaminants, including solvents, metals, and radio-nuclides.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 2002
Accession Number
ADA410697

Entities

Organizations

  • Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force Facilities
  • Biodegradation
  • Construction
  • Engineering
  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Excavation
  • Groundwater
  • High Pressure
  • Materials
  • Measurement
  • Metals
  • Monitoring
  • Naval Air Stations
  • Reactive Materials
  • Trenches
  • United States
  • Water Quality

Readers

  • Groundwater Contamination Remediation.