Treatment of RDX & HMX Plumes Using Mulch Biowalls
Abstract
Organic mulch is a complex carbon material that is typically populated with its own consortium of microorganisms. The organisms in mulch breakdown complex insoluble organics to soluble carbon, which can then be utilized by these and other microorganisms as an electron donor for treating contaminants via reductive pathways. Mulch has advantages over other electron donors: it is cheaply available, long-lasting, and is naturally present in the environment. Over the last decade, organic mulch permeable reactive barriers (PRB) or biowalls have enjoyed increased public interest as a relatively cheap technology for addressing contaminated groundwater. The mulch PRB is a passive technology and consequently requires no aboveground injection system, thereby greatly reducing operating and maintenance costs. To date, biowalls have been installed to bioremediate groundwater contaminated with a variety of electrophilic compounds, including chlorinated solvents and inorganics such as nitrate and perchlorate. This field demonstration represents the first-ever application of mulch PRB for the treatment of explosives contamination in groundwater.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA512818
Entities
People
- Charles J. Newell
Organizations
- GSI Environmental (United States)