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A PERMEABLE REACTIVE BARRIER FOR TREATMENT OF HEAVY METALS
Citation:
Ludwig*, R, R. G. McGregor, D. W. Blowes, S. G. Benner, AND K. Mountjoy. A PERMEABLE REACTIVE BARRIER FOR TREATMENT OF HEAVY METALS. GROUND WATER 40(1):59-66, (2002).
Description:
Historical storage of ore concentrate containing sulfide minerals at an industrial site in British Columbia, Canada has resulted in widespread contamination of the underlying soil and groundwater. The oxidation of sulfide minerals has released significant quantities of heavy metals including Cu, Cd, Co, Ni, and Zn into the groundwater. A pilot-scale compost-based sulfate-reducing permeable reactive barrier was installed in the path of the dissolved heavy metal plume. The permeable reactive barrier utilizes sulfate-reducing bacteria to promote precipitation of heavy metals as insoluble metal sulfides. Monitoring over a 21-month period indicated significant removal of heavy metals within the barrier. Copper concentrations declined from a mean concentration of 4645 g/L in the influent to a mean concentration within the barrier of 10.5 g/L, Cd from 15.3 g/L to <0.1 g/L, Co from 5.3 g/L to 1.1 g/L, Ni from 118 g/L to 5.4 g/L, and Zn from 2387 g/L to 82.2 g/L.