TY - JOUR
T1 - A review on the use of permeable reactive barriers as an effective technique for groundwater remediation
AU - Sakr, Marwa
AU - El Agamawi, Hadel
AU - Klammler, Harald
AU - Mohamed, Mohamed M.
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was funded by the National Water and Energy Center at UAE University under projects no 31R191 .
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023
PY - 2023/5
Y1 - 2023/5
N2 - This study provides a comprehensive review of the permeable reactive barrier (PRB) technique for groundwater remediation for a wide range of contaminants. We have discussed the fundamentals of installation, including site selection and design. Different PRB designs are discussed, including the funnel and gate, continuous trench, and sequential configurations. We have also discussed different methods for PRB optimization to achieve maximum removal rates of pollutants. The reactive mechanisms, which play a crucial role in the removal process, are reviewed in detail, for various types of reactive media. The effect of combining multiple materials for enhancing the performance of single and multiple PRB systems was also reviewed. Finally, we determined the optimization factors that contribute to the longevity of the various PRB designs to, ultimately, enhance groundwater remediation. With the correct design and appropriate selection of reactive materials, a PRB system could be highly effective in the remediation of groundwater contaminant plumes. Previous studies reported that the PRB could successfully treat groundwater contaminated with organics, heavy metals, and radioactive substances, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX), arsenic, lead, caesium-137, and uranium. Several reactive materials, including zero-valent iron, activated carbon, and zeolites, satisfy the characteristics required for groundwater remediation. In addition, we analysed the potential of new reactive materials, including sand, apatite, straw-based materials, gravel and mulch mixture, to remove different contaminants through the use of PRB systems.
AB - This study provides a comprehensive review of the permeable reactive barrier (PRB) technique for groundwater remediation for a wide range of contaminants. We have discussed the fundamentals of installation, including site selection and design. Different PRB designs are discussed, including the funnel and gate, continuous trench, and sequential configurations. We have also discussed different methods for PRB optimization to achieve maximum removal rates of pollutants. The reactive mechanisms, which play a crucial role in the removal process, are reviewed in detail, for various types of reactive media. The effect of combining multiple materials for enhancing the performance of single and multiple PRB systems was also reviewed. Finally, we determined the optimization factors that contribute to the longevity of the various PRB designs to, ultimately, enhance groundwater remediation. With the correct design and appropriate selection of reactive materials, a PRB system could be highly effective in the remediation of groundwater contaminant plumes. Previous studies reported that the PRB could successfully treat groundwater contaminated with organics, heavy metals, and radioactive substances, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX), arsenic, lead, caesium-137, and uranium. Several reactive materials, including zero-valent iron, activated carbon, and zeolites, satisfy the characteristics required for groundwater remediation. In addition, we analysed the potential of new reactive materials, including sand, apatite, straw-based materials, gravel and mulch mixture, to remove different contaminants through the use of PRB systems.
KW - Biodegradation
KW - Groundwater remediation
KW - Permeable reactive barrier
KW - Reactive materials
KW - Treatment
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U2 - 10.1016/j.gsd.2023.100914
DO - 10.1016/j.gsd.2023.100914
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85147258078
SN - 2352-801X
VL - 21
JO - Groundwater for Sustainable Development
JF - Groundwater for Sustainable Development
M1 - 100914
ER -