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ASSESSMENT OF WATER TREATMENT RESIDUALS AS SORBENT MATERIAL IN PERMEABLE REACTIVE BARRIERS: APPLICATION TO A COPPER-CONTAMINATED SITE
Walkons, C., A. Mayer, R. Datta, and D. Sarkar.
Remediation Journal 29(1):45-51(2018)

In designing a pilot-scale permeable reactive barrier (PRB) for removal of copper from groundwater in Keweenaw Peninsula, Mich., drinking water treatment residuals (WTRs)—i.e., residuals of alum coagulants used in a local drinking water treatment plant—were selected as the reactive barrier material. Synthetic precipitation leaching procedure tests indicated that concentrations of hazardous elements leached from the residuals do not exceed U.S. EPA limits and hence could be safely recycled as PRB material. Batch reactor tests showed high equilibrium sorption of copper, fitting a Langmuir-type isotherm. Tests of different mixtures of the WTRs and an inert support material (pea gravel) helped to determine the ideal mix to match the hydraulic conductivity of the field site. The dimensions of a PRB to meet the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality target level of 0.031 mg/L total Cu were calculated based on the results of kinetic and column experiments. See additional information in C. Walkons' thesis at https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/etdr/249/.



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