Removal of Transition Metals from Contaminated Aquifers by PRB Technology: Performance Comparison among Reactive Materials

Celia Margarita Mayacela-Rojas, Antonio Molinari, José Luis Cortina, Oriol Gibert, Carlos Ayora, Adalgisa Tavolaro, María Fernanda Rivera-Velásquez and Carmine Fallico
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Celia Margarita Mayacela-Rojas: Faculty of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Universidad Técnica de Ambato, Ambato 180103, Ecuador
Antonio Molinari: Department of Civil Engineering, Università della Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
José Luis Cortina: Barcelona Research Center for Multiscale Science and Engineering, UPC-BarcelonaTECH, C/Eduard Maristany, 10–14 Campus Diagonal-Besòs, 08930 Barcelona, Spain
Oriol Gibert: Barcelona Research Center for Multiscale Science and Engineering, UPC-BarcelonaTECH, C/Eduard Maristany, 10–14 Campus Diagonal-Besòs, 08930 Barcelona, Spain
Carlos Ayora: Departament de Geociències, Institut de Diagnosi Ambiental i Estudis de l’Aigua (IDÆA-CSIC), c/Jordi Girona 18 UPC Campus Norte, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
Adalgisa Tavolaro: Institute on Membrane Technology, National Research Council (C.N.R.-I.T.M.), University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
María Fernanda Rivera-Velásquez: Alternative Energies and Environment Research Group, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, Panamericana Sur km 1 1/2, Riobamba 060101, Ecuador
Carmine Fallico: Department of Civil Engineering, Università della Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 11, 1-26

Abstract: The most common reactive material used for the construction of a permeable reactive barrier (PRB) is zero valent iron (ZVI), however, its processing can generate corrosive effects that reduce the efficiency of the barrier. The present study makes a major contribution to understanding new reactive materials as natural and synthetic, easy to obtain, economical and environmentally friendly as possible substitutes for the traditional ZHV to be used as filters in the removal of three transition metals (Zn, Cu, Cd). To assess the ability to remove these pollutants, a series of batch and column tests were carried out at laboratory scale with these materials. Through BACH tests, four of seven substances with a removal percentage higher than 99% were prioritized (cabuya, natural clinoptilolite zeolites, sodium mordenite and mordenite). From this group of substances, column tests were performed where it is evidenced that cabuya fiber presents the lowest absorption time (?189 h) while natural zeolite mordenite shows the highest time (?833 h). The latter being the best option for the PRB design. The experimental values were also reproduced by the RETRASO code; through this program, the trend between the observed and simulated values with respect to the best reactive substance was corroborated.

Keywords: aquifers remediation; permeable reactive barriers; transition metals; vegetable fibers; zeolites; bach tests; column tests (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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