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In situ remediation of tetrachloroethylene and its intermediates in groundwater using an anaerobic/aerobic permeable reactive barrier

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Abstract

Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) is among the most ubiquitous chlorinated compounds found in groundwater contamination. Its chlorinated degradation by-products remain highly toxic. In this study, an anaerobic/aerobic permeable reactive barrier system consisting of four different functional layers was designed to remediate PCE-contaminated groundwater. The first (oxygen capture) layer maintained the dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration at < 1.35 mg/L in influent supplied to the second (anaerobic) layer. The third (oxygen-releasing) layer maintained DO concentration at > 11.3 mg/L within influent supplied to the fourth (aerobic) layer. The results show that 99% of PCE was removed, mostly within the second layer (anaerobic). Furthermore, the toxic by-products trichloroethylene (TCE), dichloroethylene (DCE), and vinyl chloride (VC) were further degraded by 98, 90, and 92%, respectively, in layer 4 (aerobic). Thus, the designed anaerobic/aerobic permeable reactive barrier system could control both PCE and its degradation by-products, showing great potential as an efficient remediation alternative for the in situ treatment of PCE-contaminated groundwater.

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Abbreviations

PCE:

Tetrachloroethylene

TEC:

Trichloroethylene

DCE:

Dichloroethylene

VC:

Vinyl chloride

ACA:

Activated carbon adsorption

AOP:

Advanced oxidation processes

ZVI:

Zero-valent iron

DO:

Dissolved oxygen

PRB:

Permeable reactive barrier

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Acknowledgements

This work is supported by the Tianjin Research Program of Application Foundation and Advanced Technology, Tianjin City, China (key project, no.15JCZDJC40400) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 21407112).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, No. 92, Weijin Rd., Nankai Dist, Tianjin, 300072, People’s Republic of China

    SheJiang Liu, QinMing Yang, YongKui Yang, Hui Ding & Yun Qi

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  1. SheJiang Liu
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  2. QinMing Yang
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  3. YongKui Yang
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  4. Hui Ding
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  5. Yun Qi
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Correspondence to YongKui Yang.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Liu, S., Yang, Q., Yang, Y. et al. In situ remediation of tetrachloroethylene and its intermediates in groundwater using an anaerobic/aerobic permeable reactive barrier. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 26615–26622 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0290-x

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