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Permeable Reactive Barriers for the Removal of Heavy Metals: Lab‐Scale Experiments with Low‐Grade Magnesium Oxide
Author(s) -
Navarro Andrés,
Chimenos Josep M,
Muntaner David,
Fernández A. Inés
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
groundwater monitoring and remediation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1745-6592
pISSN - 1069-3629
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-6592.2006.00118.x
Subject(s) - environmental remediation , coprecipitation , magnesium , chemistry , solubility , metal , zinc , groundwater , hydroxide , environmental chemistry , cadmium , groundwater remediation , sorption , inorganic chemistry , contamination , adsorption , geology , ecology , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry , biology
The attenuation of heavy metals in ground water depends on factors such as solid‐solution equilibrium or the solubility product ( K sp ) of the solid phase. Metals are pH dependent, and the solubility of heavy metal hydroxides such as lead, cadmium, zinc, and nickel is minimal within pH range 9 to 11. MgO as material in a passive remediation system for removing heavy metals from contaminated ground water is very useful because of its minimal environmental impact and low solubility reaches a maximum pH of 10. Low‐grade MgO (LG‐MgO) was found to be suitable and economically feasible for use as permeable reactive barrier filler for remediation of ground water contaminated by heavy metals. The results of this study suggest that the coprecipitation of heavy metal hydroxides and magnesium hydroxide on the LG‐MgO particle surface and sorption in the neoformed precipitates are the main mechanisms of heavy metal release from contaminated ground water. Remediation is not affected by the presence of other metals, which ensures that the range of application is very broad in both subterranean and surface water. LG‐MgO used as a reactive medium for the treatment of contaminated water significantly diminishes the amount of heavy metals in ground water.