The reduction in porosity of permeable reactive barriers due to bio-geochemical clogging caused by acidic groundwater flow

Abstract

This study demonstrates the change in porosity of permeable reactive barrier (PRB) material when it reacts with acidic flow. The laboratory column test data obtained over 9 months prove that the porosity of a granular limestone assembly decreases significantly due to bio-geochemical clogging caused by a continuous flow of acidic groundwater. The variations in pH, the pressure measurements, ion concentrations, and the results from X-ray diffraction suggest that clogging at the outlet of the column is much less than at the inlet. About 57% of the total reduction in porosity of the column is attributed to chemical clogging, while the remainder is mainly due to biological clogging. In this paper, a mathematical approach is proposed to estimate the reduction of reactive surface area based on changes in the pore volume. These proposed equations suggest that at the end of experimentation, the dissolution of calcite and bio-geochemical clogging can reduce the total surface area of limestone aggregates by more than 70%. The rigorous approach presented in this paper to determine the dominant clogging component within a granular filter at a given time is vital in estimating the longevity of a PRB and for planning its maintenance.