Trichloroethylene removal from groundwater in flow-through columns simulating a permeable reactive barrier constructed with plant mulch.

Groundwater contaminated with TCE is commonly treated with a permeable reactive barrier (PRB) constructed with zero-valence iron. The cost of iron has driven a search for less costly alternatives, and composted plant mulch has been used as an alternative at several sites. A column study was conducted that simulated conditions in a PRB at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. The reactive matrix was 50% (v/v) shredded tree mulch, 10% cotton gin trash, and 40% sand. The mean residence time of groundwater in the columns was 17 days. The estimated retardation factor for TCE was 12. TCE was supplied at concentrations near 20 microM. Over 793 days of operation, concentrations of TCE in the column effluents varied from 0.1% to 2% of the column influents. Concentrations of cis-DCE, vinyl chloride, ethylene, ethane, and acetylene could account for 1% of the TCE that was removed; however, up to 56% of 13C added as [1,2-13C] TCE in the column influents was recovered as 13C in carbon dioxide. After 383 and 793 d of operation, approximately one-half of the TCE removal was associated with abiotic reactions with FeS that accumulated in the reactive matrix.