Title: A novel approach to remediating contaminated groundwater by reusing industrial co-products

Authors: Charles Ochola, H. Keith Moo-Young Jr.

Addresses: Villanova University College of Engineering, 800 Lancaster Ave., Villanova, PA 19085, USA. ' Villanova University College of Engineering, 800 Lancaster Ave., Villanova, PA 19085, USA

Abstract: This paper presents a novel approach to remediating contaminated groundwater by utilising industrial co-products. The materials discussed include paper clay and steel slag, and the primary water contamination considered is heavy metal contamination. Paper clay was determined to have the potential for adsorbing heavy metals, and in compacted form could achieve permeability values within the desired range of 10-5 to 10-7 cm/sec required for reactive barriers. Steel-making slags are the by-products of the processing of iron and scrap into the desired type and grade of steel. The steel slag identified in this study has an acid neutralisation potential of approximately 83% as calcium carbonate (CaCOO3), and on the average shows over 90% removal efficiency for various heavy metals tested. The proposed technique involves incorporating industrial co-products into Pearmeable Reactive Barriers (PRBs) to remediate heavy metal contaminated groundwater.

Keywords: paper clay; steel slag; slurry walls; permeable reactive barriers; heavy metals; groundwater contamination; groundwater pollution; groundwater remediation; industrial co-products; water pollution; acid neutralisation; adsorbtion; calcium carbonate; waste management; environmental management; recycling; reuse.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2007.013634

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2007 Vol.1 No.2/3, pp.228 - 248

Published online: 09 May 2007 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article