Improving the sustainability of granular iron/pumice systems for water treatment

Metallic iron (Fe-0) is currently used in subsurface and above-ground water filtration systems on a pragmatic basis. Recent theoretical studies have indicated that, to be sustainable, such systems should not contain more than 60% Fe-0 (vol/vol). The prediction was already validated in a Fe-0/sand system using methylene blue as an operational tracer. The present work is the first attempt to experimentally verify the new concept using pumice particles. A well-characterized pumice sample is used as operational supporting material and is mixed with 200 g of a granular Fe-0, in volumetric proportions, varying from 0 to 100%. The resulting column systems are characterized (i) by the time dependent evolution of their hydraulic conductivity and (ii) for their efficiency for the removal of Cu-II, Ni-II, and Zn-II from a three-contaminants-solution (about 0.3 mM of each metal). Test results showed a clear sustainability of the long term hydraulic conductivity with decreasing Fe-0/pumice ratio. In fact, the pure Fe-0 system clogged after 17 days, while the 25% Fe-0 system could operate for 36 days. The experimental data confirmed the view that well-designed Fe-0 PRBs may be successful at removing both reducible and non-reducible metal species. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.