Overview of Permeable Reactive Barriers Presented To:

Permeable reactive barriers are a practical, low cost alternative to traditional pump and treat methods. After very extensive site characterization, the location, design, thickness and length, and reactive media of the barrier can be determined. A common reactant is zero valent iron because of it’s availability and effectiveness in removing many contaminants but specifically chlorinated solvents. Advantages of permeable reactive barriers are their cost effectiveness, ability to treat multiple contaminants, the limiting of cross contamination as well as many others. The disadvantages are that they are restricted to shallow plumes, loss of reactant potency and permeability, and possible aesthetic problems. There is a lack of reliable field data and long term testing nevertheless, permeable reactive barriers are quickly proving to be a preferred choice in remediating contaminated groundwater. 2Table of Content