A mathematical model for simulation the removal of cadmium and chromium from groundwater using scrap iron and aluminum as permeable reactive barrier

The present work is represented by the derivation of mathematical model and solving the model analytically using the method of separation of variables to describe the migration of the contaminant metal ions through a column packed with bed of permeable reactive barrier (PRB). The validity of the solution can be evaluated through the simulation of cadmium and chromium ions using scrap iron and/or aluminum by-products in the form of wastes that if not utilized to treat waste by waste can impose further burden over the ecosystem. Breakthrough curves proved that the increase of metal ions velocity will decrease the capturing of the ions; therefore, the distribu-tion coefficient and the retardation factor also decrease. Furthermore, the increase of barrier depth will increase the longevity of PRB because this will delay the migration of contaminant. A mathematical model has acceptable ability in the representation of experimental measurements with Nash-\u80\u93Sutcliff efficiency coefficients greater than 0.98. The longevity of the PRB was estimated for the field scale to be 210 and 250 d to produce contaminant effluent beyond 100 cm barrier matrix within the environmental permissible concentrations. Although groundwater velocity is highly variable, a proposed velocity of 0.25 cm/min which is assumed to be analogous to the groundwater velocity has revealed prolonged longevity of 7.02 y for the capture of chromium.Validerad;2022;Nivå 2;2022-08-18 (hanlid);Funder: Taif University (grant no. TURSP-2020/49)