Work

Multi-scale investigation of long-term performance of permeable reactive barrier systems subjected to (bio)passivation

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: • GAC erosion can cause TPH breakthrough regardless of GAC sorption capacity. • Microbial activity reduced GAC sorption capacity and accelerated TPH breakthrough. • micro-CT revealed pore blockage and connectivity loss under long-term operation. • Dispersivity increased while mobile porosity fraction declined with bioactivity. This study investigated the microbial impact on the long-term reactivity and pore-structure changes of granular activated carbon (GAC)-based permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) for treating total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) through a series of column experiments. The erosion of superfine GAC particles, caused by rapid local pore flow, led to irregular TPH breakthrough from the columns. The coupled effect of transport and biodegradation demonstrated that microbial activity could potentially reduce the durability of the barrier. Micro X-ray computed tomography (Micro-CT) and tracer tests were used to identify changes in the pore structure and transport characteristics before and after column operation. Microbial activity markedly reduced mobile and effective porosity, increased non-effective pores, and intensified depth-dependent heterogeneity and connectivity loss. These findings provide important insights for predicting the lifespan of GAC-based PRBs and optimizing their design by accounting for biologically driven structural changes as well as physicochemical adsorption processes.

Source: Bioresource Technology

DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2026.133955

Authors: Yeon Gyoung Chu, Sang Hyun Kim, Jaesang Lee, Seunghak Lee, Jaeshik Chung

Institutions: Korea University, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Korea University of Science and Technology

Language: English

Topic: Environmental remediation with nanomaterials

Subfield: Biomedical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Clean water and sanitation, Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,880