Impact of an in-situ Cr(VI)-contaminated site remediation on the groundwater

Klaus Philipp Sedlazeck, Daniel Vollprecht, Peter Müller, Robert Mischitz, Reto Gieré

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9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This study presents the latest results of the groundwater monitoring of a research project, which tested an innovative pump and treat method in combination with an in-situ remediation. This technique was assessed on an abandoned site in Austria, where two hot spots of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) were located. For the in-situ remediation, a strong reducing agent (sodium dithionite) was injected into the underground to reduce Cr(VI) to Cr(III) by using different injection strategies. Throughout this treatment, part of the Cr(VI) is mobilized and not instantly reduced. To prevent a further spreading of the mobilized Cr(VI), the pump and treat method, which uses zero-valent iron to clean the groundwater, was installed downgradient of the hot spots. Based on the groundwater sample analyses, it was possible to distinguish different remediation phases, characterized by excess chromate and excess sulfite. During the excess sulfite conditions, Cr(VI) was successfully removed from the system, but after terminating the sodium dithionite injection, the Cr(VI) rebounded.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)14465-14475
Number of pages11
JournalEnvironmental Science and Pollution Research
Volume27.2020
Issue number13
Early online date14 Jan 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 May 2020

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright: © 2020, The Author(s).

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