TY - JOUR A1 - Bilardi, Stefania A1 - Calabrò, Paolo S. A1 - Caré, Sabine A1 - Moraci, Nicola A1 - Noubactep, Chicgoua T1 - Improving the sustainability of granular iron/pumice systems for water treatment. Y1 - 2013-05-30 VL - 121 SP - 133 EP - 141 JF - Journal of environmental management DO - 10.1016/j.jenvman.2013.02.042 DO - 10.23689/fidgeo-2723 N2 - 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. UR - http://resolver.sub.uni-goettingen.de/purl?gldocs-11858/7036 ER -