An application of permeable reactive barrier technology to petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated groundwater

A funnel and gate permeable reactive barrier was designed and built to treat groundwater contaminated with dissolved phase toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylene and n-alkanes in the C6–C36 fraction range. Removal efficiencies for the funnel and gate system varied from 63% to 96% for the monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Average removal efficiencies for C6–C9, C10–C14, and C15–C28 fraction ranges were 69.2%, 77.6% and 79.5%, respectively. The lowest average removal efficiencies were 54% for the C29–C36 n-alkane fraction. The overall average removal efficiency for the funnel and gate system towards petroleum hydrocarbons present in the groundwater was 72% during the 10 month period over which the data were collected, and has allowed relevant water quality objectives to be met.