Cleaning Up a 3‐Mile‐Long Groundwater Plume: It Can Be Done

Suthersan, Suthan; Carroll, Paul; Schnobrich, Matthew; Horst, John; Potter, Scott T.; Peters, L.N.

doi:10.1111/gwmr.12139

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 3 publications

(2 reference statements)

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“…The amount of resources and energy to manage PFASs in the long term via groundwater pumping lead to questions over the sustainability of implementing long‐term pump and treat activities. Over the past decade, there have been some major enhancements to the performance of groundwater extraction systems which compensate for slow back diffusion, allowing much faster aquifer cleanup (Potter, ; Suthersan et al., ). This has been enabled by the implementation of carefully designed groundwater recirculation systems, known as dynamic groundwater recirculation (DGR; Suthersan, Killenbeck, Potter, Divine, & LeFrancois, ).…”

Section: Water Treatment Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of emerging technologies for remediation of PFASs

Ross

McDonough

Miles

et al. 2018

Remediation Journal

375

268

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The need for remediation of poly‐ and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) is growing as a result of more regulatory attention to this new class of contaminants with diminishing water quality standards being promulgated, commonly in the parts per trillion range. PFASs comprise >3,000 individual compounds, but the focus of analyses and regulations has generally been PFASs termed perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), which are all extremely persistent, can be highly mobile, and are increasingly being reported to bioaccumulate, with understanding of their toxicology evolving. However, there are thousands of polyfluorinated “PFAA precursors”, which can transform in the environment and in higher organisms to create PFAAs as persistent daughter products. Some PFASs can travel miles from their point of release, as they are mobile and persistent, potentially creating large plumes. The use of a conceptual site model (CSM) to define risks posed by specific PFASs to potential receptors is considered essential. Granular activated carbon (GAC) is commonly used as part of interim remedial measures to treat PFASs present in water. Many alternative treatment technologies are being adapted for PFASs or ingenious solutions developed. The diversity of PFASs commonly associated with use of multiple PFASs in commercial products is not commonly assessed. Remedial technologies, which are adsorptive or destructive, are considered for both soils and waters with challenges to their commercial application outlined. Biological approaches to treat PFASs report biotransformation which creates persistent PFAAs, no PFASs can biodegrade. Water treatment technologies applied ex situ could be used in a treatment train approach, for example, to concentrate PFASs and then destroy them on‐site. Dynamic groundwater recirculation can greatly enhance contaminant mass removal via groundwater pumping. This review of technologies for remediation of PFASs describes that: GAC may be effective for removal of long‐chain PFAAs, but does not perform well on short‐chain PFAAs and its use for removal of precursors is reported to be less effective; Anion‐exchange resins can remove a wider array of long‐ and short‐chain PFAAs, but struggle to treat the shortest chain PFAAs and removal of most PFAA precursors has not been evaluated; Ozofractionation has been applied for PFASs at full scale and shown to be effective for removal of total PFASs; Chemical oxidation has been demonstrated to be potentially applicable for some PFAAs, but when applied in situ there is concern over the formation of shorter chain PFAAs and ongoing rebound from sorbed precursors; Electrochemical oxidation is evolving as a destructive technology for many PFASs, but can create undesirable by‐products such as perchlorate and bromate; Sonolysis has been demonstrated as a potential destructive technology in the laboratory but there are significant challenges when considering scale up; Soils stabilization approaches are evolving and have been used at full scale but performance need to be assessed usin...

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Section: Water Treatment Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of emerging technologies for remediation of PFASs

Ross

McDonough

Miles

et al. 2018

Remediation Journal

375

268

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show abstract

“…While successful, well fouling management and the need for routine well rehabilitation/reinstallation over the course of injection programs that can extend over 5 years in length provided perspective on the true life‐cycle system requirements to achieve target end points. This awareness, coupled with observations of expedited treatment during recirculation programs has ultimately prompted some pendulum correction toward strictly physical flushing programs (Suthersan et al , ; Suthersan and Potter ) for large, dilute‐plume treatment.…”

Section: Progression Of the Technical Practicementioning

confidence: 99%

Three Decades of Solvent Bioremediation: The Evolution from Innovation to Conventional Practice

Suthersan¹,

Schnobrich²,

Martin³

et al. 2017

Groundwater Monitoring Rem

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“…As indicated earlier, the nature of PFAS plumes is such that large volumes of low concentration extracted water will need to be treated to exceptionally low standards to meet the HALs. Development of treatment methods with broader spectrum capabilities that match this need and facilitate the complete destruction of PFAS will enable the application of sustainable groundwater extraction and treatment methods, such as dynamic groundwater recirculation (Suthersan et al ), which have the benefit of significantly reducing the period of performance in restoration while limiting the net extraction of groundwater. Combined with cost‐effective source treatment methods, such as ScisoR®, we see the convergence of groundwater restoration and water supply in the future as we balance resources to provide drinking water to our communities and maintain the long‐term viability of our limited resource.…”

Section: What Will the Future Hold?mentioning

confidence: 99%