A preliminary approach based on numerical simulation modelling and evaluation of permeable reactive barrier for aquifer remediation susceptible to selenium contaminant

Motahareh Saadatpour; Marziyeh Goeini; Abbas Afshar; Alireza Shahmirnoori

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117242

A preliminary approach based on numerical simulation modelling and evaluation of permeable reactive barrier for aquifer remediation susceptible to selenium contaminant

J Environ Manage. 2023 Apr 1:331:117242. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117242. Epub 2023 Jan 9.

Authors

Motahareh Saadatpour¹, Marziyeh Goeini², Abbas Afshar³, Alireza Shahmirnoori⁴

Affiliations

¹ School of Civil Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, P. O. Box: 16846-13114, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: msaadatpour@iust.ac.ir.
² Master of Water Resources Planning and Management Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: goinimarziye@gmail.com.
³ School of Civil Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: a_afshar@iust.ac.ir.
⁴ Master of Water Resources Planning and Management Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: arsnteh@gmail.com.

PMID: 36630800
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117242

Abstract

In this study, numerical groundwater modelling software (GMS) was applied for a 2D transient state predictive (flow and contaminant fate and transport) conceptual model for heavy metal (Selenium in this research) contaminated groundwater, Imamzadeh-Jafar Aquifer, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, Iran. The performances of permeable reactive barrier (PRB) in pollutant removal in the contaminated aquifers were studied by helping the MODFLOW-MT3DMS model. The spatiotemporal distribution of Selenium (Se) contaminant over the aquifer was illustrated using the calibrated flow and contaminant model. According to the findings, the downward movement of Se has resulted in an unsafe and undesirable water quality status in the Imamzadeh-Jafar aquifer, which is supported by field data. The sensitivity analysis of PRB layouts, geometric features, and reactant material characteristics was conducted in groundwater remediation. The numerical model results illustrated that the PRB thickness, ranging from 10 to 500 m, manifested the drop in Se concentration approximately from 40 to 46%. The results shed light on the hydraulic conductivity variations of reactant materials have effects less than 0.5% in Se removals. Furthermore, the decay rate variations in the ranges from 0.0001 to 0.01 d^-1 could result in Se removal from 5 to 100%. According to studies, if the contaminant sources are prevented, in a) installation of PRB and b) not installation of PRB scenarios, the Imamzadeh-Jafar aquifer remediation will take 6 months and 84 months, respectively.

Keywords: GMS; Groundwater remediation; Heavy metal; Imamzadeh-jafar aquifer; MODFLOW; MT3DMS; PRB; Selenium.

MeSH terms

Groundwater*
Iran
Models, Theoretical
Selenium* / analysis
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis

Substances

Water Pollutants, Chemical
Selenium