Organoclay used in a permeable reactive barrier (PRB) successfully reduced BTEX concentrations in contaminated groundwater below regulatory limits at a refinery site.
A petroleum refinery site had groundwater contaminated with benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) at concentrations 15–80× above regulatory limits. Conventional pump-and-treat was considered cost-prohibitive for the 10-year remediation timeline.
A permeable reactive barrier was installed using a sand/organoclay mixture (15% organoclay by dry weight) in a 45m long, 2m deep trench perpendicular to groundwater flow. The organoclay's hydrophobic surface preferentially adsorbed BTEX compounds from the aqueous phase as groundwater passed through the barrier.
| Contaminant | Influent (avg) | Effluent (avg) | Reduction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benzene | 2,400 μg/L | 38 μg/L | 98.4% |
| Toluene | 8,500 μg/L | 85 μg/L | 99% |
| Ethylbenzene | 1,200 μg/L | 24 μg/L | 98% |
| Total Xylenes | 5,600 μg/L | 112 μg/L | 98% |
All effluent concentrations met regulatory discharge standards after 3 months of barrier operation.
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