Measurement of pore volume, connectivity and clogging of pervious concrete reactive barrier used to treat acid mine drainage

It has recently been shown that pervious concrete is a promising, effective technology as a permeable reactive barrier system for treatment of acid mine drainage (AMD). However, pore clogging also occurs simultaneously during AMD treatment. In the present study, mixtures of pervious concrete were ma...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental science and pollution research international 2022-08, Vol.29 (37), p.55743-55756
Main Authors: Ekolu, Stephen O., Solomon, Fitsum, de Beer, Frikkie, Bitandi, Louisette, Kilula, Rais N., Maseko, Khaya T., Mahlangu, Fatty G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acid mine drainage
Aluminum
Aquatic Pollution
Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution
Chromium
Computed tomography
Connectivity
Earth and Environmental Science
Ecotoxicology
Effluent treatment
Environment
Environmental Chemistry
Environmental Health
Environmental science
Heavy metals
Image analysis
Image processing
Iron
Leaching
Magnesium
Manganese
Membrane permeability
Mine drainage
Mixtures
Permeability
Permeability tests
Permeable reactive barriers
Pollution prevention
Research Article
Waste Water Technology
Wastewater treatment
Water Management
Water Pollution Control
Zinc
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Summary:It has recently been shown that pervious concrete is a promising, effective technology as a permeable reactive barrier system for treatment of acid mine drainage (AMD). However, pore clogging also occurs simultaneously during AMD treatment. In the present study, mixtures of pervious concrete were made and used in a column experiment during which pore clogging occurred in the samples. Pore volume, connectivity and other parameters of pervious concrete were evaluated using five (5) different methods comprising the volumetric method (VM), linear–traverse method (LTM), image analysis (IA), falling head permeability test and X-ray microcomputed tomography. It was found that pervious concrete effectively removed from AMD, about 90 to 99% of various heavy metals including Al, Fe, Zn, Mn and Mg. Cr concentration significantly increased in the treated effluent, owing to leaching from cementitious materials used in mixtures. The VM and LTM gave statistically similar pore volume results, while IA’s values were 20 to 30% higher than those of the conventional methods. The falling head permeability test and IA were found to be effective in quantifying pore clogging effects. Pervious concrete exhibited high pore connectivity of 95.0 to 99.7%, which underlies its efficacious hydraulic conductivity.
ISSN:0944-1344
1614-7499
DOI:10.1007/s11356-022-18850-7