This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
THE READING GEOLOGIST


history of particular chemical releases. The forensic approach described in this book is critical in providing information to help litigants and regulatory agencies address possible responsibility in pollu- tion claims and cost allocation to various parties of past assessments, subsurface investigations and remedial actions. For those wanting to expand their forensic geology practice or those who enjoy crime scene television shows, this book will explain the science behind environ- mental forensic investigations. The 455 page hardcover book is published by CRC Press/Taylor & Francis Group.


Permeable Reactive Barrier: Sustainable Groundwater Remediation edited by Ravi Naidu and Volker Birke


Written by an international group of scientists and engineers from North America, Europe and Australia, and edited by experts in environmental chemistry, the Permeable Reactive Barrier provides the necessary direc- tions for implementing permeable reac- tive barrier (PRB) technology. Where appropriate, the permeable reactive bar- rier (PRB) technology is a terrific passive groundwater treatment technology for a variety of contaminants, including metals, chlorinated solvents, petroleum hydrocarbons, and other compounds. In the simplest form, the concept of a PRB (courtesy, USGS, 1999) is shown below:


The PRB allows groundwater to pass through a buried porous media. The media reacts with and destroys the con- taminants or immobilizes or adsorbs the target compounds. As one of the noted American authors associated with the development of the PRB concept, Scott Warner has a strong PRB overview article in the book. Although now called PRB technology, over the past 25 years,


60 TPG  Apr.May.Jun 2016


the remediation literature has called vir- tually the same technology by the follow- ing names: “permeable treatment zone,” “applied reactive treatment zone,” and “permeable reactive treatment zone.” Another twist to PRB technology as described by the US EPA, is referred to as “funnel and gate.” In funnel and gate, the barrier or funnel channels or focuses the groundwater through the treatment media. Because installation of funnels is relatively expensive, the funnel and gate technology works well when groundwater direction is relatively constant. The funnel can be an imper- vious material such as plastic or steel sheet piling, vertically installed plastic or other impermeable material. The gate holds the treatment media and can be permanently installed in place, or be constructed of a removable treatment module.


Some of the reactive treatment mate- rials for use in PRBs include granu- lar iron metal for use in changing saturated redox conditions to treat certain metals, some chlorinated sol- vents, nitrobenzene, and chlorofluoro- hydrocarbons. Biological media provide sources of carbon, hydrogen or oxygen to treat some chlorinated solvents, chlo- rinated pesticides, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) com- pounds, perchlorate, and specific metals. Other treatment media described in the book include phosphatic materials (apatite), zeolites (ion-exchange) and organophillic clay. Granular activated carbon can also be used as a sorbent for chlorinated solvents and certain hydro- carbons, but must be changed-out before breakthrough occurs.


From a practical standpoint, having one book with 13 different articles by the leading proponents of this innovative and sustainable technology is useful for the practicing environmental profes- sional. Almost all the chapters contain case studies. The first few chapters of the book provide a good overview of


the technology. The chapter on PRB design and construction technologies is enhanced with numerous plan view and cross-section sketches as well as photos from field installations. Other chapters describe groundwater modeling involv- ing PRBs, the impact of trace elements and impurities in the treatment media, and various contaminant-specific case studies related to “hexavalent chro- mium,” nitrate, arsenic, radionuclides, aromatic compounds, and other com- pounds.


Long-term treatment and remediation of groundwater by “pump and treat” and other extraction technologies is often energy intensive and sometimes unusually costly. This passive ground- water remediation technology is a great addition to the sustainable, low-energy approach toward groundwater restora- tion, when it is applied to sites having optimal subsurface lithologies, treatable contaminants, and consistent ground- water flow direction. Although PRBs have been in operation for almost 25 years, there are few published books available with a good compilation of the technology with numerous case studies for the practicing geologist or engineer. This practical book covers all the infor- mation needed to plan, design, model and apply a cost-effective and sustain- able PRB technology. The hardcover book is 333 pages, and is published by CRC Press/Taylor & Francis Group.


Practical Design Calculations for Groundwater and Soil Remediation, Second Edition Hardcover by Jeff Kuo


Like many geologists, I have a well- worn copy of the first edition of the environmental calculation manual by Jeff (Jih-Fen) Kuo, Ph.D., P.E., origi- nally published in 1999 with 263 pages. That was a highly useful book when it was first published. Fifteen years later,


www.aipg.org


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64