Abstract
This work explores the suitability of iron slag solid waste as a sorbent in the permeable reactive barrier technology in order to achieve sustainability principles for remediating groundwater contaminated with benzaldehyde. Numerical modeling was able to simulate the measured break-through curves under various values of flowrates and initial concentrations with a coefficient of determination greater than 0.98. This model is based on solving of advection-dispersion-sorption equation using computer solution (COMSOL) Multiphysics 3.5a. Results certified that there was a direct relation between longevity of the barrier measured by breakthrough time and bed depth; however, this longevity was decreased dramatically with an increase of inlet concentration of contaminant and flowrate of flow. Hydraulic conductivity was recognized to remain approximately constant which certified that there was no precipitation occurred through the removal process. Finally, the dissolved calcium oxide (formed 14% of iron slag) enhanced the sorption process because calcium can compose the cation bridge between benzaldehyde and iron.