In coastal floodplains, groundwater drawdown due to flood mitigation drains has exacerbated sub-surface pyrite oxidation, creating acidic groundwater, which has catastrophic effects on agriculture and aquaculture. Alkaline permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) are a promising remediation technique for treating acidic groundwater. However, their efficiency and longevity depend on the rate of physical and chemical clogging. The key challenge will be the in-depth study of clogging mechanisms and the development of comprehensive models to include complex hydrogeology and geochemical reaction kinetics, supported by laboratory testing and field monitoring. The findings will be vital for the future design of PRBs in acid sulphate landscapes.
In coastal floodplains, groundwater drawdown due to flood mitigation drains has exacerbated sub-surface pyrite oxidation, creating acidic groundwater, which has catastrophic effects on agriculture and aquaculture. Alkaline permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) are a promising remediation technique for treating acidic groundwater. However, their efficiency and longevity depend on the rate of physical and chemical clogging. The key challenge will be the in-depth study of clogging mechanisms and the development of comprehensive models to include complex hydrogeology and geochemical reaction kinetics, supported by laboratory testing and field monitoring. The findings will be vital for the future design of PRBs in acid sulphate landscapes.
