Compositions in accordance with the principles of the present invention
comprise a compressed mixture of fibrous organic materials and
multi-valent metals used to remove organic chemical contaminants. The
compositions are made into a pre-shaped, compressed form used to form a
permeable reactive barrier for decontamination of soils, sediments,
sludges, and waters containing environmental pollutants. The compressed
mixture, comprising the fibrous organic particles and one or more
multivalent metallic particles, is formed into reactive pellets,
granules, and other pre-shaped structures for use in constructing a
reactive barrier, typically for use in a contaminated environment or in
an industrial process. By way of example, the pre-shaped structure may be
used to construct a reactive barrier to remove halogenated organic
chemical contaminants, nitroaromatic organic contaminants, or certain
inorganic contaminants from various terrestrial and aquatic based
ecosystems.