Highly organic natural media as permeable reactive barriers: TCE partitioning and anaerobic degradation profile in eucalyptus mulch and compost

► Anaerobic bioactive zone formed in eucalyptus mulch and compost columns. ► The first order decomposition rates for TCE were 0.23 d−1 and 1.2 d−1 in the columns. ► Conversion of vinyl chloride to ethylene was the rate limiting step. ► Bacterial growth improved the retardation of TCE in the organic media.