A　laboratory-scale　study　with　a　sand　column　was　designed　to　simulate　trichloroethylene　(TCE)　pollution　in　the　aquifer　environment　with　three-section　controlled-release　potassium　permanganate　(CRP)　barriers.　The　main　objective　of　this　study　was　to　evaluate　the　feasibility　of　CRP　barriers　in　remediation　of　TCE　in　aquifers　in　a　long-term　and　controlled　manner.　CRP　particles　with　a　1:3　molar　ratio　of　KMnO4　to　stearic　acid　showed　the　best　controlled-release　properties　in　pure　water,　and　the　theoretical　release　time　was　138.5　days.　The　results　of　TCE　removal　in　the　test　column　indicated　that　complete　removal　efficiency　of　TCE　in　a　sand　column　by　three-section　CRP　barriers　could　be　reached　within　15　days.　The　molar　ratio　of　KMnO4　to　TCE　in　the　three-section　CRP　barriers　was　16:1,　which　was　much　lower　than　82:1　as　required　when　KMnO4　solution　is　used　directly　to　achieve　complete　destruction　of　TCE.　This　result　revealed　that　the　efficiency　of　CRP　for　remediation　of　TCE　was　highly　improved　after　encapsulation.　©　2013　The　Research　Centre　for　Eco-Environmental　Sciences,　Chinese　Academy　of　Sciences.