1
|
Skinner J, Delgado AG, Hyman M, Chu MYJ. Implementation of in situ aerobic cometabolism for groundwater treatment: State of the knowledge and important factors for field operation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 925:171667. [PMID: 38485017 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
In situ aerobic cometabolism of groundwater contaminants has been demonstrated to be a valuable bioremediation technology to treat many legacy and emerging contaminants in dilute plumes. Several well-designed and documented field studies have shown that this technology can concurrently treat multiple contaminants and reach very low cleanup goals. Fundamentally different from metabolism-based biodegradation of contaminants, microorganisms that cometabolically degrade contaminants do not obtain sufficient carbon and energy from the degradation process to support their growth and require an exogenous growth supporting primary substrate. Successful applications of aerobic cometabolic treatment therefore require special considerations beyond conventional in situ bioremediation, such as competitive inhibition between growth-supporting primary substrate(s) and contaminant non-growth substrates, toxic effects resulting from contaminant degradation, and differences in microbial population dynamics exhibited by biostimulated indigenous consortia versus bioaugmentation cultures. This article first provides a general review of microbiological factors that are likely to affect the rate of aerobic cometabolic biodegradation. We subsequently review fourteen well documented field-scale aerobic cometabolic bioremediation studies and summarize the underlying microbiological factors that may affect the performance observed in these field studies. The combination of microbiological and engineering principles gained from field testing leads to insights and recommendations on planning, design, and operation of an in situ aerobic cometabolic treatment system. With a vision of more aerobic cometabolic treatments being considered to tackle large, dilute plumes, we present several novel topics and future research directions that can potentially enhance technology development and foster success in implementing this technology for environmental restoration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Justin Skinner
- Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, 1001 S McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA; School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, 660 S College Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA; Engineering Research Center for Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics (CBBG), Arizona State University, 650 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA; Andrews Engineering, Inc., 3300 Ginger Creek Drive, Springfield, IL 62711, USA
| | - Anca G Delgado
- Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, 1001 S McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA; School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, 660 S College Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA; Engineering Research Center for Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics (CBBG), Arizona State University, 650 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Michael Hyman
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Thomas Hall 4545, 112 Derieux Place, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
| | - Min-Ying Jacob Chu
- Haley & Aldrich Inc., 400 E Van Buren St, Ste 545, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lin WH, Chien CC, Ou JH, Yu YL, Chen SC, Kao CM. Cleanup of Cr(VI)-polluted groundwater using immobilized bacterial consortia via bioreduction mechanisms. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 339:117947. [PMID: 37075632 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Cr(VI) bioreduction has become a remedial alternative for Cr(VI)-polluted site cleanup. However, lack of appropriate Cr(VI)-bioreducing bacteria limit the field application of the in situ bioremediation process. In this study, two different immobilized Cr(VI)-bioreducing bacterial consortia using novel immobilization agents have been developed for Cr(VI)-polluted groundwater remediation: (1) granular activated carbon (GAC) + silica gel + Cr(VI)-bioreducing bacterial consortia (GSIB), and (2) GAC + sodium alginate (SA) + polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) + Cr(VI)-bioreducing bacterial consortia (GSPB). Moreover, two unique substrates [carbon-based agent (CBA) and emulsified polycolloid substrate (EPS)] were developed and used as the carbon sources for Cr(VI) bioreduction enhancement. The microbial diversity, dominant Cr-bioreducing bacteria, and changes of Cr(VI)-reducing genes (nsfA, yieF, and chrR) were analyzed to assess the effectiveness of Cr(VI) bioreduction. Approximately 99% of Cr(VI) could be bioreduced in microcosms with GSIB and CBA addition after 70 days of operation, which caused increased populations of total bacteria, nsfA, yieF, and chrR from 2.9 × 108 to 2.1 × 1012, 4.2 × 104 to 6.3 × 1011, 4.8 × 104 to 2 × 1011, and 6.9 × 104 to 3.7 × 107 gene copies/L. In microcosms with CBA and suspended bacteria addition (without bacterial immobilization), the Cr(VI) reduction efficiency dropped to 60.3%, indicating that immobilized Cr-bioreducing bacteria supplement could enhance Cr(VI) bioreduction. Supplement of GSPB led to a declined bacterial growth due to the cracking of the materials. The addition of GSIB and CBA could establish a reduced condition, which favored the growth of Cr(VI)-reducing bacteria. The Cr(VI) bioreduction efficiency could be significantly improved through adsorption and bioreduction mechanisms, and production of Cr(OH)3 precipitates confirmed the occurrence of Cr(VI) reduction. The main Cr-bioreducing bacteria included Trichococcus, Escherichia-Shigella, and Lactobacillus. Results suggest that the developed GSIB bioremedial system could be applied to cleanup Cr(VI)-polluted groundwater effectively.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Han Lin
- College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China; Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Ching Chien
- Graduate School of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Yuan Ze University, Chung-Li City, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Jiun-Hau Ou
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Liang Yu
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ssu-Ching Chen
- Department of Life Sciences, National Central University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
| | - Chih-Ming Kao
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Center for Emerging Contaminants Research, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ding D, Jiang D, Zhou Y, Xia F, Chen Y, Kong L, Wei J, Zhang S, Deng S. Assessing the environmental impacts and costs of biochar and monitored natural attenuation for groundwater heavily contaminated with volatile organic compounds. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 846:157316. [PMID: 35842168 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Although biochar (BC) and monitored natural attenuation (MNA) are regarded as green technologies for remediating volatile organic compounds (VOCs) contaminated groundwater, their life cycle environmental impacts and costs have not been systematically quantified. This work assessed the primary and secondary environmental impacts and the cost of three options for remediating the groundwater at a closed pesticide manufacturing plant site, which was contaminated by high levels of multiple VOCs and is undergoing MNA. The studied options include a combination of MNA and BC (MNA + BC), BC, and pump and treat (PT). The environmental impacts were examined through a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) using the ReCiPe 2016 method. The costs were evaluated using a Life Cycle Cost (LCC) method created in the SimaPro. The LCA results show that the overall environmental impacts follow the sequence of PT > BC > MNA + BC, but MNA + BC shows evident primary impacts. The CO2 eq emissions generated from PT are more than five times of MNA + BC or BC. The cement, electricity, and steel for construction, and the operation energy are the environmental hotspots in PT. In MNA + BC and BC, the electricity for feedstock pyrolysis is the environmental hotspot, while the use of BC by-products to generate heat and power has positive environmental credit that compensates other negative environmental burdens. Incorporating institutional controls, using renewable energy and recycled or alternative materials, and developing BC with superior adsorption capacity are recommended to optimize the remediation strategies. The LCC results show that PT renders the highest cost, with cement and electricity being the two most expensive items. Electricity is the dominant contributor to the costs of MNA + BC and BC, while the avoided heat and power generation can save the cost of other items. Overall, this study provides scientific support to develop and optimize green remediation solutions for VOCs contaminated groundwater.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Da Ding
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Management and Pollution Control, Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing 210046, China
| | - Dengdeng Jiang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Management and Pollution Control, Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing 210046, China
| | - Yan Zhou
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Management and Pollution Control, Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing 210046, China
| | - Feiyang Xia
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Management and Pollution Control, Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing 210046, China
| | - Yun Chen
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Management and Pollution Control, Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing 210046, China
| | - Lingya Kong
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Management and Pollution Control, Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing 210046, China
| | - Jing Wei
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Management and Pollution Control, Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing 210046, China
| | - Shengtian Zhang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Management and Pollution Control, Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing 210046, China
| | - Shaopo Deng
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Management and Pollution Control, Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing 210046, China.
| |
Collapse
|