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Hemming SD, Purkis JM, Warwick PE, Cundy AB. Current and emerging technologies for the remediation of difficult-to-measure radionuclides at nuclear sites. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2023; 25:1909-1925. [PMID: 37909868 DOI: 10.1039/d3em00190c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Difficult-to-measure radionuclides (DTMRs), defined by an absence of high energy gamma emissions during decay, are problematic in groundwaters at nuclear sites. DTMRs are common contaminants at many nuclear facilities, with (often) long half-lives and high radiotoxicities within the human body. Effective remediation is, therefore, essential if nuclear site end-state targets are to be met. However, due to a lack of techniques for in situ DTMR detection, technologies designed to remediate these nuclides are underdeveloped and tend to be environmentally invasive. With a growing agenda for sustainable remediation and reduction in nuclear decommissioning costs, there is renewed international focus on the development of less invasive technologies for DTMR clean-up. Here, we review recent developments for remediation of selected problem DTMRs (129I, 99Tc, 90Sr and 3H), with a focus on industrial and site-scale applications. We find that pump and treat (P&T) is the most used technique despite efficacy issues for 129I and 3H. Permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) are a less invasive alternative but have only been demonstrated for removal of 99Tc and 90Sr at scale. Phytoremediation shows promise for site-scale removal of 3H but is unsuitable for 129I and 99Tc due to biotoxicity and bioavailability hazards, respectively. No single technique can remediate all DTMRs of focus. Likewise, there has been no successful site-applied technology with high removal efficiencies for iodine species typically present in groundwaters (iodide/I-, iodate/IO3- and organoiodine). Further work is needed to adapt and improve current techniques to field scales, as well as further research into targeted application of emerging technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaun D Hemming
- GAU-Radioanalytical, School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre (Southampton), European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK.
| | - Jamie M Purkis
- GAU-Radioanalytical, School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre (Southampton), European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK.
| | - Phillip E Warwick
- GAU-Radioanalytical, School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre (Southampton), European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK.
| | - Andrew B Cundy
- GAU-Radioanalytical, School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre (Southampton), European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK.
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Nasiri S, Vaezihir A, Ahmadishali J. Designing soil contamination monitoring network in petroleum refineries by XGBoost weighting and geostatistical facility allocation methods. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:118377-118395. [PMID: 37910363 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-30452-5] [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: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Petroleum refineries are deemed strategic industrial sectors that can release toxic materials to the environment and cause potential hazards. In this regard, designing and installation of soil contamination monitoring networks at petroleum refineries is a necessity. In this research, we designed an optimal monitoring network with maximum coverage and minimum number of monitoring boreholes. The main regarded parameters are the groundwater contamination history, the location of effective structures, the location of flare stacks and the soil texture. In addition, the soil contamination was calculated based on previous contamination of the soil at the sampling points by the Entropy Weighting Model. It was employed with other parameters to estimate the soil contamination across the site. The Machine Learning method of XGBoost was implemented for estimating and assigning priority for every point of the site. To achieve the optimal network in the optimization program, four parameters were regarded including (a) the optimal value of the optimization program's objective function, (b) the number of Advance Zero-half cuts of the Cut Generation algorithm, (c) the consumed time, and (d) the optimal boreholes number of the network corresponding with different effective contamination detection radius. The network was designed by generalized Maximal Covering Location Problem and for optimizing it, the advantages of Mixed-Integer Linear Programming method were used. To evaluate the applicability of the method, it has been developed and implemented in a refinery in the south of Iran. 92.84% of XGBoost estimation accuracy, the optimal number of 113 and the effective contamination detection radius of 160 m were obtained for boreholes of the network. To investigate the efficiency of the model, a new Regret function has been defined. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis of the parameters and feature importance analysis of XGBoost both showed that the main parameter of the model was the location of effective structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahla Nasiri
- Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | | | - Jafar Ahmadishali
- Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
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Zhang Z, Tang Z, Liu Y, He H, Guo Z, Feng P, Chen L, Sui Q. Study on the Ecotoxic Effects of Uranium and Heavy Metal Elements in Soils of a Uranium Mining Area in Northern Guangdong. TOXICS 2023; 11:97. [PMID: 36850972 PMCID: PMC9962382 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11020097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
To investigate the heavy metal contamination of soil in a uranium mining area in northern Guangdong, a physicochemical evaluation method was used to evaluate the contaminated soil near the pit and tailings pond of the uranium mining area, determine its heavy metal content and evaluate its ecological risk using the Nemerow integrated contamination index, ground accumulation index and potential ecological risk index. The results show that the average content of nine heavy metal elements in the soil of the uranium mining area exceeds the background value of red soil in Guangdong Province. Three pollution evaluation indices all indicate that Cd, As and U have serious pollution and high ecological risk, while the remaining elements are weakly polluted and the potential ecological risk of the six sampling sites all show very strong risk. On this basis, soil ecotoxicity was evaluated using ostracods (Cypridopsis vidua and Heterocypris sp.), Vibrio fischeri and Vicia faba L. Higher concentrations of heavy metals at individual sites (T1, T2, P2) resulted in higher mortality of ostracods, higher inhibition of Vibrio fischeri luminescence and a significant reduction in germination and pigmentation of broad beans. The results of the biotoxicity evaluation were consistent with the results of the physicochemical evaluation, allowing for a more direct and comprehensive evaluation of the ecotoxic effects of uranium and heavy metals in the mine soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zehui Zhang
- School of Resource Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Zhenping Tang
- School of Resource Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Rare Metal Minerals Exploitation and Geological Disposal of Wastes, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Yong Liu
- Hunan Province Engineering Technology Research Centre of Uranium Tailings Treatment Technology, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Haiyang He
- School of Resource Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
- Hunan Provincial Mining Geotechnical Engineering Disaster Prediction and Control Engineering Technology Research Center, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Zhixin Guo
- School of Resource Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Peng Feng
- School of Resource Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Liang Chen
- School of Resource Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
- Hunan Provincial Mining Geotechnical Engineering Disaster Prediction and Control Engineering Technology Research Center, Hengyang 421001, China
- State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Resources and Environment (East China University of Technology), Nanchang 330013, China
| | - Qinglin Sui
- School of Resource Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
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Mamirova A, Baubekova A, Pidlisnyuk V, Shadenova E, Djansugurova L, Jurjanz S. Phytoremediation of Soil Contaminated by Organochlorine Pesticides and Toxic Trace Elements: Prospects and Limitations of Paulownia tomentosa. TOXICS 2022; 10:465. [PMID: 36006144 PMCID: PMC9415570 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10080465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Revised: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Steud is a drought-resistant, low-maintenance and fast-growing energy crop that can withstand a wide range of climatic conditions, provides a high biomass yield (approximately 50 t DM ha-1 yr-1), and develops successfully in contaminated sites. In Kazakhstan, there are many historically contaminated sites polluted by a mixture of xenobiotics of organic and inorganic origin that need to be revitalised. Pilot-scale research evaluated the potential of P. tomentosa for the phytoremediation of soils historically contaminated with organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and toxic trace elements (TTEs) to minimise their impact on the environment. Targeted soils from the obsolete pesticide stockpiles located in three villages of Talgar district, Almaty region, Kazakhstan, i.e., Amangeldy (soil A), Beskainar (soil B), and Kyzylkairat (soil K), were subjected to research. Twenty OCPs and eight TTEs (As, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb) were detected in the soils. The phytoremediation potential of P. tomentosa was investigated for OCPs whose concentrations in the soils were significantly different (aldrin, endosulfans, endrin aldehyde, HCB, heptachlor, hexabromobenzene, keltan, methoxychlor, and γ-HCH) and for TTEs (Cu, Zn, and Cd) whose concentrations exceeded maximum permissible concentrations. Bioconcentration (BCF) and translocation (TLF) factors were used as indicators of the phytoremediation process. It was ensured that the uptake and translocation of contaminants by P. tomentosa was highly variable and depended on their properties and concentrations in soil. Besides the ability to bioconcentrate Cr, Ni, and Cu, P. tomentosa demonstrated very encouraging results in the accumulation of endosulfans, keltan, and methoxychlor and the phytoextraction of γ-HCH (TLFs of 1.9-9.9) and HCB (BCFs of 197-571). The results of the pilot trials support the need to further investigate the potential of P. tomentosa for phytoremediation on a field scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aigerim Mamirova
- Department of the Environmental Chemistry & Technology, Faculty of the Environment, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University, Pasteurova 15, 400 96 Usti nad Labem, Czech Republic
- Institute of Genetics and Physiology SC MES RK, Al-Farabi 93, Almaty 050060, Kazakhstan
| | - Almagul Baubekova
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Al-Farabi 71, Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan
| | - Valentina Pidlisnyuk
- Department of the Environmental Chemistry & Technology, Faculty of the Environment, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University, Pasteurova 15, 400 96 Usti nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Elvira Shadenova
- Institute of Genetics and Physiology SC MES RK, Al-Farabi 93, Almaty 050060, Kazakhstan
| | - Leyla Djansugurova
- Institute of Genetics and Physiology SC MES RK, Al-Farabi 93, Almaty 050060, Kazakhstan
| | - Stefan Jurjanz
- Unité de Recherches—Animal et Fonctionnalités des Produits Animaux, Université de Lorraine-INRAE, 54000 Nancy, France
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Di Lodovico E, Marchand L, Oustrière N, Burges A, Capdeville G, Burlett R, Delzon S, Isaure MP, Marmiroli M, Mench MJ. Potential ability of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) to phytomanage an urban brownfield soil. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:29314-29331. [PMID: 34661843 PMCID: PMC8521509 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-16411-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The ability of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Badischer Geudertheimer) for phytomanaging and remediating soil ecological functions at a contaminated site was assessed with a potted soil series made by fading an uncontaminated sandy soil with a contaminated sandy soil from the Borifer brownfield site, Bordeaux, SW France, at the 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% addition rates. Activities of sandblasting and painting with metal-based paints occurred for decades at this urban brownfield, polluting the soil with metal(loid)s and organic contaminants, e.g., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, in addition to past backfilling. Total topsoil metal(loid)s (e.g., 54,700 mg Zn and 5060 mg Cu kg-1) exceeded by seven- to tenfold the background values for French sandy soils, but the soil pH was 7.9, and overall, the 1M NH4NO3 extractable soil fractions of metals were relatively low. Leaf area, water content of shoots, and total chlorophyll (Chl) progressively decreased with the soil contamination, but the Chl fluorescence remained constant near its optimum value. Foliar Cu and Zn concentrations varied from 17.8 ± 4.2 (0%) to 27 ± 5 mg Cu kg-1 (100%) and from 60 ± 15 (0%) to 454 ± 53 mg Zn kg-1 (100%), respectively. Foliar Cd concentration peaked up to 1.74 ± 0.09 mg Cd kg-1, and its bioconcentration factor had the highest value (0.2) among those of the metal(loid)s. Few nutrient concentrations in the aboveground plant parts decreased with the soil contamination, e.g., foliar P concentration from 5972 ± 1026 (0%) to 2861 ± 334 mg kg-1 (100%). Vulnerability to drought-induced embolism (P50) did not differ for the tobacco stems across the soil series, whereas their hydraulic efficiency (Ks) declined significantly with increasing soil contamination. Overall, this tobacco cultivar grew relatively well even in the Borifer soil (100%), keeping its photosynthetic system healthy under stress, and contaminant exposure did not increase the vulnerability of the vascular system to drought. This tobacco had a relevant potential to annually phytoextract a part of the bioavailable soil Zn and Cd, i.e., shoot removals representing here 8.8% for Zn and 43.3% for Cd of their 1M NH4NO3 extractable amount in the potted Borifer soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliana Di Lodovico
- Univ. Parma, via Universita 12, 43121 Parma, Italy
- Univ. Bordeaux, INRAE, BIOGECO, Bât. B2, Allée Geoffroy St-Hilaire, CS50023, F-33615 Pessac cedex, France
| | - Lilian Marchand
- Univ. Bordeaux, INRAE, BIOGECO, Bât. B2, Allée Geoffroy St-Hilaire, CS50023, F-33615 Pessac cedex, France
| | - Nadège Oustrière
- Univ. Bordeaux, INRAE, BIOGECO, Bât. B2, Allée Geoffroy St-Hilaire, CS50023, F-33615 Pessac cedex, France
| | - Aritz Burges
- Univ. Bordeaux, INRAE, BIOGECO, Bât. B2, Allée Geoffroy St-Hilaire, CS50023, F-33615 Pessac cedex, France
| | - Gaelle Capdeville
- Univ. Bordeaux, INRAE, BIOGECO, Bât. B2, Allée Geoffroy St-Hilaire, CS50023, F-33615 Pessac cedex, France
| | - Régis Burlett
- Univ. Bordeaux, INRAE, BIOGECO, Bât. B2, Allée Geoffroy St-Hilaire, CS50023, F-33615 Pessac cedex, France
| | - Sylvain Delzon
- Univ. Bordeaux, INRAE, BIOGECO, Bât. B2, Allée Geoffroy St-Hilaire, CS50023, F-33615 Pessac cedex, France
| | - Marie-Pierre Isaure
- Univ. Pau et Pays de l’Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, IPREM-UMR 5254, Hélioparc, 2 Avenue Pierre Angot, F-64053 Pau cedex9, France
| | | | - Michel J. Mench
- Univ. Bordeaux, INRAE, BIOGECO, Bât. B2, Allée Geoffroy St-Hilaire, CS50023, F-33615 Pessac cedex, France
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Conte A, Chiaberge S, Pedron F, Barbafieri M, Petruzzelli G, Vocciante M, Franchi E, Pietrini I. Dealing with complex contamination: A novel approach with a combined bio-phytoremediation strategy and effective analytical techniques. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 288:112381. [PMID: 33823438 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Phytoremediation is a sustainable technology capable of efficiently removing low or moderate contamination. However, complex pollution conditions can drastically reduce efficiency, as plants can show themselves sensitive to organic contaminants, growing slowly and thus impairing metals' absorption. In cases where the action of indigenous bacteria degrading hydrocarbons and promoting plant growth is not sufficient, more sophisticated strategies are necessary. This investigation aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a train of technologies that sees advanced phytoremediation in combination with other biological approaches to remediate soil from a disused industrial area contaminated by N-containing compounds, alkyl aromatic hydrocarbons, copper, and nickel. In particular, a stepwise procedure was used with a pre-treatment (landfarming and bioaugmentation), significantly affecting the soil's fertility, increasing germinability up to 85%, and allowing the plants to extract the metals adequately. Furthermore, with EDTA as a mobilizing agent, nickel absorption has increased up to 36% in Helianthus annuus and up to 88% in Zea mays. For copper, an increase of up to 262% in Helianthus annuus and up to 202% in Zea Mays was obtained. Analysis through Fourier-Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry highlighted the biodegradation of some of the N-containing compounds recording, after phytoremediation, a decrease of up to almost 90%. Metagenomic analysis of the soil showed a typical microbial population of oxidizing hydrocarbon strains with a prevalence of the Nocardiaceae family (43%). The results obtained appear to confirm the usefulness of the approach developed, and the employed cutting-edge analytical techniques allowed a top-notch characterization of the remediation scenario.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Conte
- Eni S.p.A, Decarbonization and Environmental R&D, Via Maritano 26, 20097, S. Donato Milanese(MI), Italy
| | - Stefano Chiaberge
- Eni S.p.A., Renewable Energy and Environmental R&D, Via Fauser 4, 28100, Novara, Italy
| | - Francesca Pedron
- Institute of Research on Terrestrial Ecosystem, National Council of Research, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Meri Barbafieri
- Institute of Research on Terrestrial Ecosystem, National Council of Research, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Gianniantonio Petruzzelli
- Institute of Research on Terrestrial Ecosystem, National Council of Research, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Marco Vocciante
- DCCI, Dipartimento di Chimica e Chimica Industriale, Università degli Studi di Genova, Via Dodecaneso 31, 16146, Genova, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Franchi
- Eni S.p.A, Decarbonization and Environmental R&D, Via Maritano 26, 20097, S. Donato Milanese(MI), Italy
| | - Ilaria Pietrini
- Eni S.p.A, Decarbonization and Environmental R&D, Via Maritano 26, 20097, S. Donato Milanese(MI), Italy.
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