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Branco RHR, Meulepas RJW, Sekar P, van Veelen HPJ, Rijnaarts HHM, Sutton NB. Biostimulation with oxygen and electron donors supports micropollutant biodegradation in an experimentally simulated nitrate-reducing aquifer. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 928:172339. [PMID: 38608893 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172339] [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: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
The availability of suitable electron donors and acceptors limits micropollutant natural attenuation in oligotrophic groundwater. This study investigated how electron donors with different biodegradability (humics, dextran, acetate, and ammonium), and different oxygen concentrations affect the biodegradation of 15 micropollutants (initial concentration of each micropollutant = 50 μg/L) in simulated nitrate reducing aquifers. Tests mimicking nitrate reducing field conditions showed no micropollutant biodegradation, even with electron donor amendment. However, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and mecoprop were biodegraded under (micro)aerobic conditions with and without electron donor addition. The highest 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and mecoprop biodegradation rates and removal efficiencies were obtained under fully aerobic conditions with amendment of an easily biodegradable electron donor. Under microaerobic conditions, however, amendment with easily biodegradable dissolved organic carbon (DOC) inhibited micropollutant biodegradation due to competition between micropollutants and DOC for the limited oxygen available. Microbial community composition was dictated by electron acceptor availability and electron donor amendment, not by micropollutant biodegradation. Low microbial community richness and diversity led to the absence of biodegradation of the other 13 micropollutants (such as bentazon, chloridazon, and carbamazepine). Finally, adaptation and potential growth of biofilms interactively determined the location of the micropollutant removal zone relative to the point of amendment. This study provides new insight on how to stimulate in situ micropollutant biodegradation to remediate oligotrophic groundwaters as well as possible limitations of this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita H R Branco
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands; Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, P.O. Box 1113, 8900 CC Leeuwarden, the Netherlands
| | - Roel J W Meulepas
- Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, P.O. Box 1113, 8900 CC Leeuwarden, the Netherlands
| | - Priyadharshini Sekar
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands; Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, P.O. Box 1113, 8900 CC Leeuwarden, the Netherlands
| | - H Pieter J van Veelen
- Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, P.O. Box 1113, 8900 CC Leeuwarden, the Netherlands
| | - Huub H M Rijnaarts
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Nora B Sutton
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands.
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2
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Branco RHR, Meulepas RJW, Kadlecová K, Cardoso MFS, Rijnaarts HHM, Sutton NB. Effect of dissolved organic carbon on micropollutant biodegradation by aquifer and soil microbial communities. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 347:140644. [PMID: 37952821 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Groundwater, a major source of drinking water worldwide, is often contaminated with micropollutants. Although microbial communities in aquifers and soils have the capability to biodegrade some micropollutants, this process is limited in situ. Biostimulation with dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is known to promote micropollutant biodegradation, but the role of DOC biodegradability is still poorly understood. This study investigated how three DOC types with different biodegradability (humics, dextran and acetate) affect the biodegradation of 15 micropollutants by aquifer and soil microbial communities under aerobic and nitrate reducing conditions. Although originating from different environments, both communities were able to biodegrade the same 4 micropollutants under aerobic conditions - 2,4-D, MCPP, chloridazon (CLZ) and chloridazon-desphenyl. However, DOC addition only affected MCPP biodegradation, promoting MCPP biodegradation regardless of DOC biodegradability. Biodegradation of 2,4-D, MCPP and CLZ under aerobic conditions was observed after a lag phase, whose duration differed per compound. 2,4-D was biodegraded first and fully. Aquifer community was able to degrade about half of the initial MCPP concentration (removal efficiency of 49.3 ± 11.7%). CLZ was fully biodegraded by the aquifer community, but not by the soil community, possibly due to substrate competition with organics originating from the inoculum. Therefore, the natural organic carbon present in the inocula and in environmental systems can influence micropollutant biodegradation. Under nitrate reducing conditions micropollutant biodegradation was not observed nor biostimulated by DOC addition. The results also highlight the importance of sufficient exposure time to trigger in situ micropollutant biodegradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita H R Branco
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands; Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, P.O. Box 1113, 8900 CC, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands
| | - Roel J W Meulepas
- Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, P.O. Box 1113, 8900 CC, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands
| | - Kateřina Kadlecová
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands; Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, P.O. Box 1113, 8900 CC, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands
| | - Marta F S Cardoso
- Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, P.O. Box 1113, 8900 CC, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands
| | - Huub H M Rijnaarts
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Nora B Sutton
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
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Ma Y, Ma M, Palomo A, Sun Y, Modrzynski JJ, Aamand J, Zheng Y. Biodegradation of trace sulfonamide antibiotics accelerated by substrates across oxic to anoxic conditions during column infiltration experiments. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 242:120193. [PMID: 37327547 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120193] [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: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Frequent occurrence of trace organic contaminants in aquatic environments, such as sulfonamide antibiotics in rivers receiving reclaimed water, is concerning. Natural attenuation by soil and sediment is increasingly relied upon. In the case of riverbank filtration for water purification, the reliability of antibiotic attenuation has been called into question due to incomplete understanding of their degradation processes. This study investigated influence of substrates and redox evolution along infiltration path on biotransformation of sulfonamides. Eight sand columns (length: 28 cm) with a riverbed sediment layer at 3-8 cm were fed by groundwater-sourced tap water spiked with 1 μg/L of sulfadiazine (SDZ), sulfamethazine (SMZ), and sulfamethoxazole (SMX) each, with or without amendments of dissolved organic carbon (5 mg-C/L of 1:1 yeast and humics) or ammonium (5 mg-N/L). Two flow rates were tested over 120 days (0.5 mL/min and 0.1 mL/min). Iron-reducing conditions persisted in all columns for 27 days during the initial high flow period due to respiration of sediment organics, evolving to less reducing conditions until the subsequent low flow period to resume more reducing conditions. With surplus substrates, the spatial and temporal patterns of redox conditions differentiated among columns. The removal of SDZ and SMZ in effluents was usually low (15 ± 11%) even with carbon addition (14 ± 9%), increasing to 33 ± 23% with ammonium addition. By contrast, SMX removal was higher and more consistent among columns (46 ± 21%), with the maximum of 64 ± 9% under iron-reducing conditions. When sulfonamide removal was compared between columns for the same redox zones during infiltration, their enhancements were always associated with the availability of dissolved or particulate substrates, suggesting co-metabolism. Manipulation of the exposure time to optimal redox conditions with substrate amendments, rather than to simply prolong the overall residence time, is recommended for nature-based solutions to tackle target antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunjie Ma
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water-Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Meng Ma
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water-Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Alejandro Palomo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water-Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yuqin Sun
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water-Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Jakub J Modrzynski
- Department of Geochemistry, Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, Copenhagen 1350, Denmark
| | - Jens Aamand
- Department of Geochemistry, Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, Copenhagen 1350, Denmark
| | - Yan Zheng
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water-Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China.
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4
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Filter J, Kopp MGV, Ruhl AS, Jekel M. Influence of low oxygen concentrations on biological transformations of trace organic chemicals in sand filter systems. CHEMOSPHERE 2023:139069. [PMID: 37271464 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Managed aquifer recharge systems for drinking water reclamation are challenged by trace organic chemicals (TOrCs) since some of them are poorly retained. Although a lot of research has been done to investigate biological transformation of TOrCs in sand filter systems, there are still uncertainties to predict the removal. A laboratory column system with two different filter sands was set up to test TOrC transformation, the influence of low oxygen concentrations as well as the adaptation and influence of spiked TOrC influent concentrations. Bioactivity was quantified with the fluorescence tracer resazurin. In the experiment, a low elimination performance in the first column segment, defined as lag zone, was observed, implying incomplete adaptation or inhibiting co-factors. To assess these lag zones and to determine the dissipation time DT50 for 50% removal, a modified Gompertz model was applied. For acesulfame, formylaminoantipyrine, gabapentin, sulfamethoxazole, and valsartan acid DT50 of less than 10 h were observed, even when influent oxygen concentrations decreased to 0.5 mg/L. In general, TOrC transformations in technical sand with lower bioactivity and especially valsartan acid transformation responded very sensitive to low influent oxygen concentrations of 0.5 mg/L. However, in well adapted sand originating from soil aquifer treatment (SAT) with sufficient bioactivity, TOrC removal was hardly affected by such suboxic conditions. Furthermore, increasing the influent concentrations of TOrCs to 10 μg/L was found to promote adaptation especially for acesulfame and sulfamethoxazole. Benzotriazole, carbamazepine, diclofenac and venlafaxine were recalcitrant under the applied experimental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josefine Filter
- Technical University of Berlin, Chair of Water Quality Control, KF4, Str. des 17. Juni 135, 10623, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Marianne G V Kopp
- Technical University of Berlin, Chair of Water Quality Control, KF4, Str. des 17. Juni 135, 10623, Berlin, Germany
| | - Aki S Ruhl
- Technical University of Berlin, Chair of Water Quality Control, KF4, Str. des 17. Juni 135, 10623, Berlin, Germany; German Environment Agency (UBA), Section II 3.3, Schichauweg 58, 12307, Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin Jekel
- Technical University of Berlin, Chair of Water Quality Control, KF4, Str. des 17. Juni 135, 10623, Berlin, Germany
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5
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Pensky J, Fisher AT, Gorski G, Schrad N, Bautista V, Saltikov C. Linking nitrate removal, carbon cycling, and mobilization of geogenic trace metals during infiltration for managed recharge. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 239:120045. [PMID: 37201373 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
We present results from a series of laboratory column studies investigating the impacts of infiltration dynamics and the addition of a soil-carbon amendment (wood mulch or almond shells) on water quality during infiltration for flood-managed aquifer recharge (flood-MAR). Recent studies suggest that nitrate removal could be enhanced during infiltration for MAR through the application of a wood chip permeable reactive barrier (PRB). However, less is understood about how other readily available carbon sources, such as almond shells, could be used as a PRB material, and how carbon amendments could impact other solutes, such as trace metals. Here we show that the presence of a carbon amendment increases nitrate removal relative to native soil, and that there is greater nitrate removal in association with longer fluid retention times (slower infiltration rates). Almond shells promoted more efficient nitrate removal than wood mulch or native soil, but also promoted the mobilization of geogenic trace metals (Mn, Fe, and As) during experiments. Almond shells in a PRB likely enhanced nitrate removal and trace metal cycling by releasing labile carbon, promoting reducing conditions, and providing habitat for microbial communities, the composition of which shifted in response. These results suggest that limiting the amount of bioavailable carbon released by a carbon-rich PRB may be preferred where geogenic trace metals are common in soils. Given the dual threats to groundwater supplies and quality worldwide, incorporating a suitable carbon source into the soil for managed infiltration projects could help to generate co-benefits and avoid undesirable results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Pensky
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, United States.
| | - Andrew T Fisher
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, United States
| | - Galen Gorski
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, United States
| | - Nicole Schrad
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, United States
| | - Victor Bautista
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, United States
| | - Chad Saltikov
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, United States
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6
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Reid E, Igou T, Zhao Y, Crittenden J, Huang CH, Westerhoff P, Rittmann B, Drewes JE, Chen Y. The Minus Approach Can Redefine the Standard of Practice of Drinking Water Treatment. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:7150-7161. [PMID: 37074125 PMCID: PMC10173460 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c09389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Chlorine-based disinfection for drinking water treatment (DWT) was one of the 20th century's great public health achievements, as it substantially reduced the risk of acute microbial waterborne disease. However, today's chlorinated drinking water is not unambiguously safe; trace levels of regulated and unregulated disinfection byproducts (DBPs), and other known, unknown, and emerging contaminants (KUECs), present chronic risks that make them essential removal targets. Because conventional chemical-based DWT processes do little to remove DBPs or KUECs, alternative approaches are needed to minimize risks by removing DBP precursors and KUECs that are ubiquitous in water supplies. We present the "Minus Approach" as a toolbox of practices and technologies to mitigate KUECs and DBPs without compromising microbiological safety. The Minus Approach reduces problem-causing chemical addition treatment (i.e., the conventional "Plus Approach") by producing biologically stable water containing pathogens at levels having negligible human health risk and substantially lower concentrations of KUECs and DBPs. Aside from ozonation, the Minus Approach avoids primary chemical-based coagulants, disinfectants, and advanced oxidation processes. The Minus Approach focuses on bank filtration, biofiltration, adsorption, and membranes to biologically and physically remove DBP precursors, KUECs, and pathogens; consequently, water purveyors can use ultraviolet light at key locations in conjunction with smaller dosages of secondary chemical disinfectants to minimize microbial regrowth in distribution systems. We describe how the Minus Approach contrasts with the conventional Plus Approach, integrates with artificial intelligence, and can ultimately improve the sustainability performance of water treatment. Finally, we consider barriers to adoption of the Minus Approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elliot Reid
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Thomas Igou
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Yangying Zhao
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - John Crittenden
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
- Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Ching-Hua Huang
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Paul Westerhoff
- Nanosystems Engineering Research Center for Nanotechnology-Enabled Water Treatment, School of Sustainable Engineering and The Built Environment, Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
| | - Bruce Rittmann
- Nanosystems Engineering Research Center for Nanotechnology-Enabled Water Treatment, School of Sustainable Engineering and The Built Environment, Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
- Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
| | - Jörg E Drewes
- Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Yongsheng Chen
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
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7
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Filter J, Ermisch T, Ruhl AS, Jekel M. Impacts of autochthonous particulate organic matter on redox-conditions and elimination of trace organic chemicals in managed aquifer recharge. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:44121-44129. [PMID: 36689109 PMCID: PMC10076367 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-25286-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Autochthonous carbon fixation by algae and subsequent deposition of particulate organic matter can have significant effects on redox conditions and elimination of trace organic chemicals (TOrCs) in managed aquifer recharge (MAR). This study investigated the impacts of different algae loadings (0-160 g/m2) and infiltration rates (0.06-0.37 m/d) on overall oxygen consumption and elimination of selected TOrCs (diclofenac, formylaminoantipyrine, gabapentin, and sulfamethoxazole) in adapted laboratory sand columns. An infiltration rate of 0.37 m/d in conjunction with an algae load of 80 g/m2 (dry weight) sustained oxic conditions in the sand bed and did not affect the degradation of TOrCs. Thus, the availability of easily degradable organic carbon from algae did not influence the removal of TOrCs at an influent concentration of 1 µg/L. In contrast, a lower infiltration rate of 0.20 m/d in combination with a higher algae loading of 160 g/m2 caused anoxic conditions for 30 days and significantly impeded the degradation of formylaminoantipyrine, gabapentin, sulfamethoxazole, and diclofenac. Especially the elimination of gabapentin did not fully recover within 130 days after pulsed algae deposition. Hence, measures like micro-sieving or nutrient control are required at bank filtration or soil aquifer treatment sites with low infiltration rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josefine Filter
- Technische Universität Berlin, Chair of Water Quality Control, KF4, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623, Berlin, Germany
| | - Till Ermisch
- Technische Universität Berlin, Chair of Water Quality Control, KF4, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623, Berlin, Germany
| | - Aki Sebastian Ruhl
- Technische Universität Berlin, Chair of Water Quality Control, KF4, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623, Berlin, Germany.
- German Environment Agency, Section II 3.3, Schichauweg 58, 12307, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Martin Jekel
- Technische Universität Berlin, Chair of Water Quality Control, KF4, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623, Berlin, Germany
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8
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Pensky J, Fisher AT, Gorski G, Schrad N, Dailey H, Beganskas S, Saltikov C. Enhanced cycling of nitrogen and metals during rapid infiltration: Implications for managed recharge. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 838:156439. [PMID: 35660593 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
We present results from a series of plot-scale field experiments to quantify physical infiltration dynamics and the influence of adding a carbon-rich, permeable reactive barrier (PRB) for the cycling of nitrogen and associated trace metals during rapid infiltration for managed aquifer recharge (MAR). Recent studies suggest that adding a bio-available carbon source to soils can enhance denitrification rates and associated N load reduction during moderate-to-rapid infiltration (≤1 m/day). We examined the potential for N removal during faster infiltration (>1 m/day), through coarse and carbon-poor soils, and how adding a carbon-rich PRB (wood chips) affects subsurface redox conditions and trace metal mobilization. During rapid infiltration, plots amended with a carbon-rich PRB generally demonstrated modest increases in subsurface loads of dissolved organic carbon, nitrite, manganese and iron, decreases in loads of nitrate and ammonium, and variable changes in arsenic. These trends differed considerably from those seen during infiltration through native soil without a carbon-rich PRB. Use of a carbon-rich soil amendment increased the fraction of dissolved N species that was removed at equivalent inflowing N loads. There is evidence that N removal took place primarily via denitrification. Shifts in microbial ecology following infiltration in all of the plots included increases in the relative abundances of microbes in the families Comamonadaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, Methylophilaceae, Rhodocyclaceae and Sphingomonadaceae, all of which contain genera capable of carrying out denitrification. These results, in combination with studies that have tested other soil types, flow rates, and system scales, show how water quality can be improved during infiltration for managed recharge, even during rapid infiltration, with a carbon-rich soil amendment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Pensky
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, United States.
| | - Andrew T Fisher
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, United States
| | - Galen Gorski
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, United States
| | - Nicole Schrad
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, United States
| | - Hannah Dailey
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, United States
| | - Sarah Beganskas
- Water Resource Management, Delaware River Basin Commission, West Trenton, NJ 08628, United States
| | - Chad Saltikov
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, United States
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9
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Wang J, Poursat BAJ, Feng J, de Ridder D, Zhang C, van der Wal A, Sutton NB. Exploring organic micropollutant biodegradation under dynamic substrate loading in rapid sand filters. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 221:118832. [PMID: 35949068 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Microbial removal of trace organic micropollutants (OMPs) from drinking water sources remains challenging. Nitrifying and heterotrophic bacteria in rapid sand filters (RSFs) are capable of biodegrading OMPs while growing on ammonia and dissolved organic matter (DOM). The loading patterns of ammonia and DOM may therefore affect microbial activities as well as OMP biodegradation. So far, there is very limited information on the effect of substrate loading on OMP biodegradation at environmentally relevant concentrations (∼ 1 µg/L) in RSFs. We investigated the biodegradation rates of 16 OMPs at various substrate loading rates and/or empty bed contact times (EBCT). The presence of DOM improved the biodegradation of paracetamol (41.8%) by functioning as supplementary carbon source for the heterotrophic degrader, while hindering the biodegradation of 2,4-D, mecoprop and benzotriazole due to substrate competition. Lower loading ratios of DOM/benzotriazole benefited benzotriazole biodegradation by reducing substrate competition. Higher ammonia loading rates enhanced benzotriazole removal by stimulating nitrification-based co-metabolism. However, stimulating nitrification inhibited heterotrophic activity, which in turn inhibited the biodegradation of paracetamol, 2,4-D and mecoprop. A longer EBCT promoted metformin biodegradation as it is a slowly biodegradable compound, but suppressed the biodegradation of paracetamol and benzotriazole due to limited substrate supply. Therefore, the optimal substrate loading pattern is contingent on the type of OMP, which can be chosen based on the priority compounds in practice. The overall results contribute to understanding OMP biodegradation mechanisms at trace concentrations and offer a step towards enhancing microbial removal of OMPs from drinking water by optimally using RSFs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinsong Wang
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 17, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Baptiste A J Poursat
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 17, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jiahao Feng
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 17, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - David de Ridder
- Evides Water Company N.V., Schaardijk 150, 3063 NH Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Chen Zhang
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 8033, 6700 EH Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Albert van der Wal
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 17, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands; Evides Water Company N.V., Schaardijk 150, 3063 NH Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nora B Sutton
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 17, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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10
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Crampon M, Soulier C, Sidoli P, Hellal J, Joulian C, Charron M, Guillemoto Q, Picot-Colbeaux G, Pettenati M. Dynamics of Soil Microbial Communities During Diazepam and Oxazepam Biodegradation in Soil Flooded by Water From a WWTP. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:742000. [PMID: 34912306 PMCID: PMC8667618 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.742000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The demand for energy and chemicals is constantly growing, leading to an increase of the amounts of contaminants discharged to the environment. Among these, pharmaceutical molecules are frequently found in treated wastewater that is discharged into superficial waters. Indeed, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are designed to remove organic pollution from urban effluents but are not specific, especially toward contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), which finally reach the natural environment. In this context, it is important to study the fate of micropollutants, especially in a soil aquifer treatment (SAT) context for water from WWTPs, and for the most persistent molecules such as benzodiazepines. In the present study, soils sampled in a reed bed frequently flooded by water from a WWTP were spiked with diazepam and oxazepam in microcosms, and their concentrations were monitored for 97 days. It appeared that the two molecules were completely degraded after 15 days of incubation. Samples were collected during the experiment in order to follow the dynamics of the microbial communities, based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing for Archaea and Bacteria, and ITS2 gene for Fungi. The evolution of diversity and of specific operating taxonomic units (OTUs) highlighted an impact of the addition of benzodiazepines, a rapid resilience of the fungal community and an evolution of the bacterial community. It appeared that OTUs from the Brevibacillus genus were more abundant at the beginning of the biodegradation process, for diazepam and oxazepam conditions. Additionally, Tax4Fun tool was applied to 16S rRNA gene sequencing data to infer on the evolution of specific metabolic functions during biodegradation. It finally appeared that the microbial community in soils frequently exposed to water from WWTP, potentially containing CECs such as diazepam and oxazepam, may be adapted to the degradation of persistent contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Crampon
- Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières, Orléans, France
| | - Coralie Soulier
- Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières, Orléans, France
| | - Pauline Sidoli
- Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières, Orléans, France
| | - Jennifer Hellal
- Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières, Orléans, France
| | | | - Mickaël Charron
- Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières, Orléans, France
| | - Quentin Guillemoto
- Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières, Orléans, France.,UMR 7619 METIS, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | | | - Marie Pettenati
- Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières, Orléans, France
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11
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Zhiteneva V, Carvajal G, Shehata O, Hübner U, Drewes JE. Quantitative microbial risk assessment of a non-membrane based indirect potable water reuse system using Bayesian networks. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 780:146462. [PMID: 33774303 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146462] [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: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Risk-based approaches are used to define performance standards for water and wastewater treatment to meet health-based targets and to ensure safe and reliable water quality for desired end use. In this study, a screening level QMRA for a non-membrane based indirect potable reuse (IPR) system utilizing the sequential managed aquifer recharge technology (SMART) concept was conducted. Ambient removals of norovirus, Campylobacter and Cryptosporidium in advanced water treatment (AWT) steps were combined in a probabilistic QMRA utilizing Bayesian networks constructed in Netica. Results revealed that all pathogens complied with disease burden at the 95th percentile, and according to the assumptions taken about pathogen removal, Cryptosporidium was the pathogen with the greatest risk. Through systematic sensitivity analysis, targeted scenario analysis, and backwards inferencing, critical control points for each pathogen were determined, demonstrating the usefulness of Bayesian networks as a diagnostic tool in quantifying risk of water reuse treatment scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Zhiteneva
- Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Am Coulombwall 3, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Guido Carvajal
- Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Andrés Bello, Antonio Varas 880, Providencia, Santiago, Chile
| | - Omar Shehata
- Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Am Coulombwall 3, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Uwe Hübner
- Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Am Coulombwall 3, 85748 Garching, Germany.
| | - Jörg E Drewes
- Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Am Coulombwall 3, 85748 Garching, Germany
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12
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Fenner K, Elsner M, Lueders T, McLachlan MS, Wackett LP, Zimmermann M, Drewes JE. Methodological Advances to Study Contaminant Biotransformation: New Prospects for Understanding and Reducing Environmental Persistence? ACS ES&T WATER 2021; 1:1541-1554. [PMID: 34278380 PMCID: PMC8276273 DOI: 10.1021/acsestwater.1c00025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Complex microbial communities in environmental systems play a key role in the detoxification of chemical contaminants by transforming them into less active metabolites or by complete mineralization. Biotransformation, i.e., transformation by microbes, is well understood for a number of priority pollutants, but a similar level of understanding is lacking for many emerging contaminants encountered at low concentrations and in complex mixtures across natural and engineered systems. Any advanced approaches aiming to reduce environmental exposure to such contaminants (e.g., novel engineered biological water treatment systems, design of readily degradable chemicals, or improved regulatory assessment strategies to determine contaminant persistence a priori) will depend on understanding the causal links among contaminant removal, the key driving agents of biotransformation at low concentrations (i.e., relevant microbes and their metabolic activities), and how their presence and activity depend on environmental conditions. In this Perspective, we present the current understanding and recent methodological advances that can help to identify such links, even in complex environmental microbiomes and for contaminants present at low concentrations in complex chemical mixtures. We discuss the ensuing insights into contaminant biotransformation across varying environments and conditions and ask how much closer we have come to designing improved approaches to reducing environmental exposure to contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Fenner
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zürich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Martin Elsner
- Chair of Analytical Chemistry and Water Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Tillmann Lueders
- Chair of Ecological Microbiology, Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER), University of Bayreuth, 95448 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Michael S McLachlan
- Department of Environmental Science (ACES), Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lawrence P Wackett
- Biotechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
| | - Michael Zimmermann
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jörg E Drewes
- Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, 85748 Garching, Germany
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13
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Filter J, Zhiteneva V, Vick C, Ruhl AS, Jekel M, Hübner U, Drewes JE. Varying attenuation of trace organic chemicals in natural treatment systems - A review of key influential factors. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 274:129774. [PMID: 33549881 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.129774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The removal of trace organic chemicals (TOrCs) from treated wastewater and impacted surface water through managed aquifer recharge (MAR) has been extensively studied under a variety of water quality and operating conditions and at various experimental scales. The primary mechanism thought to dictate removal over the long term is biodegradation by microorganisms present in the system. This review of removal percentages observed in biologically active filtration systems reported in the peer-reviewed literature may serve as the basis to identify future indicators for persistence, as well as variable and efficient removal in MAR systems. A noticeable variation in reported removal percentages (standard deviation above 30%) was observed for 24 of the 49 most commonly studied TOrCs. Such variations suggest a rather inconsistent capacity of biologically active filter systems to remove these TOrCs. Therefore, operational parameters such as the change in dissolved organic carbon (ΔDOC) during treatment, hydraulic retention time (HRT), filter material, and redox conditions were correlated to the associated TOrC removal percentages to determine whether a data-based relationship could be elucidated. Interestingly, 11 out of the 24 compounds demonstrated increased removal with increasing ΔDOC concentrations. Furthermore, 10 compounds exhibited a positive correlation with HRT. Based on the evaluated data, a minimum HRT of 0.5-1 day is recommended for removal of most compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josefine Filter
- Department of Water Quality Control, Technical University of Berlin, KF4, Str. des 17. Juni 135, 10623, Berlin, Germany
| | - Veronika Zhiteneva
- Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Am Coulombwall 3, 85748, Garching, Germany
| | - Carsten Vick
- Department of Water Quality Control, Technical University of Berlin, KF4, Str. des 17. Juni 135, 10623, Berlin, Germany
| | - Aki Sebastian Ruhl
- Department of Water Quality Control, Technical University of Berlin, KF4, Str. des 17. Juni 135, 10623, Berlin, Germany; German Environment Agency, Section II 3.1, Schichauweg 58, 12307, Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin Jekel
- Department of Water Quality Control, Technical University of Berlin, KF4, Str. des 17. Juni 135, 10623, Berlin, Germany
| | - Uwe Hübner
- Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Am Coulombwall 3, 85748, Garching, Germany.
| | - Jörg E Drewes
- Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Am Coulombwall 3, 85748, Garching, Germany
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14
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Hellauer K, Michel P, Holland SI, Hübner U, Drewes JE, Lauro FM, Manefield MJ. Inferring trophic conditions in managed aquifer recharge systems from metagenomic data. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 772:145512. [PMID: 33571764 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Humans are increasingly dependent on engineered landscapes to minimize negative health impacts of water consumption. Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) systems, such as river and lake bank filtration, surface spreading or direct injection into the aquifer have been used for decades for water treatment and storage. Microbial and sorptive processes in these systems are effective for the attenuation of many emerging contaminants including trace organic chemicals such as pharmaceuticals and personal care products. Recent studies showed a superior efficiency of trace organic chemical biotransformation by incumbent communities of microorganisms under oxic and carbon-limited (oligotrophic) conditions. This study sought to identify features of bacterial genomes that are predictive of trophic strategy in this water management context. Samples from a pilot scale managed aquifer recharge system with regions of high and low carbon concentration, were used to generate a culture collection from which oligotrophic and copiotrophic bacteria were categorized. Genomic markers linked to either trophic strategy were used to develop a Bayesian network model that can infer prevailing carbon conditions in MAR systems from metagenomic data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Hellauer
- Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Am Coulombwall 3, 85748 Garching, Germany.
| | - Philipp Michel
- Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Am Coulombwall 3, 85748 Garching, Germany.
| | - Sophie I Holland
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, NSW, Australia
| | - Uwe Hübner
- Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Am Coulombwall 3, 85748 Garching, Germany.
| | - Jörg E Drewes
- Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Am Coulombwall 3, 85748 Garching, Germany.
| | - Federico M Lauro
- Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, N2-01C-54, 50 Nanyang Avenue, 639798, Singapore; Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, 639798, Singapore.
| | - Michael J Manefield
- Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Am Coulombwall 3, 85748 Garching, Germany; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, NSW, Australia; School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, NSW, Australia.
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15
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Zhiteneva V, Ziemendorf É, Sperlich A, Drewes JE, Hübner U. Differentiating between adsorption and biodegradation mechanisms while removing trace organic chemicals (TOrCs) in biological activated carbon (BAC) filters. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 743:140567. [PMID: 32659552 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Efficient adsorption of certain trace organic chemicals (TOrCs) present in secondary treated municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents onto granular activated carbon (GAC) has already been demonstrated at lab- and full-scale. Due to high organic matter concentrations in WWTP effluents, GAC filters eventually develop a biofilm and turn into biological activated carbon filters (BAC), where removal of organic compounds is governed by biodegradation as well as by adsorption. However, determining TOrC breakthrough by conducting a long-term BAC column experiment to discern between the removal mechanisms is not possible due to competition for adsorption sites, fluctuating water quality, and other variables. Therefore, a rapid small scale column test (RSSCT) was conducted to determine the contribution of adsorption for select chemicals at 10,000 bed volumes treated (BVT). These results were then used in the pore surface diffusion model (PSDM) to model adsorption behavior at 40,000 BVTs. Pseudo-Freundlich K values obtained from the PSDM model were compared with K values obtained from an integral mass balance calculation. This comparison revealed that the modeling was most accurate for moderately to poorly adsorptive compounds. In comparing RSSCT results to long-term BAC columns, the modeling approach best predicted BAC removal of well adsorbing compounds, such as atenolol, trimethoprim, metoprolol, citalopram, and benzotriazole. However, differences in predicted vs observed BAC removal for the removals of venlafaxine, tramadol and carbamazepine revealed that BAC adsorption capacity was not yet exhausted for these compounds. Therefore, a comparison was not possible. The approach would be improved by operation at longer EBCT and improved calculation of compound fouling indices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Zhiteneva
- Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Am Coulombwall 3, 85748 Garching, Germany.
| | - Éric Ziemendorf
- Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Am Coulombwall 3, 85748 Garching, Germany.
| | - Alexander Sperlich
- Berliner Wasserbetriebe, Research and Development, 10864 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Jörg E Drewes
- Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Am Coulombwall 3, 85748 Garching, Germany.
| | - Uwe Hübner
- Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Am Coulombwall 3, 85748 Garching, Germany.
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16
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Karakurt-Fischer S, Bein E, Drewes JE, Hübner U. Characterizing a novel in-situ oxygen delivery device for establishing controlled redox zonation within a high infiltration rate sequential biofilter. WATER RESEARCH 2020; 182:116039. [PMID: 32622133 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.116039] [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: 03/18/2020] [Revised: 05/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
By applying favorable oxic and oligotrophic conditions through subsequent aeration and an additional infiltration step, the sequential managed aquifer recharge technology (SMART) was proven to better remove trace organic chemicals (TOrCs) than conventional MAR systems. To minimize the physical footprint, pumping costs and hydraulic retention times, as well as to overcome limitations of site-specific heterogeneities of such systems, the SMART concept was further upgraded by two main engineered technologies. This SMARTplus bioreactor is comprised of an infiltration trench and highly homogenous porous media to provide high infiltration rates and plug-flow conditions. Additionally, an in-situ oxygen delivery device, in particular a self-designed PDMS gas-liquid membrane contactor, was designed to establish favorable subsurface oxic conditions. This novel SMARTplus technology was investigated at pilot scale and is designed for advanced water treatment either in the context of water reuse or treatment of impaired surface water. To determine the design specifications and to construct a pilot-scale membrane contactor, the mass transfer coefficients of the PDMS membrane were investigated at lab-scale for varying Reynold numbers (0.2-2). With the help of the customized membrane contactor, homogenous, bubble-free and passive oxygen delivery could be successfully demonstrated at pilot-scale under laminar flow conditions and short contact times. Oxygen concentrations downstream of the membrane contactors met the design specifications (>1 mg/L) as long as the required feed water quality was provided. However, high NH4+ concentrations in the secondary effluent resulted in higher and unsteady oxygen demand than the target oxygen transfer rates could meet and suboxic conditions prevailed. Although a 20-50% enhancement in the removal of certain compounds (4-FAA, antipyrine, sulfamethoxazole, and citalopram) was achieved, demonstration of the full potential of enhanced TOrC removal by SMARTplus was hindered due to unsteady feed water quality.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emil Bein
- Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Germany
| | - Jörg E Drewes
- Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Germany
| | - Uwe Hübner
- Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Germany.
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17
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Karakurt-Fischer S, Sanz-Prat A, Greskowiak J, Ergh M, Gerdes H, Massmann G, Ederer J, Regnery J, Hübner U, Drewes JE. Developing a novel biofiltration treatment system by coupling high-rate infiltration trench technology with a plug-flow porous-media bioreactor. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 722:137890. [PMID: 32208260 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2019] [Revised: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The sequence of two infiltration steps combined with an intermediate aeration named 'sequential managed aquifer recharge technology (SMART)' proved to be a promising approach to replenish groundwater using treated wastewater effluents or impaired surface waters due to efficient inactivation of pathogens and improved removal of many trace organic chemicals. To minimize the physical footprint of such systems and overcome limitations through site-specific heterogeneity at conventional MAR sites, an engineered approach was taken to further advance the SMART concept. This study investigated the establishment of plug-flow conditions in a pilot scale subsurface bioreactor by providing highly controlled hydraulic conditions. Such a system, with a substantially reduced physical footprint in comparison to conventional MAR systems, could be applied independent of local hydrogeological conditions. The desired redox conditions in the bioreactor are achieved by in-situ oxygen delivery, to maintain the homogenous flow conditions and eliminate typical pumping costs. For the time being, this study investigated hydraulic conditions and the initial performance regarding the removal of chemical constituents during baseline operation of the SMARTplus bioreactor. The fit of the observed and simulated breakthrough curves from the pulse injection tracer test indicated successful establishment of plug-flow conditions throughout the bioreactor. The performance data obtained during baseline operation confirmed similar trace organic chemical biotransformation as previously observed in lab- and field-scale MAR systems during travel times of <13 h.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alicia Sanz-Prat
- Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Institute for Biology and Environmental Sciences, Working Group Hydrogeology and Landscape Hydrology, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Janek Greskowiak
- Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Institute for Biology and Environmental Sciences, Working Group Hydrogeology and Landscape Hydrology, Oldenburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Gudrun Massmann
- Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Institute for Biology and Environmental Sciences, Working Group Hydrogeology and Landscape Hydrology, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Jürgen Ederer
- Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Julia Regnery
- Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Uwe Hübner
- Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany.
| | - Jörg E Drewes
- Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
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18
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Ma J, Liu H, Zhang C, Ding K, Chen R, Liu S. Joint response of chemistry and functional microbial community to oxygenation of the reductive confined aquifer. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 720:137587. [PMID: 32135291 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Revised: 02/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Oxygen can enter into reductive aquifer through natural and artificial processes. However, the joint response of groundwater chemistry and functional microbial communities to oxygenation is not well understood due to the gap between taxonomic and functional microbial composition. Here, two wells named CZK15 and CZK22 at the second confined aquifer in Central China were in situ aerated, and the chemical parameters of groundwater and microbial communities in bio-trapping sand sediment were analysed during aeration. The microbial metabolic functions related to C, N, S, Fe transformation were predicted by Functional Annotation of Prokaryotic Taxa (FAPROTAX) approach and some key functional genes, such as phe, nah, narG, and soxB were verified by the real-time quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) method. The biomass was promoted, microbial diversity fluctuated, and microbial composition changed remarkably with aeration mainly constrained by reduction-oxidation (redox) variation and SO42- concentration. Among functional microbes, aerobic chemoheterotrophs including aromatic compound degraders (also especially for relative abundance of phe and some nah gene) and methylotrophs are dramatically enriched interpreting dissolved oxygen (DO) consumption and total organic carbon (TOC) decomposing in sediment. Whilst fermenters and methanogen expectedly decreased during aeration. Denitrifying microbes and narG gene relative abundance increased corresponding to the NO3- increase after aeration, while microbes for N2 fixation, ammonification, and nitrification decreased relating to the source of NH4+. The sulfide oxidation causing increased SO42- was reflected by the blooming of sulfur-oxidizing microbes and soxB gene. Some sulfate reducers persisted in sediment after aeration due to sufficient SO42- as substrate. Fe(II) was mainly chemically oxidized as iron-oxidizing microbes were of low abundance and tended to decrease with aeration. The iron-reducing bacteria Geobacteraceae increased with aeration corresponding to the increased Fe(III) oxides formation. The findings of this study could have important implications in understanding the biogeochemical behaviours with cyclic redox conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology and School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, 388 Lumo Road, Wuhan 430074, PR China
| | - Hui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology and School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, 388 Lumo Road, Wuhan 430074, PR China.
| | - Chen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology and School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, 388 Lumo Road, Wuhan 430074, PR China
| | - Kang Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology and School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, 388 Lumo Road, Wuhan 430074, PR China
| | - Rong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology and School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, 388 Lumo Road, Wuhan 430074, PR China
| | - Shan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology and School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, 388 Lumo Road, Wuhan 430074, PR China
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19
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Reactive Barriers for Renaturalization of Reclaimed Water during Soil Aquifer Treatment. WATER 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/w12041012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) is known to increase available water quantity and to improve water quality. However, its implementation is hindered by the concern of polluting aquifers, which might lead to onerous treatment and regulatory requirements for the source water. These requirements might make MAR unsustainable both economically and energetically. To address these concerns, we tested reactive barriers laid at the bottom of infiltration basins to enhance water quality improvement during soil passage. The goal of the barriers was to (1) provide a range of sorption sites to favor the retention of chemical contaminants and pathogens; (2) favor the development of a sequence of redox states to promote the degradation of the most recalcitrant chemical contaminants; and (3) promote the growth of plants both to reduce clogging, and to supply organic carbon and sorption sites. We summarized our experience to show that the barriers did enhance the removal of organic pollutants of concern (e.g., pharmaceuticals and personal care products). However, the barriers did not increase the removal of pathogens beyond traditional MAR systems. We reviewed the literature to suggest improvements on the design of the system to improve pathogen attenuation and to address antibiotic resistance gene transfer.
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20
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Hermes N, Jewell KS, Schulz M, Müller J, Hübner U, Wick A, Drewes JE, Ternes TA. Elucidation of removal processes in sequential biofiltration (SBF) and soil aquifer treatment (SAT) by analysis of a broad range of trace organic chemicals (TOrCs) and their transformation products (TPs). WATER RESEARCH 2019; 163:114857. [PMID: 31336207 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2019.114857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Revised: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Many chemicals with different physico-chemical properties are present in municipal wastewater. In this study, the removal of a broad range of trace organic chemicals (TOrCs) was determined in two biological treatment processes differing in hydraulic retention time: sequential biofiltration (SBF) and soil-aquifer treatment (SAT), operated in Germany and Spain. Occurrence and the degree of removal of more than 150 TOrCs with different physico-chemical properties were analysed, including precursors as well as human metabolites and environmental transformation products (TPs). Ninety TOrCs were detected in the feed water of the SBF system, 40% of these showed removal efficiencies of higher than 30% during biological treatment. In SAT, 70 TOrCs were detected in the feed water, 60% of these could be reduced by more than 30% after approximately 3 days of subsurface treatment. For uncharged and negatively charged TOrCs biological degradation was mainly responsible for the removal, while positively charged TOrCs were most likely also removed by ionic interactions. The detections of TPs confirmed that biodegradation was a major removal process in both systems. The analysis of positively and negatively charged, neutral and zwitterionic TOrCs and the simultaneous analysis of precursors and their biologically formed TPs enabled a detailed understanding of underlying mechanisms of their removal in the two systems. On this basis, criteria for site-specific indicator selection were proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Hermes
- Federal Institute of Hydrology, Mainzer Tor 1, 56068, Koblenz, Germany
| | - K S Jewell
- Federal Institute of Hydrology, Mainzer Tor 1, 56068, Koblenz, Germany
| | - M Schulz
- Federal Institute of Hydrology, Mainzer Tor 1, 56068, Koblenz, Germany
| | - J Müller
- Technical University of Munich, Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Am Coulombwall 3, 85748, Garching, Germany
| | - U Hübner
- Technical University of Munich, Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Am Coulombwall 3, 85748, Garching, Germany
| | - A Wick
- Federal Institute of Hydrology, Mainzer Tor 1, 56068, Koblenz, Germany
| | - J E Drewes
- Technical University of Munich, Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Am Coulombwall 3, 85748, Garching, Germany
| | - T A Ternes
- Federal Institute of Hydrology, Mainzer Tor 1, 56068, Koblenz, Germany.
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Ma M, Dillon P, Zheng Y. Determination of Sulfamethoxazole Degradation Rate by an in Situ Experiment in a Reducing Alluvial Aquifer of the North China Plain. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:10620-10628. [PMID: 31412697 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b00832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Effluents from wastewater treatment facilities are reclaimed for environmental and landscaping use, resulting in infiltration to groundwater. Trace organic contaminants in these effluents have raised concerns, including the antibiotic resistance contributor sulfamethoxazole (SMX) detected frequently at concentrations exceeding 0.01 μg/L. A push-pull study to evaluate in situ degradation of SMX was undertaken in a shallow alluvial aquifer at the Tongzhou groundwater experimental site in southeast suburban Beijing. Ambient groundwater (1000 L) extracted from an experimental well at a depth of 10 m was spiked with SMX and NaBr, and then injected back into the same well. SMX and Br were "stored" over 15 days and monitored in the experimental well and 4 multilevel (depth: 10, 15, 17.5, 20, 25, and 30 m) observation wells located within 2-3 m distance. The concentration of SMX decreased faster than that of Br in the experimental and one observation well at 10 m depth; samples from all other depths contained little Br and SMX. The half-life of SMX degradation is estimated to be 3.1 ± 0.2 and 6.5 ± 0.6 days in the experimental well and observation well, respectively, under suboxic/anoxic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Ma
- Department of Energy and Resources Engineering, College of Engineering , Peking University , Beijing 100871 , China
| | - Peter Dillon
- CSIRO Land and Water and National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training , Flinders University , Adelaide 5042 , Australia
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22
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Müller J, Jewell KS, Schulz M, Hermes N, Ternes TA, Drewes JE, Hübner U. Capturing the oxic transformation of iopromide - A useful tool for an improved characterization of predominant redox conditions and the removal of trace organic compounds in biofiltration systems? WATER RESEARCH 2019; 152:274-284. [PMID: 30682571 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2018.12.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2018] [Revised: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The biological degradation of many trace organic compounds has been reported to be strongly redox dependent. The traditional characterization of redox conditions using the succession of inorganic electron acceptors such as dissolved oxygen and nitrate falls short in accurately describing the critical transition state between oxic and suboxic conditions. Novel monitoring strategies using intrinsic redox tracers might be suitable to close that gap. This study investigated the potential use of the successive biological transformation of the iodinated contrast medium iopromide as an intrinsic tracer of prevailing redox conditions in biofiltration systems. Iopromide degradation in biofiltration systems was monitored by quantifying twelve known biological transformation products formed under oxic conditions. A novel dimensionless parameter (TIOP) was introduced as a measure for the successive transformation of iopromide. A strong correlation between the consumption of dissolved oxygen and iopromide transformation emphasized the importance of general microbial activity on iopromide degradation. However, results disproved a direct correlation between oxic (>1 mg/L O2) and suboxic (<1 mg/L O2) conditions and the degree of iopromide transformation. Results indicated that besides redox conditions also the availability of biodegradable organic substrate affects the degree of iopromide transformation. Similar behavior was found for the compounds gabapentin and benzotriazole, while the oxic degradation of metoprolol remained stable under varying substrate conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johann Müller
- Technical University of Munich, Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Am Coulombwall 3, 85748, Garching, Germany.
| | - Kevin S Jewell
- Federal Institute of Hydrology, Mainzer Tor 1, 56068, Koblenz, Germany.
| | - Manoj Schulz
- Federal Institute of Hydrology, Mainzer Tor 1, 56068, Koblenz, Germany.
| | - Nina Hermes
- Federal Institute of Hydrology, Mainzer Tor 1, 56068, Koblenz, Germany.
| | - Thomas A Ternes
- Federal Institute of Hydrology, Mainzer Tor 1, 56068, Koblenz, Germany.
| | - Jörg E Drewes
- Technical University of Munich, Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Am Coulombwall 3, 85748, Garching, Germany.
| | - Uwe Hübner
- Technical University of Munich, Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Am Coulombwall 3, 85748, Garching, Germany.
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Bai Y, Ruan X, Wang F, Antoine G, van der Hoek JP. Sulfonamides removal under different redox conditions and microbial response to sulfonamides stress during riverbank filtration: A laboratory column study. CHEMOSPHERE 2019; 220:668-677. [PMID: 30605809 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.12.167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Revised: 12/04/2018] [Accepted: 12/22/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Riverbank filtration (RBF) as a barrier of pathogenic microorganisms and organic micropollutants recently has been proven capable of removing sulfonamides. However, the study about the effect of redox conditions on biodegradation of common and persistent sulfonamides in RBF is limited and the response of microbial communities to sulfonamides stress during RBF is unknown. In this study, two column set-ups (with residence time 5 days and 11 days respectively), simulating different redox conditions of riverbank filtration systems, were operated for seven months to investigate 1) the long-term effect of redox conditions on ng∙L-1 level sulfonamides (sulfapyridine, sulfadiazine, sulfamethoxazole, sulfamethazine, sulfaquinoxaline) removal, and 2) the microbial community evolution represented by the phylogenetic and metabolic function shift under non-lethal selective pressures of sulfonamides. The results showed that sulfonamides were more degradable under anoxic conditions than oxic and suboxic conditions. In the sulfonamides stressed community, the phylogenetic diversity increased slightly. Relative abundance of an intrinsic sulfonamides resistant bacteria Bacillus spp. increased, suggesting that sulfonamide resistance developed in specific bacteria under sulfonamides contamination pressure in RBF systems. At the same time, an activated transport function in the stressed microbial community was noticed. The predicted relative abundance of gene folP, which encodes dihydropteroate synthase, also increased significantly, indicating a detoxification mechanism and sulfonamides resistance potential under non-lethal selective pressures of sulfonamides in RBF systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Bai
- Key Laboratory of Surfacial Geochemistry, Ministry of Education, School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University, China
| | - Xiaohong Ruan
- Key Laboratory of Surfacial Geochemistry, Ministry of Education, School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University, China.
| | - Feifei Wang
- Department of Water Management, Delft University of Technology, Stevinweg 1, 2628 CN Delft, the Netherlands
| | - Garnier Antoine
- The National Engineering School of Rennes, Allée de Beaulieu 11, 35708 Rennes, France
| | - Jan Peter van der Hoek
- Department of Water Management, Delft University of Technology, Stevinweg 1, 2628 CN Delft, the Netherlands; Strategic Centre, Waternet, Korte Ouderkerkerdijk 7, 1096 AC Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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24
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Brunner AM, Vughs D, Siegers W, Bertelkamp C, Hofman-Caris R, Kolkman A, Ter Laak T. Monitoring transformation product formation in the drinking water treatments rapid sand filtration and ozonation. CHEMOSPHERE 2019; 214:801-811. [PMID: 30296768 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.09.140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Revised: 07/30/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Transformation products (TPs) can be formed from organic micropollutants in the water cycle through both biological and technological processes. Despite the TPs' potentially altered toxicity compared to their parent compounds, transformation processes are not routinely monitored, and in particular those induced by drinking water treatment remain elusive. This lack of information is mainly due to the technical challenges in analyzing TPs, which are often unknown compounds occurring in low concentrations. Their analysis requires sophisticated analytical techniques such as non-target screening (NTS) based on high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (HRMS/MS) methods combined with novel data analysis approaches. Here, we addressed the challenges of TP analysis and the scarcity of TP research concerning studies in drinking water. We performed lab-scale experiments to monitor TP formation of three organic micropollutants prevalent in drinking water sources, i.e. carbamazepine, clofibric acid and metolachlor, during rapid sand filtration and ozonation, two readily applied biotic and abiotic drinking water treatments, respectively. To facilitate TP identification in the NTS data, halogenated and/or isotopically labeled parent compounds were used, revealing potential TPs through their isotopic patterns. The experimental results showed that degradation of the parent compounds and TP formation were treatment and compound specific. In silico TP prediction and literature mining enabled suspect screening of the non-target data and thereby significantly enhanced TP identification. Overall, the developed workflow enables an efficient and more comprehensive assessment of drinking water quality changes during water treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Mizzi Brunner
- KWR Watercycle Research Institute, P.O. Box 1072, 3430 BB Nieuwegein, the Netherlands.
| | - Dennis Vughs
- KWR Watercycle Research Institute, P.O. Box 1072, 3430 BB Nieuwegein, the Netherlands
| | - Wolter Siegers
- KWR Watercycle Research Institute, P.O. Box 1072, 3430 BB Nieuwegein, the Netherlands
| | - Cheryl Bertelkamp
- KWR Watercycle Research Institute, P.O. Box 1072, 3430 BB Nieuwegein, the Netherlands
| | - Roberta Hofman-Caris
- KWR Watercycle Research Institute, P.O. Box 1072, 3430 BB Nieuwegein, the Netherlands
| | - Annemieke Kolkman
- KWR Watercycle Research Institute, P.O. Box 1072, 3430 BB Nieuwegein, the Netherlands
| | - Thomas Ter Laak
- KWR Watercycle Research Institute, P.O. Box 1072, 3430 BB Nieuwegein, the Netherlands
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25
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Hellauer K, Martínez Mayerlen S, Drewes JE, Hübner U. Biotransformation of trace organic chemicals in the presence of highly refractory dissolved organic carbon. CHEMOSPHERE 2019; 215:33-39. [PMID: 30308387 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.09.166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Revised: 09/23/2018] [Accepted: 09/28/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies demonstrated that the transformation of trace organic chemicals (TOrCs) in managed aquifer recharge (MAR) systems is favored under carbon-limited and oxic redox conditions especially, if the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) serving as primary substrate has a refractory character. Since co-metabolism is suggested to be the dominant removal mechanism, it is hypothesized that TOrCs transformation is controlled by the concentration of the refractory carbon under oxic redox conditions. A laboratory-scale soil column experiment mimicking MAR was established to investigate the influence of two different concentrations of highly refractory carbon sources on TOrCs transformation, namely drinking water (DW) and drinking water augmented with humic acid (DW + HA). Oxic redox conditions and carbon-limitation were present in both systems (ΔDOCDW+HA ≈ 0.6-0.7 mg/L; ΔDOCDW ≈ 0.1 mg/L). Of the 12 TOrCs investigated seven exhibited moderate to efficient transformation in both systems with only one compound (diclofenac) showing significantly enhanced (co-metabolic) biotransformation by adding humic acids as primary growth substrate. It is postulated that transformation of some TOrCs is characterized by metabolic degradation under starving conditions (ΔDOC ≤ 0.1 mg/L). By comparing the transformation efficiency of selected TOrCs with previous studies operated under carbon-limited and oxic conditions, an inconsistent behavior of some compounds was observed. These results demonstrate that key factors triggering the transformation of TOrCs are still poorly understood and thus, further investigations regarding the biodegradation pathways of TOrCs, upregulation of key enzymes by the microbial community but also more detailed analysis of the composition of the biodegradable DOC are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Hellauer
- Technical University of Munich, Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Am Coulombwall 3, 85748 Garching, Germany.
| | - Sara Martínez Mayerlen
- Technical University of Munich, Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Am Coulombwall 3, 85748 Garching, Germany.
| | - Jörg E Drewes
- Technical University of Munich, Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Am Coulombwall 3, 85748 Garching, Germany.
| | - Uwe Hübner
- Technical University of Munich, Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Am Coulombwall 3, 85748 Garching, Germany.
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26
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Hellauer K, Uhl J, Lucio M, Schmitt-Kopplin P, Wibberg D, Hübner U, Drewes JE. Microbiome-Triggered Transformations of Trace Organic Chemicals in the Presence of Effluent Organic Matter in Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) Systems. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2018; 52:14342-14351. [PMID: 30419166 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b04559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
It is widely assumed that biodegradation of trace organic chemicals (TOrCs) in managed aquifer recharge (MAR) systems occurs via a cometabolic transformation with dissolved organic carbon serving as primary substrate. Hence, the composition facilitating bioavailability of the organic matter seems to have a great impact on TOrCs transformation in MAR systems. The aim of this study was to elucidate the character of effluent organic matter present in the feedwater of a simulated sequential MAR system throughout the infiltration by use of FT-ICR-MS analyses as well as spectroscopic methods. Furthermore, compositional changes were correlated with TOrCs targeted throughout the system as well as the abundance of different microbial phyla. On the basis of their behavior throughout the infiltration system in which different redox and substrate conditions prevailed, TOrCs were classified in four groups: easily degradable, redox insensitive, redox sensitive, and persistent. Masses correlating with persistent TOrCs were mainly comprised of CHNO-containing molecules but also of CHO which are known as carboxyl-rich alicyclic molecules, while CHOS and CHNOS can be neglected. Easily degradable TOrCs could be associated with CHNO-, CHO-, and CHOS-containing compounds. However, a shift of molecular compounds to mostly CHOS was observed for redox-insensitive TOrCs. Three hundred thirty eight masses correlated with removal of redox-sensitive TOrCs, but no distinct clustering was identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Hellauer
- Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering , Technical University of Munich , Am Coulombwall 3 , 85748 Garching , Germany
| | - Jenny Uhl
- Research Unit Analytical BioGeoChemistry , Helmholtz Zentrum München , Ingolstädter Landstrasse 1 , 85764 Neuherberg , Germany
| | - Marianna Lucio
- Research Unit Analytical BioGeoChemistry , Helmholtz Zentrum München , Ingolstädter Landstrasse 1 , 85764 Neuherberg , Germany
| | - Philippe Schmitt-Kopplin
- Research Unit Analytical BioGeoChemistry , Helmholtz Zentrum München , Ingolstädter Landstrasse 1 , 85764 Neuherberg , Germany
- Chair of Analytical Food Chemistry , Technical University of Munich , Maximus-von-Imhof-Forum 2 , 85354 Freising , Germany
| | - Daniel Wibberg
- CeBiTec , Bielefeld University , Universitätsstrasse 25 , 33615 Bielefeld , Germany
| | - Uwe Hübner
- Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering , Technical University of Munich , Am Coulombwall 3 , 85748 Garching , Germany
| | - Jörg E Drewes
- Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering , Technical University of Munich , Am Coulombwall 3 , 85748 Garching , Germany
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27
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Behavior of Organic Micropollutants During River Bank Filtration in Budapest, Hungary. WATER 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/w10121861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
This paper summarizes results from a half-year sampling campaign in Budapest, when Danube River water and bank filtrate were analyzed for 36 emerging micropollutants. Twelve micropollutants were detected regularly in both river water and bank filtrate. Bisphenol A, carbamazepine, and sulfamethoxazole showed low removal (<20%) during bank filtration on Szentendre Island and Csepel island, whereas 1H-benzotriazole, tolyltriazole, diclofenac, cefepime, iomeprol, metazachlor, and acesulfame showed medium to high removal rates of up to 78%. The concentration range in bank filtrate was much lower compared to river water, proving the equilibration effect of bank filtration for water quality.
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Silver M, Selke S, Balsaa P, Wefer-Roehl A, Kübeck C, Schüth C. Fate of five pharmaceuticals under different infiltration conditions for managed aquifer recharge. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 642:914-924. [PMID: 29929143 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.06.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Revised: 06/09/2018] [Accepted: 06/10/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Infiltration of treated wastewater (TWW) to recharge depleted aquifers, often referred to as managed aquifer recharge, is a solution to replenish groundwater resources in regions facing water scarcity. We present a mass balance approach to infer the amounts of five pharmaceuticals (carbamazepine, diclofenac, fenoprofen, gemfibrozil, and naproxen) degraded in column experiments based on concentrations of pharmaceuticals in the aqueous and solid (sorbed) phases. Column experiments were conducted under three different conditions: continuous infiltration, wetting and drying cycles, and wetting and drying cycles with elevated concentrations of antibiotics (which may reduce microbially aided degradation of other compounds). A mass balance comparing pharmaceutical mass in the water phase over the 16-month duration of the experiments to mass sorbed to the soil was used to infer the mass of pharmaceuticals degraded. Results show sorption as the main attenuation mechanism for carbamazepine. About half of the mass of diclofenac was degraded with wetting and drying cycles, but no significant degradation was found for continuous infiltration, while 32% of infiltrated mass sorbed. Fenoprofen was degraded in the shallow and aerobic part of the soil, but degradation appeared to cease beyond 27 cm depth. Gemfibrozil attenuated through a combination of degradation and sorption, with slight increases in attenuation with depth from both mechanisms. Naproxen degraded progressively with depth, resulting in attenuation of >90% of the mass. In the column with elevated concentrations of antibiotics, the antibiotics attenuated to about 50% or less of inflow concentrations by 27 cm depth and within this zone, less degradation of the other compounds was observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Silver
- Institute of Applied Geosciences, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany; Water Resources Management Division, IWW Water Centre, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany.
| | - Stephanie Selke
- Water Quality Division, IWW Water Centre, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany
| | - Peter Balsaa
- Water Quality Division, IWW Water Centre, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany.
| | - Annette Wefer-Roehl
- Institute of Applied Geosciences, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Christine Kübeck
- Water Resources Management Division, IWW Water Centre, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany.
| | - Christoph Schüth
- Institute of Applied Geosciences, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany; Water Resources Management Division, IWW Water Centre, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany.
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29
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Müller J, Drewes JE, Hübner U. Sequential biofiltration - A novel approach for enhanced biological removal of trace organic chemicals from wastewater treatment plant effluent. WATER RESEARCH 2017; 127:127-138. [PMID: 29035766 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2017.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2017] [Revised: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 10/05/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies revealed the benefits of oligotrophic and oxic conditions for the biological removal of many trace organic chemicals (TOrCs) during soil-aquifer treatment. These findings indicate an unused tuning potential that might also be applicable in engineered biofiltration systems with drastically reduced hydraulic retention times for an enhanced mitigation of TOrCs during wastewater treatment. This study introduces the novel approach of sequential biofiltration (SBF) for the advanced treatment of secondary effluent using two granular media filters operated in series with an intermediate aeration step aiming for oxic and oligotrophic conditions in the second filter stage. Results from the experiments conducted at pilot-scale confirm a reduced substrate availability and predominantly oxic conditions in the second filter stage of the SBF setup. An increased removal of several TOrCs was observed in an SBF system as compared to a conventional single-stage biofiltration unit operated at the same overall empty bed contact time (EBCT). Short-term tests with varying EBCTs in the first filter stage revealed a high degree of system robustness of TOrC mitigation when confronted with sudden hydraulic load variations. Higher removal of several TOrCs at increased EBCTs in the second filter stage indicates that EBCT might play a crucial role for the degradation of certain compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johann Müller
- Technical University of Munich, Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Am Coulombwall 3, 85748 Garching, Germany.
| | - Jörg E Drewes
- Technical University of Munich, Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Am Coulombwall 3, 85748 Garching, Germany.
| | - Uwe Hübner
- Technical University of Munich, Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Am Coulombwall 3, 85748 Garching, Germany.
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30
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Kahl S, Nivala J, van Afferden M, Müller RA, Reemtsma T. Effect of design and operational conditions on the performance of subsurface flow treatment wetlands: Emerging organic contaminants as indicators. WATER RESEARCH 2017; 125:490-500. [PMID: 28915479 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2017.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2017] [Revised: 08/28/2017] [Accepted: 09/01/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Six pilot-scale subsurface flow treatment wetlands loaded with primary treated municipal wastewater were monitored over one year for classical wastewater parameters and a set of emerging organic compounds (EOCs) serving as process indicators for biodegradation: caffeine, ibuprofen, naproxen, benzotriazole, diclofenac, acesulfame, and carbamazepine. The wetland technologies investigated included conventional horizontal flow, unsaturated vertical flow (single and two-stage), horizontal flow with aeration, vertical flow with aeration, and reciprocating. Treatment efficiency for classical wastewater parameters and EOCs generally increased with increasing design complexity and dissolved oxygen concentrations. The two aerated wetlands and the two-stage vertical flow system showed the highest EOC removal, and the best performance in warm season and most robust performance in the cold season. These three systems performed better than the adjacent conventional WWTP with respect to EOC removal. Acesulfame was observed to be removed (>90%) by intensified wetland systems and with use of a tertiary treatment sand filter during the warm season. Elevated temperature and high oxygen content (aerobic conditions) proved beneficial for EOC removal. For EOCs of moderate to low biodegradability, the co-occurrence of aerobic conditions and low content of readily available carbon appears essential for efficient removal. Such conditions occurred in the aerated systems and with use of a tertiary treatment sand filter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Kahl
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Department of Analytical Chemistry, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jaime Nivala
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Centre for Environmental Biotechnology (UBZ), Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Manfred van Afferden
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Centre for Environmental Biotechnology (UBZ), Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Roland A Müller
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Centre for Environmental Biotechnology (UBZ), Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Thorsten Reemtsma
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Department of Analytical Chemistry, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany.
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31
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Removal of Nitrogen and COD from Reclaimed Water during Long-Term Simulated Soil Aquifer Treatment System under Different Hydraulic Conditions. WATER 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/w9100786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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32
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Ghattas AK, Fischer F, Wick A, Ternes TA. Anaerobic biodegradation of (emerging) organic contaminants in the aquatic environment. WATER RESEARCH 2017; 116:268-295. [PMID: 28347952 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2017.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2016] [Revised: 01/31/2017] [Accepted: 02/01/2017] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Although strictly anaerobic conditions prevail in several environmental compartments, up to now, biodegradation studies with emerging organic contaminants (EOCs), such as pharmaceuticals and personal care products, have mainly focused on aerobic conditions. One of the reasons probably is the assumption that the aerobic degradation is more energetically favorable than degradation under strictly anaerobic conditions. Certain aerobically recalcitrant contaminants, however, are biodegraded under strictly anaerobic conditions and little is known about the organisms and enzymatic processes involved in their degradation. This review provides a comprehensive survey of characteristic anaerobic biotransformation reactions for a variety of well-studied, structurally rather simple contaminants (SMOCs) bearing one or a few different functional groups/structural moieties. Furthermore it summarizes anaerobic degradation studies of more complex contaminants with several functional groups (CMCs), in soil, sediment and wastewater treatment. While strictly anaerobic conditions are able to promote the transformation of several aerobically persistent contaminants, the variety of observed reactions is limited, with reductive dehalogenations and the cleavage of ether bonds being the most prevalent. Thus, it becomes clear that the transferability of degradation mechanisms deduced from culture studies of SMOCs to predict the degradation of CMCs, such as EOCs, in environmental matrices is hampered due the more complex chemical structure bearing different functional groups, different environmental conditions (e.g. matrix, redox, pH), the microbial community (e.g. adaptation, competition) and the low concentrations typical for EOCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann-Kathrin Ghattas
- Federal Institute of Hydrology (BfG), D-56068 Koblenz, Am Mainzer Tor 1, Germany
| | - Ferdinand Fischer
- Federal Institute of Hydrology (BfG), D-56068 Koblenz, Am Mainzer Tor 1, Germany
| | - Arne Wick
- Federal Institute of Hydrology (BfG), D-56068 Koblenz, Am Mainzer Tor 1, Germany
| | - Thomas A Ternes
- Federal Institute of Hydrology (BfG), D-56068 Koblenz, Am Mainzer Tor 1, Germany.
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33
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Advancing Sequential Managed Aquifer Recharge Technology (SMART) Using Different Intermediate Oxidation Processes. WATER 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/w9030221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) systems are an efficient barrier for many contaminants. The biotransformation of trace organic chemicals (TOrCs) strongly depends on the redox conditions as well as on the dissolved organic carbon availability. Oxic and oligotrophic conditions are favored for enhanced TOrCs removal which is obtained by combining two filtration systems with an intermediate aeration step. In this study, four parallel laboratory-scale soil column experiments using different intermittent aeration techniques were selected to further optimize TOrCs transformation during MAR: no aeration, aeration with air, pure oxygen and ozone. Rapid oxygen consumption, nitrate reduction and dissolution of manganese confirmed anoxic conditions within the first filtration step, mimicking traditional bank filtration. Aeration with air led to suboxic conditions, whereas oxidation by pure oxygen and ozone led to fully oxic conditions throughout the second system. The sequential system resulted in an equal or better transformation of most TOrCs compared to the single step bank filtration system. Despite the fast oxygen consumption, acesulfame, iopromide, iomeprol and valsartan were degraded within the first infiltration step. The compounds benzotriazole, diclofenac, 4-Formylaminoantipyrine, gabapentin, metoprolol, valsartan acid and venlafaxine revealed a significantly enhanced removal in the systems with intermittent oxidation compared to the conventional treatment without aeration. Further improvement of benzotriazole and gabapentin removal by using pure oxygen confirmed potential oxygen limitation in the second column after aeration with air. Ozonation resulted in an enhanced removal of persistent compounds (i.e., carbamazepine, candesartan, olmesartan) and further increased the attenuation of gabapentin, methylbenzotriazole, benzotriazole, and venlafaxine. Diatrizoic acid revealed little degradation in an ozone–MAR hybrid system.
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34
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Linking Trace Organic Chemical Attenuation to Microbiome Metabolic Capabilities: Insights from Laboratory- and Full-Scale Managed Aquifer Recharge Systems. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.1021/bk-2016-1241.ch011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
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