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Pérez-de-Mora A, de Wilde H, Paulus D, Roosa S, Onderwater R, Paint Y, Avignone Rossa C, Farkas D. Biostimulation of sulfate reduction for in-situ metal(loid) precipitation at an industrial site in Flanders, Belgium. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 929:172298. [PMID: 38615778 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172298] [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: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
A 30-month pilot study was conducted to evaluate the potential of in-situ metal(loid) removal through biostimulation of sulfate-reducing processes. The study took place at an industrial site in Flanders, Belgium, known for metal(loid) contamination in soil and groundwater. Biostimulation involved two incorporations of an organic substrate (emulsified vegetable oil) as electron donor and potassium bicarbonate to raise the pH of the groundwater by 1-1.5 units. The study focused on the most impacted permeable fine sand aquifer (8-9 m below groundwater level) confined by layers of non-permeable clay. The fine sands exhibited initially oxic conditions (50-200 mV), an acidic pH of 4.5 and sulfate concentrations ranging from 600 to 800 mg/L. At the central monitoring well, anoxic conditions (-200 to -400 mV) and a pH of 5.9 established shortly after the second substrate and reagent injection. Over the course of 12 months, there was a significant decrease in the concentration of arsenic (from 2500 to 12 μg/L), nickel (from 360 to <2 μg/L), zinc (from 78,000 to <2 μg/L), and sulfate (from 930 to 450 mg/L). Low levels of metal(loid)s were still present after 34 months (end of study). Mineralogical analysis indicated that the precipitates formed were amorphous in nature. Evidence for biologically driven metal(loid) precipitation was provided by compound specific stable isotope analysis of sulfate. In addition, changes in microbial populations were assessed using next-generation sequencing, revealing stimulation of native sulfate-reducing bacteria. These results highlight the potential of biostimulation for long-term in situ metal(loid) plume treatment/containment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Herwig de Wilde
- TAUW België nv, Dept. of Soil & Groundwater, Waaslandlaan 8A3, 9160 Lokeren, Belgium
| | - Dirk Paulus
- TAUW België nv, Dept. of Soil & Groundwater, Remylaan 4C, Bus 3, 3018 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Stephanie Roosa
- Materia NOVA Institute, 6 Avenue du champ de Mars, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Rob Onderwater
- Materia NOVA Institute, 6 Avenue du champ de Mars, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Yoann Paint
- Materia NOVA Institute, 6 Avenue du champ de Mars, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Claudio Avignone Rossa
- University of Surrey, Deptartment of Microbial Sciences, Guildford GU2 7XH, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel Farkas
- University of Surrey, Deptartment of Microbial Sciences, Guildford GU2 7XH, United Kingdom.
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Puigserver D, Herrero J, Carmona JM. Mobilization pilot test of PCE sources in the transition zone to aquitards by combining mZVI and biostimulation with lactic acid. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 877:162751. [PMID: 36921871 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
The potential toxic and carcinogenic effects of chlorinated solvents in groundwater on human health and aquatic ecosystems require very effective remediation strategies of contaminated groundwater to achieve the low legal cleanup targets required. The transition zones between aquifers and bottom aquitards occur mainly in prograding alluvial fan geological contexts. Hence, they are very frequent from a hydrogeological point of view. The transition zone consists of numerous thin layers of fine to coarse-grained clastic fragments (e.g., medium sands and gravels), which alternate with fine-grained materials (clays and silts). When the transition zones are affected by DNAPL spills, free-phase pools accumulate on the less conductive layers. Owing to the low overall conductivity of this zone, the pools are very recalcitrant. Little field research has been done on transition zone remediation techniques. Injection of iron microparticles has the disadvantage of the limited accessibility of this reagent to reach the entire source of contamination. Biostimulation of indigenous microorganisms in the medium has the disadvantage that few of the microorganisms are capable of complete biodegradation to total mineralization of the parent contaminant and metabolites. A field pilot test was conducted at a site where a transition zone existed in which DNAPL pools of PCE had accumulated. In particular, the interface with the bottom aquitard was where PCE concentrations were the highest. In this pilot test, a combined strategy using ZVI in microparticles and biostimulation with lactate in the form of lactic acid was conducted. Throughout the test it was found that the interdependence of the coupled biotic and abiotic processes generated synergies between these processes. This resulted in a greater degradation of the PCE and its transformation products. With the combination of the two techniques, the mobilization of the contaminant source of PCE was extremely effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Puigserver
- Department of Mineralogy, Petrology and Applied Geology. Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Barcelona (UB), Water Research Institute (IdRA-UB), Serra Húnter Tenure-elegible Lecturer, C/ Martí i Franquès, s/n, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Jofre Herrero
- Department of Mineralogy, Petrology and Applied Geology, Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Barcelona (UB), Water Research Institute (IdRA-UB), C/ Martí i Franquès, s/n, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - José M Carmona
- Department of Mineralogy, Petrology and Applied Geology, Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Barcelona (UB), Water Research Institute (IdRA-UB), C/ Martí i Franquès, s/n, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.
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3
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Wang J, Wu S, Yang Q, Liu B, Yang M, Fei W, Tang Y, Zhang X. Effect of the degradation performance on carbon tetrachloride by anaerobic co-metabolism under different external energy sources. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 308:136262. [PMID: 36055587 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In this research, a comprehensive study was carried out on the removal of carbon tetrachloride (CT) in the anaerobic co-metabolism (ACM) reactor. The experiments showed that when the hydraulic retention time (HRT) was 36 h, pH was 7, and influent CT was 2.5mg/L, the average removal efficiency reached 82.45 ± 2.56% in the glucose co-metabolism substrate reactor, exhibiting a dramatic excellent difference in reaction performance from the other two reactors (p < 0.05) and a favorable tolerance on the CT shock loading. The content of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and volatile fatty acids (VFA) demonstrated that glucose could supply more energy to protect the microorganisms, which was the appropriate external energy source. Moreover, microbial community structure and biostatistics analysis demonstrated that Pseudomonas was the most important dechlorination bacteria in ACM reactors, which might via dehalogenation process mediate the transformation of CT. The succession of methanogenic bacteria further demonstrated that CT degradation using co-digestion require to destroy hydrogenotrophic methane generation pathway and the external energy substances could make up the lack of hydrogen in the treatment of CT. The change of intermediate products hinted that anaerobic dechlorination process of CT in an ACM reactor was a sequential dechlorination process, and major transformation products measured were CF. Overall, this study has improved our understanding of the roles of CT degradation process in ACM reactors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Wang
- MOK Key Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Environmental Evolution, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, PR China; Industrial Technology Office, Ministry of Environmental Protection Center for Foreign Cooperation, Beijing, 100035, PR China
| | - Shuangrong Wu
- School of Civil Engineering, Tangshan University, Tangshan, 063000, PR China
| | - Qi Yang
- MOK Key Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Environmental Evolution, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, PR China.
| | - Bingyang Liu
- MOK Key Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Environmental Evolution, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, PR China
| | - Ming Yang
- Industrial Technology Office, Ministry of Environmental Protection Center for Foreign Cooperation, Beijing, 100035, PR China
| | - WeiLiang Fei
- Industrial Technology Office, Ministry of Environmental Protection Center for Foreign Cooperation, Beijing, 100035, PR China
| | - Yandong Tang
- Industrial Technology Office, Ministry of Environmental Protection Center for Foreign Cooperation, Beijing, 100035, PR China
| | - XiaoLan Zhang
- Industrial Technology Office, Ministry of Environmental Protection Center for Foreign Cooperation, Beijing, 100035, PR China
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Remediation of chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons (CAHs) contaminated site coupling groundwater recirculation well (IEG-GCW®) with a peripheral injection of soluble nutrient supplement (IEG-C-MIX) via multilevel-injection wells (IEG-MIW). Heliyon 2022; 8:e11402. [DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
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Puigserver D, Herrero J, Nogueras X, Cortés A, Parker BL, Playà E, Carmona JM. Biotic and abiotic reductive dechlorination of chloroethenes in aquitards. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 816:151532. [PMID: 34752872 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151532] [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: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Chlorinated solvents occur as dense nonaqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) or as solutes when dissolved in water. They are present in many pollution sites in urban and industrial areas. They are toxic, carcinogenic, and highly recalcitrant in aquifers and aquitards. In the latter case, they migrate by molecular diffusion into the matrix. When aquitards are fractured, chlorinated solvents also penetrate as a free phase through the fractures. The main objective of this study was to analyze the biogeochemical processes occurring inside the matrix surrounding fractures and in the joint-points zones. The broader implications of this objective derive from the fact that, incomplete natural degradation of contaminants in aquitards generates accumulation of daughter products. This causes steep concentration gradients and back-diffusion fluxes between aquitards and high hydraulic conductivity layers. This offers opportunities to develop remediation strategies based, for example, on the coupling of biotic and reactive abiotic processes. The main results showed: 1) Degradation occurred especially in the matrix adjacent to the orthogonal network of fractures and textural heterogeneities, where texture contrasts favored microbial development because these zones constituted ecotones. 2) A dechlorinating bacterium not belonging to the Dehalococcoides genus, namely Propionibacterium acnes, survived under the high concentrations of dissolved perchloroethene (PCE) in contact with the PCE-DNAPL and was able to degrade it to trichloroethene (TCE). Dehalococcoides genus was able to conduct PCE reductive dechlorination at least up to cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cDCE), which shows again the potential of the medium to degrade chloroethenes in aquitards. 3) Degradation of PCE in the matrix resulted from the coupling of reactive abiotic and biotic processes-in the first case, promoted by Fe2+ sorbed to iron oxides, and in the latter case, related to dechlorinating microorganisms. The dechlorination resulting from these coupling processes is slow and limited by the need for an adequate supply of electron donors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Puigserver
- Department of Mineralogy, Petrology and Applied Geology, Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Barcelona (UB), Water Research Institute (IdRA-UB), Serra Húnter Tenure-elegible Lecturer, C/ Martí i Franquès, s/n, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Jofre Herrero
- Department of Mineralogy, Petrology and Applied Geology, Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Barcelona (UB), Water Research Institute (IdRA-UB). C/ Martí i Franquès, s/n, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Xènia Nogueras
- Department of Mineralogy, Petrology and Applied Geology, Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Barcelona (UB). C/ Martí i Franquès, s/n, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain; Health Section of the City Council of Mataró (Barcelona), Specialized Support Technician, Carrer de la Riera, 48, 08301 Mataró, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Amparo Cortés
- Department of Biology, Health and Environment, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Beth L Parker
- School of Engineering, University of Guelph, 50, Stone Road East, Guelph, N1G 2W1, Ontario, Canada.
| | - E Playà
- Department of Mineralogy, Petrology and Applied Geology, Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Barcelona (UB). C/ Martí i Franquès, s/n, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - José M Carmona
- Department of Mineralogy, Petrology and Applied Geology, Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Barcelona (UB), Water Research Institute (IdRA-UB). C/ Martí i Franquès, s/n, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.
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Herrero J, Puigserver D, Nijenhuis I, Kuntze K, Carmona JM. Key factors controlling microbial distribution on a DNAPL source area. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:1508-1520. [PMID: 34355320 PMCID: PMC8724114 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-15635-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Chlorinated solvents are among the common groundwater contaminants that show high complexity in their distribution in the subsoil. Microorganisms play a vital role in the natural attenuation of chlorinated solvents. Thus far, how the in situ soil microbial community responds to chlorinated solvent contamination has remained unclear. In this study, the microbial community distribution within two boreholes located in the source area of perchloroethene (PCE) was investigated via terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) and clone library analysis. Microbial data were related to the lithological and geochemical data and the concentration and isotopic composition of chloroethenes to determine the key factors controlling the distribution of the microbial communities. The results indicated that Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes were the most abundant phylums in the sediment. The statistical correlation with the environmental data proved that fine granulometry, oxygen tolerance, terminal electron-acceptor processes, and toxicity control microbial structure. This study improves our understanding of how the microbial community in the subsoil responds to high concentrations of chlorinated solvents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jofre Herrero
- Department of Minerology, Petrology and Applied Geology, Faculty of Earth Sciences, The Water Research Institute (IdRA), University of Barcelona, C/ Martí Franquès sn, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Diana Puigserver
- Department of Minerology, Petrology and Applied Geology, Faculty of Earth Sciences, The Water Research Institute (IdRA), University of Barcelona, C/ Martí Franquès sn, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ivonne Nijenhuis
- Department of Isotope Biogeochemistry (ISOBIO), UFZ Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig-Halle, Permoserstr. 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Kevin Kuntze
- Department of Isotope Biogeochemistry (ISOBIO), UFZ Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig-Halle, Permoserstr. 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany
- Isodetect, Deutscher Platz 5b, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - José M Carmona
- Department of Minerology, Petrology and Applied Geology, Faculty of Earth Sciences, The Water Research Institute (IdRA), University of Barcelona, C/ Martí Franquès sn, Barcelona, Spain
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Ciampi P, Esposito C, Bartsch E, Alesi EJ, Petrangeli Papini M. 3D dynamic model empowering the knowledge of the decontamination mechanisms and controlling the complex remediation strategy of a contaminated industrial site. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 793:148649. [PMID: 34328981 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Knowledge of the geology and hydrogeology of the polluted site emblematize a key requirement for environmental remediation, through assembling and synthesizing findings from various sources of physical evidence. In an increasingly virtual era, digital and geo-referenced metadata may serve as tools for collecting, merging, matching, and understanding multi-source information. The main goal of this paper is to emphasize the significance of a 3D hydrogeochemical model to the portrayal and the understanding of contamination dynamics and decontamination mechanisms at a highly contaminated industrial site. Some remediation measures are active on-site, due to the evidence-based presence of chlorinated solvents in groundwater. These are attributable to a slow-release source of pollutants in the saturated zone associated with very low permeability sediments. Therefore, in this research, a new technique for the remediation of secondary sources of dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) contamination was investigated for the first time on a full-scale application. The combination of groundwater circulation wells (IEG-GCW®) and a continuous electron donor production device was set up to boost in situ bioremediation (ISB). A multi-phase approach was followed handling and releasing data during various remediation stages, from site characterization via pilot testing to full-scale remediation, thus allowing users to monitor, analyze, and manipulate information in 3D space-time. Multi-source and multi-temporal scenarios reveal the impact of ongoing hydraulic dynamics and depict the decontamination mechanisms in response to the interventions implemented over time, by quantifying the overall performance of the adopted strategies in terms of removal of secondary sources of pollution still active at the site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Ciampi
- Department of Earth Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
| | - Carlo Esposito
- Department of Earth Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
| | - Ernst Bartsch
- IEG Technologie GmbH, Hohlbachweg 2, D-73344 Gruibingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
| | - Eduard J Alesi
- IEG Technologie GmbH, Hohlbachweg 2, D-73344 Gruibingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
| | - Marco Petrangeli Papini
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
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Evaluation of MNA in A Chlorinated Solvents-Contaminated Aquifer Using Reactive Transport Modeling Coupled with Isotopic Fractionation Analysis. WATER 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/w13212945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Groundwater contamination by chlorinated hydrocarbons is a worldwide problem that poses important challenges in remediation processes. In Italy, the Legislative Decree 152/06 defines the water quality limits to be obtained during the cleanup process. In situ bioremediation techniques are becoming increasingly important due to their affordability and, under the right conditions, because they can be more effective than conventional methodologies. In the initial feasibility study phase, the numerical modeling supports the reliability of each technique. Two different codes, BIOCHLOR and PHREEQC were discussed and compared assuming different field conditions. Isotopic Fractionation-Reactive Transport Models were then developed in one synthetic and one simple field case. From the results, the two codes were in agreement and also able to demonstrate the Monitored Natural Attenuation processes occurring at the dismissed site located in Italy. Finally, the PHREEQC model was used to forecast the remediation time frame by MNA, hypothesizing a complete source cleanup: a remediation time frame of about 10–11 years was achieved by means of natural attenuation processes.
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Li Y, Zhang Y, Yang S, Xue Y, Liu J, Wang M, Liu S, Chen Y. Citrate ligand-enhanced microscale zero-valent aluminum corrosion for carbon tetrachloride degradation with high electron utilization efficiency. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 783:146999. [PMID: 33865126 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Carbon tetrachloride (CT) is highly toxic and recalcitrant in groundwater. In recent years, zero-valent aluminum (ZVAl) is highly reductive but limited by its surface passivation film. One of the effective ways to overcome this bottleneck is to add ligands. In this paper, compared with several other ligands, sodium citrate (SC), a natural organic ligand, was introduced to enhance microscale ZVAl (mZVAl) reactivity for the reductive degradation of CT. The results showed that the SC system could effectively reduce but not completely dechlorinate CT and electron utilization efficiency was as high as 94%. However, without ligands, mZVAl is chemically inert for CT degradation. Through SEM-EDS, BET, XRD, and XPS characterizations and H2 evolution experiments, enhanced mZVAl surface corrosion at the solid-liquid interface of mZVAl/SC system was verified. SC participated in the complexation corrosion reaction with surface inert film to form Al[Cit] complex, which made internal Al0 active sites exposed and then promoted mZVAl corrosion. In the five consecutive reuse experiments of mZVAl, CT can be completely degraded, which indicates that mZVAl, with the help of SC, has excellent sustainable utilization efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Li
- Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Qingdao 266100, China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Yuqi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Qingdao 266100, China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Shiying Yang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Qingdao 266100, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Geological Engineering (MEGE), Qingdao 266100, China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China.
| | - Yichao Xue
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Junqing Liu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Manqian Wang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Shaojie Liu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Youyuan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Qingdao 266100, China.
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Herrero J, Puigserver D, Nijenhuis I, Kuntze K, Parker BL, Carmona JM. The role of ecotones in the dehalogenation of chloroethenes in alluvial fan aquifers. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:26871-26884. [PMID: 33495954 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-12538-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The presence of ecotones in transition zones between geological strata (e.g. layers of gravel and sand interbedded with layers of silt in distal alluvial fan deposits) in aquifers plays a significant role in regulating the flux of matter and energy between compartments. Ecotones are characterised by steep physicochemical and biological gradients and considerable biological diversity. However, the link between organic pollutants and degradation potential in ecotones has scarcely been studied. The aim of this study is to relate the presence of ecotones with the dehalogenation of chloroethenes. A field site was selected where chloroethene contamination occurs in a granular aquifer with geological heterogeneities. The site is monitored by multilevel and conventional wells. Groundwater samples were analysed by chemical, isotopic, and molecular techniques. The main results were as follows: (1) two ecotones were characterised in the source area, one in the upper part of the aquifer and the second in the transition zone to the bottom aquitard, where the aged pool is located; (2) the ecotone located in the transition zone to the bottom aquitard has greater microbial diversity, due to higher geological heterogeneities; (3) both ecotones show the reductive dehalogenation of perchloroethylene and trichloroethylene; and (4) these ecotones are the main zones of the reductive dehalogenation of the pollutants, given the more reductive conditions at the centre of the plume. These findings suggest that ecotones are responsible for natural attenuation, where oxic conditions prevailed at the aquifer and bioremediation strategies could be applied more effectively in these zones to promote complete reductive dehalogenation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jofre Herrero
- Department of Minerology, Petrology and Applied Geology, Faculty of Earth Sciences, The Water Research Institute (IdRA), University of Barcelona, C/ Martí Franquès sn, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Diana Puigserver
- Serra Húnter Tenure-elegible Lecturer, Department of Minerology, Petrology and Applied Geology, Faculty of Earth Sciences, The Water Research Institute (IdRA), University of Barcelona, C/ Martí Franquès sn, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ivonne Nijenhuis
- Department of Isotope Biogeochemistry (ISOBIO), UFZ Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig-Halle, Permoserstr. 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Kevin Kuntze
- Department of Isotope Biogeochemistry (ISOBIO), UFZ Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig-Halle, Permoserstr. 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany
- Isodetect, Deutscher Platz 5b, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Beth L Parker
- School of Engineering, University of Guelph 50, Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - José M Carmona
- Department of Minerology, Petrology and Applied Geology, Faculty of Earth Sciences, The Water Research Institute (IdRA), University of Barcelona, C/ Martí Franquès sn, Barcelona, Spain
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11
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Yuan Q, Wang S, Wang X, Li N. Biosynthesis of vivianite from microbial extracellular electron transfer and environmental application. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 762:143076. [PMID: 33129535 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Vivianite (Fe3(PO4)2·8H2O) is a common hydrous ferrous phosphate mineral which often occurs in reductive conditions, especially anoxic non-sulfide environment containing high concentrations of ferrous iron (Fe2+) and orthophosphate (PO43-). Vivianite is an important product of dissimilatory iron reduction and a promising route for phosphorus recovery from wastewater. Its formation is closely related to the extracellular electron transfer (EET), a key mechanism for microbial respiration and a crucial explanation for the reduction of metal oxides in soil and sediments. Despite of the natural ubiquity, easy accessibility and attractive economic value, the application value of vivianite has not received much attention. This review introduces the characteristics, occurrence and biosynthesis of vivianite from microbial EET, and systematically analyzes the application value of vivianite in the environmental field, including immobilization of heavy metals (HMs), dechlorination of carbon tetrachloride (CT), sedimentary phosphorus sequestration and eutrophication alleviation. Additionally, its potential functions as a slow-release fertilizer are discussed as well. In general, vivianite is expected to make more contributions to the future scientific research, especially the solution of environmental problems. Overcoming the lack of understanding and some technical limitations will be beneficial to the further application of vivianite in environmental field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Yuan
- Tianjin Key Lab of Indoor Air Environmental Quality Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, No. 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Shu Wang
- Tianjin Key Lab of Indoor Air Environmental Quality Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, No. 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Xin Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, No. 38 Tongyan Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Nan Li
- Tianjin Key Lab of Indoor Air Environmental Quality Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, No. 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, Tianjin 300072, China.
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You X, Liu S, Dai C, Guo Y, Zhong G, Duan Y. Contaminant occurrence and migration between high- and low-permeability zones in groundwater systems: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 743:140703. [PMID: 32758831 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Revised: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In recent decades, water quality problems that impact human health, especially groundwater pollution, have been intensely studied, and this has contributed to new ideas and policies around the world such as Low Impact Development (LID) and Superfund legislation. The fundamental to many of these problems is pollutant occurrence and migration in saturated porous media, especially in groundwater. Such environments often contain contrasting zones of high and low permeability with significant differences in hydraulic conductivity (~10-4 and 10-8 m/s, respectively). High-permeability zones (HPZs) represent the primary pathways for pollutant transport in groundwater, while low-permeability zones (LPZs) are often diffusion dominated and serve as both sinks and sources (i.e., via back-diffusion) of pollutants over many decades. In this review, concepts and mechanisms of solute source depletion, contaminant accumulation, and back-diffusion in high- and low-permeability systems are presented, and new insights gained from both experimental and numerical studies are analyzed and summarized. We find that effluent monitoring and novel image analysis techniques have been adroitly used to investigate temporal and spatial evolutions of contaminant concentration; simultaneously, mathematical models are constantly upscaled to verify, optimize and extend the experimental data. However, the spatial concentration data during back-diffusion lacks diversity due to the limitations of pollutant species in studies, the microscopic mechanisms controlling pollutant transformation are poorly understood, and the impacts of these reactions on contaminant back-diffusion are rarely considered. Hence, most simulation models have not been adequately validated and are not capable of accurately predicting pollutant fate and cleanup in realistic heterogeneous aquifers. Based on these, some hypotheses and perspectives are mentioned to promote the investigation of contaminant migration in high- and low-permeability systems in groundwater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueji You
- Department of Hydraulic Engineering, College of Civil Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China; Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 301 E. Dean Keeton St., Stop C1786, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Shuguang Liu
- Department of Hydraulic Engineering, College of Civil Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China; The Yangtze River Water Environment Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Chaomeng Dai
- Department of Hydraulic Engineering, College of Civil Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China.
| | - Yiping Guo
- Department of Civil Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Guihui Zhong
- Department of Hydraulic Engineering, College of Civil Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yanping Duan
- School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, No. 100 Guilin Road, Shanghai 200234, China.
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Cheng Y, Zhou W, Zhu L. Enhanced reactivity and mechanisms of mesoporous carbon supported zero-valent iron composite for trichloroethylene removal in batch studies. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 718:137256. [PMID: 32086086 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Revised: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Ordered mesoporous carbon (CMK-3) supported nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) composites were synthesized and used for the removal of trichloroethylene (TCE). The nZVI/CMK-3 composites exhibited high TCE removal efficiency in a batch study, which was 2.5 times that of nZVI alone. They also displayed excellent reusability, with 65.2% removal efficiency after three treatments. Dechlorination dominated the process of TCE removal (75.3%-79.4%), whereas adsorption accounted for 20.6%-24.7%. CMK-3 enhanced the dechlorination rate and efficiency of TCE by nZVI, and the enhancement was favored with the increase in CMK-3 content. The Tafel analysis and H2 evolution experiments indicated the mechanisms of CMK-3 action in nZVI/CMK-3 composites for TCE removal. CMK-3 serves as a direct electron transfer, whereas CO was identified as the functional group involved; the other involved the acceleration of redox reaction of atomic hydrogen owing to the superior hydrogen adsorption capacity of CMK-3. The present study provides new perspectives for seeking more efficient nZVI to reinforce the dechlorination process; however, more studies are warranted in the long-term performance of nZVI/CMK-3 in the aquifer condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Cheng
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wenjun Zhou
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lizhong Zhu
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Hangzhou, China.
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