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Kashani M, Engle MA, Kent DB, Gregston T, Cozzarelli IM, Mumford AC, Varonka MS, Harris CR, Akob DM. Illegal dumping of oil and gas wastewater alters arid soil microbial communities. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0149023. [PMID: 38294246 PMCID: PMC10880632 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01490-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
The Permian Basin, underlying southeast New Mexico and west Texas, is one of the most productive oil and gas (OG) provinces in the United States. Oil and gas production yields large volumes of wastewater with complex chemistries, and the environmental health risks posed by these OG wastewaters on sensitive desert ecosystems are poorly understood. Starting in November 2017, 39 illegal dumps, as defined by federal and state regulations, of OG wastewater were identified in southeastern New Mexico, releasing ~600,000 L of fluid onto dryland soils. To evaluate the impacts of these releases, we analyzed changes in soil geochemistry and microbial community composition by comparing soils from within OG wastewater dump-affected samples to unaffected zones. We observed significant changes in soil geochemistry for all dump-affected compared with control samples, reflecting the residual salts and hydrocarbons from the OG-wastewater release (e.g., enriched in sodium, chloride, and bromide). Microbial community structure significantly (P < 0.01) differed between dump and control zones, with soils from dump areas having significantly (P < 0.01) lower alpha diversity and differences in phylogenetic composition. Dump-affected soil samples showed an increase in halophilic and halotolerant taxa, including members of the Marinobacteraceae, Halomonadaceae, and Halobacteroidaceae, suggesting that the high salinity of the dumped OG wastewater was exerting a strong selective pressure on microbial community structure. Taxa with high similarity to known hydrocarbon-degrading organisms were also detected in the dump-affected soil samples. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential for OG wastewater exposure to change the geochemistry and microbial community dynamics of arid soils.IMPORTANCEThe long-term environmental health impacts resulting from releases of oil and gas (OG) wastewater, typically brines with varying compositions of ions, hydrocarbons, and other constituents, are understudied. This is especially true for sensitive desert ecosystems, where soil microbes are key primary producers and drivers of nutrient cycling. We found that releases of OG wastewater can lead to shifts in microbial community composition and function toward salt- and hydrocarbon-tolerant taxa that are not typically found in desert soils, thus altering the impacted dryland soil ecosystem. Loss of key microbial taxa, such as those that catalyze organic carbon cycling, increase arid soil fertility, promote plant health, and affect soil moisture retention, could result in cascading effects across the sensitive desert ecosystem. By characterizing environmental changes due to releases of OG wastewater to soils overlying the Permian Basin, we gain further insights into how OG wastewater may alter dryland soil microbial functions and ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitra Kashani
- U.S. Geological Survey, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston, Virginia, USA
| | - Mark A Engle
- Department of Earth, Environmental and Resource Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
| | - Douglas B Kent
- U.S. Geological Survey, Earth Systems Processes Division, Menlo Park, California, USA
| | | | - Isabelle M Cozzarelli
- U.S. Geological Survey, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston, Virginia, USA
| | - Adam C Mumford
- U.S. Geological Survey, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Matthew S Varonka
- U.S. Geological Survey, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston, Virginia, USA
| | - Cassandra R Harris
- U.S. Geological Survey, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston, Virginia, USA
| | - Denise M Akob
- U.S. Geological Survey, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston, Virginia, USA
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Zhou Z, Wu F, Tong Y, Zhang S, Li L, Cheng F, Zhang B, Zeng X, Yu Z, You J. Toxicity and chemical characterization of shale gas wastewater discharged to the receiving water: Evidence from toxicity identification evaluation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169510. [PMID: 38154638 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Flowback and produced water (FPW) generated from shale gas extraction is a complex mixture consisting of injected drilling fluid, deep formation water, and byproducts of downhole reactions. Limited knowledge is available regarding the impact of discharged FPW on surface water in China. With the development of shale gas exploitation, this emphasizes an urgent need for comprehensive assessments and stringent regulations to ensure the safe disposal of shale gas extraction-related wastewater. Herein, we explored potential impacts of treated shale gas wastewater discharged into a local river in southwest China through toxicity identification evaluation (TIE). Results revealed that organics and particulates significantly contributed to the overall toxicity of the treated FPW wastewater. Through target and suspect chemical analyses, various categories of organic contaminants were detected, including alkanes, aromatic hydrocarbons, biocides, phenols, and phthalates. Furthermore, non-target analysis uncovered the presence of surfactant-related contaminants in tissues of exposed organisms, but their contribution to the observed toxicity was unclear due to the lack of effect data for these compounds. Higher toxicity was found at the discharge point compared with upstream sites; however, the toxicity was rapidly mitigated due to dilution in the receiving river, posing little impact on downstream areas. Our study highlighted the importance of monitoring toxicity and water quality of FPW effluent even though dilution could be a viable approach when the water volume in the discharge was small.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhimin Zhou
- School of Environment and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou 510655, China
| | - Fan Wu
- School of Environment and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
| | - Yujun Tong
- School of Environment and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Shaoqiong Zhang
- School of Environment and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Liang Li
- School of Environment and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Fei Cheng
- School of Environment and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Biao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environment and Resources, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Xiangying Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environment and Resources, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Zhiqiang Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environment and Resources, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Jing You
- School of Environment and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
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3
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Folkerts EJ, Snihur KN, Zhang Y, Martin JW, Alessi DS, Goss GG. Embryonic cardio-respiratory impairments in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) following exposure to hydraulic fracturing flowback and produced water. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 310:119886. [PMID: 35934150 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119886] [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: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
During hydraulic fracturing, wastewaters - termed flowback and produced water (FPW) - are created as a by-product during hydrocarbon extraction. Given the large volumes of FPW that a single well can produce, and the history of FPW release to surface water bodies, it is imperative to understand the hazards that hydraulic fracturing and FPW pose to aquatic biota. Using rainbow trout embryos as model organisms, we investigated impacts to cardio-respiratory system development and function following acute (48 h) and sub-chronic (28-day) FPW exposure by examining occurrences of developmental deformities, rates of embryonic respiration (MO2), and changes in expression of critical cardiac-specific genes. FPW-exposed embryos had significantly increased rates of pericardial edema, yolk-sac edema, and tail/trunk curvatures at hatch. Furthermore, when exposed at three days post-fertilization (dpf), acute 5% FPW exposures significantly increased embryonic MO2 through development until 15 dpf, where a switch to significantly reduced MO2 rates was subsequently recorded. A similar trend was observed during sub-chronic 1% FPW exposures. Interestingly, at certain specific developmental timepoints, previous salinity exposure seemed to affect embryonic MO2; a result not previously observed. Following acute FPW exposures, embryonic genes for cardiac development and function were significantly altered, although at termination of sub-chronic exposures, significant changes to these same genes were not found. Together, our evidence of induced developmental deformities, modified embryonic MO2, and altered cardiac transcript expression suggest that cardio-respiratory tissues are toxicologically targeted following FPW exposure in developing rainbow trout. These results may be helpful to regulatory bodies when developing hazard identification and risk management protocols concerning hydraulic fracturing activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik J Folkerts
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E9, Canada.
| | - Katherine N Snihur
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E3, Canada
| | - Yifeng Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2G3, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jonathan W Martin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2G3, Alberta, Canada; Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Daniel S Alessi
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E3, Canada
| | - Greg G Goss
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E9, Canada; NRC- University of Alberta Nanotechnology Initiative, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2M9, Canada
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4
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McDevitt B, Jubb AM, Varonka MS, Blondes MS, Engle MA, Gallegos TJ, Shelton JL. Dissolved organic matter within oil and gas associated wastewaters from U.S. unconventional petroleum plays: Comparisons and consequences for disposal and reuse. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 838:156331. [PMID: 35640759 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156331] [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: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater generated during petroleum extraction (produced water) may contain high concentrations of dissolved organics due to their intimate association with organic-rich source rocks, expelled petroleum, and organic additives to fluids used for hydraulic fracturing of unconventional (e.g., shale) reservoirs. Dissolved organic matter (DOM) within produced water represents a challenge for treatment prior to beneficial reuse. High salinities characteristic of produced water, often 10× greater than seawater, coupled to the complex DOM ensemble create analytical obstacles with typical methods. Excitation-emission matrix spectroscopy (EEMS) can rapidly characterize the fluorescent component of DOM with little impact from matrix effects. We applied EEMS to evaluate DOM composition in 18 produced water samples from six North American unconventional petroleum plays. Represented reservoirs include the Eagle Ford Shale (Gulf Coast Basin), Wolfcamp/Cline Shales (Permian Basin), Marcellus Shale and Utica/Point Pleasant (Appalachian Basin), Niobrara Chalk (Denver-Julesburg Basin), and the Bakken Formation (Williston Basin). Results indicate that the relative chromophoric DOM composition in unconventional produced water may distinguish different lithologies, thermal maturity of resource types (e.g., heavy oil vs. dry gas), and fracturing fluid compositions, but is generally insensitive to salinity and DOM concentration. These results are discussed with perspective toward DOM influence on geochemical processes and the potential for targeted organic compound treatment for the reuse of produced water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie McDevitt
- U.S. Geological Survey, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston, VA 20192, United States.
| | - Aaron M Jubb
- U.S. Geological Survey, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston, VA 20192, United States
| | - Matthew S Varonka
- U.S. Geological Survey, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston, VA 20192, United States
| | - Madalyn S Blondes
- U.S. Geological Survey, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston, VA 20192, United States
| | - Mark A Engle
- Department of Geological Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, United States
| | - Tanya J Gallegos
- U.S. Geological Survey, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston, VA 20192, United States
| | - Jenna L Shelton
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, Reston, VA 20192, United States
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5
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Zhou S, Li Z, Peng S, Zhang D, Li W, Hong M, Li X, Yang J, Lu P. Combining eDNA and morphological approaches to reveal the impacts of long-term discharges of shale gas wastewaters on receiving waters. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 222:118869. [PMID: 35870390 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The potential threats of shale gas wastewater discharges to receiving waters is of great concern. In this study, chemical analyses and biomonitoring were performed three times in a small river that received treated wastewater over a two-year period. The results of chemical analyses showed that the concentrations of chloride, conductivity, barium, and strontium increased at the discharge site, but their concentrations decreased considerably farther downstream (≥500 m). The concentrations of toxic organic compounds (16 US EPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and 6 priority phthalates), trace metals (strontium, arsenic, zinc, copper, chromium, lead, cadmium, nickel, and neodymium), and natural radionuclides (40K, 238U, 226Ra, and 232Th) were comparable to the corresponding background values or did not exhibit obvious accumulation in sediments with continued discharge. Morphological and environmental DNA approaches were used to reveal the potential effects of wastewater discharges on aquatic ecosystems. The results showed that the community structure of benthic invertebrates was not altered by the long-term discharges of shale gas wastewaters. However, the biodiversity indices (richness and Shannon) from the two approaches showed inconsistencies, which were caused by multiple reasons, and that substrates had a strong influence on the morphological biodiversity indices. A multimetric index was proposed to further analyze morphological and environmental DNA data, and the results showed no significant difference between the upstream and downstream sites. Generally, the chemical and biological results both demonstrated that the discharges of shale gas wastewaters had limited impacts on river ecosystems within two years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shangbo Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Mine Disaster Dynamics and Control, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China; Key Laboratory of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China; Department of Environmental Science, School of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China
| | - Zhiqiang Li
- Department of Environmental Science, School of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China
| | - Shuchan Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Mine Disaster Dynamics and Control, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China; Key Laboratory of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China; Department of Environmental Science, School of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China.
| | - Daijun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Mine Disaster Dynamics and Control, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China; Key Laboratory of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China; Department of Environmental Science, School of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China
| | - Weichang Li
- Department of Environmental Science, School of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China
| | - Mingyu Hong
- Department of Environmental Science, School of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China
| | - Xingquan Li
- Department of Environmental Science, School of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China
| | - Jianghua Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control & Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Peili Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Mine Disaster Dynamics and Control, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China; Key Laboratory of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China; Department of Environmental Science, School of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China.
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6
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Zhong C, Nesbø CL, von Gunten K, Zhang Y, Shao X, Jin R, Konhauser KO, Goss GG, Martin JW, He Y, Qian PY, Lanoil BD, Alessi DS. Complex impacts of hydraulic fracturing return fluids on soil microbial community respiration, structure, and functional potentials. Environ Microbiol 2022; 24:4108-4123. [PMID: 35416402 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The consequences of soils exposed to hydraulic fracturing (HF) return fluid, often collectively termed flowback and produced water (FPW), are poorly understood, even though soils are a common receptor of FPW spills. Here, we investigate the impacts on soil microbiota exposed to FPW collected from the Montney Formation of western Canada. We measured soil respiration, microbial community structure, and functional potentials under FPW exposure across a range of concentrations, exposure time, and soil types (luvisol and chernozem). We find that soil type governs microbial community response upon FPW exposure. Within each soil, FPW exposure led to reduced biotic soil respiration, and shifted microbial community structure and functional potentials. We detect substantially higher species richness and more unique functional genes in FPW-exposed soils than in FPW-unexposed soils, with metagenome-assembled genomes (e.g., Marinobacter persicus) from luvisol soil exposed to concentrated FPW being most similar to genomes from HF/FPW sites. Our data demonstrate the complex impacts of microbial communities following FPW exposure, and highlight the site-specific effects in evaluation of spills and agricultural reuse of FPW on the normal soil functions. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Zhong
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E3, Canada.,Department of Ocean Science and Hong Kong Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China.,Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou, Guangzhou, China
| | - Camilla L Nesbø
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Konstantin von Gunten
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E3, Canada
| | - Yifeng Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G3, Canada
| | - Xiaoqing Shao
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - Rong Jin
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E3, Canada
| | - Kurt O Konhauser
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E3, Canada
| | - Greg G Goss
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Jonathan W Martin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G3, Canada
| | - Yuhe He
- School of Energy and Environment and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Pei-Yuan Qian
- Department of Ocean Science and Hong Kong Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China.,Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou, Guangzhou, China
| | - Brian D Lanoil
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Daniel S Alessi
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E3, Canada
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7
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Hu L, Jiang W, Xu X, Wang H, Carroll KC, Xu P, Zhang Y. Toxicological characterization of produced water from the Permian Basin. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 815:152943. [PMID: 35007582 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.152943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Revised: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Produced water (PW) is a hypersaline waste stream generated from the shale oil and gas industry, consisting of numerous anthropogenic and geogenic compounds. Despite prior geochemical characterization, the comprehensive toxicity assessment is lacking for evaluating treatment technologies and the beneficial use of PW. In this study, a suite of in vitro toxicity assays using various aquatic organisms (luminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri, fish gill cell line RTgill-W1, and microalgae Scenedesmus obliquus) were developed to investigate the toxicological characterizations of PW from the Permian Basin. The exposure to PW, PW inorganic fraction (PW-IF), and PW salt control (PW-SC) at 30-50% dilutions caused significant toxicological effects in all model species, revealing the high salinity was the foremost toxicological driver in PW. In addition, the toxicity level of PW was usually higher than that of PW-IF, suggesting that organic contaminants might also play a critical role in PW toxicity. When comparing the observed toxicity with associated chemical characterizations in different PW samples, strong correlations were found between them since higher concentrations of contaminants could generally result in higher toxicity towards exposed organisms. Furthermore, the toxicity results from the pretreated PW indicated that those in vitro toxicity assays had different sensitives to the chemical components present in PW. As expected, the combination of multiple pretreatments could lead to a more significant decrease in toxicity compared to the single pretreatment since the mixture of contaminants in PW might exhibit synergistic toxicity. Overall, the current work is expected to enhance our understanding of the potential toxicological impacts of PW to aquatic ecosystems and the relationships between the chemical profiles and observed toxicity in PW, which might be conducive to the establishment of monitoring, remediation, treatment, and reuse protocols for PW.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Hu
- Department of Civil Engineering, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA
| | - Wenbin Jiang
- Department of Civil Engineering, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA
| | - Xuesong Xu
- Department of Civil Engineering, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA
| | - Huiyao Wang
- Department of Civil Engineering, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA
| | - Kenneth C Carroll
- Department of Plant and Environmental Science, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA
| | - Pei Xu
- Department of Civil Engineering, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA
| | - Yanyan Zhang
- Department of Civil Engineering, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA.
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8
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Manikandan S, Subbaiya R, Saravanan M, Ponraj M, Selvam M, Pugazhendhi A. A critical review of advanced nanotechnology and hybrid membrane based water recycling, reuse, and wastewater treatment processes. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 289:132867. [PMID: 34774910 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
One of the modern challenges is to provide clean and affordable drinking water. Water scarcity is caused by the growing population in the world and pollutants contaminate all remaining water sources. Innovative water treatment solutions have been provided by nanotechnology. Microorganisms, organic suspensions, and inorganic heavy metal ions, among other things, are common water contaminants. Since antiquity, a wide range of water clean-up methods have been employed to address this issue. Breakthroughs in water purification procedures have occurred during the previous four decades, with the most significant one being the use of nanomaterials and nanomembranes. Nanoparticles and nanomembranes (polymeric membranes) have recently been used in engineered materials (TiO2, ZnO, CuO, Ag, CNT's and mixed oxide nanoparticles, for example). Engineered nanomembranes, nanocomposites and nanoparticles have been used in this review article's discussion of water purification technologies. The review also discusses the risk and solutions of using nanoparticles and nanocomposites in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sivasubramanian Manikandan
- Department of Biotechnology, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha Nagar, Thandalam, Chennai, 602 105, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Ramasamy Subbaiya
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, The Copperbelt University, Riverside, Jambo Drive, P O Box, 21692, Kitwe, Zambia
| | - Muthupandian Saravanan
- Department of Pharmacology, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Chennai, 60007, Chennai, India.
| | - Mohanadoss Ponraj
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, The Copperbelt University, Riverside, Jambo Drive, P O Box, 21692, Kitwe, Zambia
| | - Masilamani Selvam
- Department of Biotechnology, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Jeppiaar Nagar, Chennai, 600 095, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Arivalagan Pugazhendhi
- School of Renewable Energy, Maejo University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan.
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9
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McLaughlin MC, McDevitt B, Miller H, Amundson KK, Wilkins MJ, Warner NR, Blotevogel J, Borch T. Constructed wetlands for polishing oil and gas produced water releases. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2021; 23:1961-1976. [PMID: 34723304 DOI: 10.1039/d1em00311a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Produced water (PW) is the largest waste stream associated with oil and gas (O&G) operations and contains petroleum hydrocarbons, heavy metals, salts, naturally occurring radioactive materials and any remaining chemical additives. In some areas in Wyoming, constructed wetlands (CWs) are used to polish PW downstream of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) PW release points. In recent years, there has been increased interest in finding lower cost options, such as CWs, for PW treatment. The goal of this study was to understand the efficacy of removal and environmental fate of O&G organic chemical additives in CW systems used to treat PW released for agricultural beneficial reuse. To achieve this goal, we analyzed water and sediment samples for organic O&G chemical additives and conducted 16S rRNA gene sequencing for microbial community characterization on three such systems in Wyoming, USA. Three surfactants (polyethylene glycols, polypropylene glycols, and nonylphenol ethoxylates) and one biocide (alkyldimethylammonium chloride) were detected in all three PW discharges and >94% removal of all species from PW was achieved after treatment in two CWs in series. These O&G extraction additives were detected in all sediment samples collected downstream of PW discharges. Chemical and microbial analyses indicated that sorption and biodegradation were the main attenuation mechanisms for these species. Additionally, all three discharges showed a trend of increasingly diverse, but similar, microbial communities with greater distance from NPDES PW discharge points. Results of this study can be used to inform design and management of constructed wetlands for produced water treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly C McLaughlin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University, 1320 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA.
| | - Bonnie McDevitt
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 212 Sackett Building, University Park, PA 16801, USA
| | - Hannah Miller
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, 1170 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA
| | - Kaela K Amundson
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, 1170 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA
| | - Michael J Wilkins
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, 1170 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA
| | - Nathaniel R Warner
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 212 Sackett Building, University Park, PA 16801, USA
| | - Jens Blotevogel
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University, 1320 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA.
| | - Thomas Borch
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University, 1320 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA.
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, 1170 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, 1872 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80523, USA
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10
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Characterization and Treatment Technologies Applied for Produced Water in Qatar. WATER 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/w13243573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Qatar is one of the major natural gas (NG) producing countries, which has the world’s third-largest NG reserves besides the largest supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Since the produced water (PW) generated in the oil and gas industry is considered as the largest waste stream, cost-effective PW management becomes fundamentally essential. The oil/gas industries in Qatar produce large amounts of PW daily, hence the key challenges facing these industries reducing the volume of PW injected in disposal wells by a level of 50% for ensuring the long-term sustainability of the reservoir. Moreover, it is important to study the characteristics of PW to determine the appropriate method to treat it and then use it for various applications such as irrigation, or dispose of it without harming the environment. This review paper targets to highlight the generation of PW in Qatar, as well as discuss the characteristics of chemical, physical, and biological treatment techniques in detail. These processes and methods discussed are not only applied by Qatari companies, but also by other companies associated or in collaboration with those in Qatar. Finally, case studies from different companies in Qatar and the challenges of treating the PW are discussed. From the different studies analyzed, various techniques as well as sequencing of different techniques were noted to be employed for the effective treatment of PW.
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11
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Viana TS, Rialto TCR, Brito JFD, Micas AFD, Abe FR, Savazzi EA, Boldrin Zanoni MVB, de Oliveira DP. Effects of water produced by oil segment on aquatic organisms after treatment using advanced oxidative processes. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART A 2021; 84:901-913. [PMID: 34259612 DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2021.1951910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The water produced (PW) by the petroleum industry is a potential contaminant to aquatic biota, due to its complex mixture that may contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organic chemical compounds, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX), metals and other components that are known to be toxic. The aim of this investigation was to examine the acute toxicity produced by a PW sample in aquatic organisms Vibrio fischeri and Daphnia similis prior to and after 4 treatments using advanced oxidative processes such as photocatalysis, photoelectrocatalysis, ozonation and photoelectrocatalytic ozonation. Data demonstrated that exposure to PW was toxic to both organisms, as evidenced by reduced luminescence in bacterium Vibrio fischeri and induced immobility in Daphnia similis. After treatment of PW with 4 different techniques, the PW remained toxic for both tested organisms. However, photoelectrocatalysis was more efficient in decreasing toxicity attributed to PW sample. Therefore, data demonstrate the importance of treating PW for later disposal in the environment in order to mitigate ecotoxicological impacts. Further photoelectrocatalysis appeared to be a promising tool for treating PW samples prior to disposal and exposure of aquatic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- T S Viana
- Department of Clinical Analyses, Toxicology and Food Science, University of São Paulo (USP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - T C R Rialto
- Department of Clinical Analyses, Toxicology and Food Science, University of São Paulo (USP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - J F D Brito
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Chemistry Institute, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - A F D Micas
- Companhia Ambiental do Estado de São Paulo (CETESB), Divisão de Laboratório de Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - F R Abe
- Department of Clinical Analyses, Toxicology and Food Science, University of São Paulo (USP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - E A Savazzi
- Companhia Ambiental do Estado de São Paulo (CETESB), Divisão de Laboratório de Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - M V B Boldrin Zanoni
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Chemistry Institute, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, National Institute for Alternative Technologies of Detection, Toxicological Evaluation and Removal of Micropollutants and Radioactivies (INCT-DATREM), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Institute of Chemistry, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - D P de Oliveira
- Department of Clinical Analyses, Toxicology and Food Science, University of São Paulo (USP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, National Institute for Alternative Technologies of Detection, Toxicological Evaluation and Removal of Micropollutants and Radioactivies (INCT-DATREM), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Institute of Chemistry, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
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12
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Zhong C, Zolfaghari A, Hou D, Goss GG, Lanoil BD, Gehman J, Tsang DCW, He Y, Alessi DS. Comparison of the Hydraulic Fracturing Water Cycle in China and North America: A Critical Review. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:7167-7185. [PMID: 33970611 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c06119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
There is considerable debate about the sustainability of the hydraulic fracturing (HF) water cycle in North America. Recently, this debate has expanded to China, where HF activities continue to grow. Here, we provide a critical review of the HF water cycle in China, including water withdrawal practices and flowback and produced water (FPW) management and their environmental impacts, with a comprehensive comparison to the U.S. and Canada (North America). Water stress in arid regions, as well as water management challenges, FPW contamination of aquatic and soil systems, and induced seismicity are all impacts of the HF water cycle in China, the U.S., and Canada. In light of experience gained in North America, standardized practices for analyzing and reporting FPW chemistry and microbiology in China are needed to inform its efficient and safe treatment, discharge and reuse, and identification of potential contaminants. Additionally, conducting ecotoxicological studies is an essential next step to fully reveal the impacts of accidental FPW releases into aquatic and soil ecosystems in China. From a policy perspective, the development of China's unconventional resources lags behind North America's in terms of overall regulation, especially with regard to water withdrawal, FPW management, and routine monitoring. Our study suggests that common environmental risks exist within the world's two largest HF regions, and practices used in North America may help prevent or mitigate adverse effects in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Zhong
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Ashkan Zolfaghari
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Deyi Hou
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Greg G Goss
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Brian D Lanoil
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Joel Gehman
- Department of Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Management, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Daniel C W Tsang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yuhe He
- School of Energy and Environment and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Daniel S Alessi
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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13
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McDevitt B, McLaughlin MC, Blotevogel J, Borch T, Warner NR. Oil & gas produced water retention ponds as potential passive treatment for radium removal and beneficial reuse. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2021; 23:501-518. [PMID: 33877214 DOI: 10.1039/d0em00413h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Oil and gas (O&G) extraction generates large volumes of produced water (PW) in regions that are often water-stressed. In Wyoming, generators are permitted under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program to discharge O&G PW for beneficial use. In one Wyoming study region, downstream of the NPDES facilities exist naturally occurring wetlands referred to herein as produced water retention ponds (PWRPs). Previously, it was found that dissolved radium (Ra) and organic contaminants are removed within 30 km of the discharges and higher-resolution sampling was required to understand contaminant attenuation mechanisms. In this study, we sampled three NPDES discharge facilities, five PWRPs, and a reference background wetland not impacted by O&G PW disposal. Water samples, grab sediments, sediment cores and vegetation were collected. No inorganic PW constituents were abated through the PWRP series but Ra was shown to accumulate within PWRP grab sediments, upwards of 2721 Bq kg-1, compared to downstream sites. Ra mineral association with depth in the sediment profile is likely controlled by the S cycle under varying microbial communities and redox conditions. Under anoxic conditions, common in wetlands, Ra was available as an exchangeable ion, similar to Ca, Ba and Sr, and S was mostly water-soluble. 226Ra concentration ratios in vegetation samples, normalizing vegetation Ra to sediment Ra, indicated that ratios were highest in sediments containing less exchangeable 226Ra. Sequential leaching data paired with redox potentials suggest that oxic conditions are necessary to contain Ra in recalcitrant sediment minerals and prevent mobility and bioavailability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie McDevitt
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 212 Sackett Building, University Park, PA 16801, USA.
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14
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Cozzarelli IM, Kent DB, Briggs M, Engle MA, Benthem A, Skalak KJ, Mumford AC, Jaeschke J, Farag A, Lane JW, Akob DM. Geochemical and geophysical indicators of oil and gas wastewater can trace potential exposure pathways following releases to surface waters. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 755:142909. [PMID: 33131866 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Releases of oil and gas (OG) wastewaters can have complex effects on stream-water quality and downstream organisms, due to sediment-water interactions and groundwater/surface water exchange. Previously, elevated concentrations of sodium (Na), chloride (Cl), barium (Ba), strontium (Sr), and lithium (Li), and trace hydrocarbons were determined to be key markers of OG wastewater releases when combined with Sr and radium (Ra) isotopic compositions. Here, we assessed the persistence of an OG wastewater spill in a creek in North Dakota using a combination of geochemical measurements and modeling, hydrologic analysis, and geophysical investigations. OG wastewater comprised 0.1 to 0.3% of the stream-water compositions at downstream sites in February and June 2015 but could not be quantified in 2016 and 2017. However, OG-wastewater markers persisted in sediments and pore water for 2.5 years after the spill and up to 7.2-km downstream from the spill site. Concentrations of OG wastewater constituents were highly variable depending on the hydrologic conditions. Electromagnetic measurements indicated substantially higher electrical conductivity under the bank adjacent to a seep 7.2 km downstream from the spill site. Geomorphic investigations revealed mobilization of sediment is an important contaminant transport process. Labile Ba, Ra, Sr, and ammonium (NH4) concentrations extracted from sediments indicated sediments are a long-term reservoir of these constituents, both in the creek and on the floodplain. Using the drivers of ecological effects identified at this intensively studied site we identified 41 watersheds across the North Dakota landscape that may be subject to similar episodic inputs from OG wastewater spills. Effects of contaminants released to the environment during OG waste management activities remain poorly understood; however, analyses of Ra and Sr isotopic compositions, as well as trace inorganic and organic compound concentrations at these sites in pore-water provide insights into potentials for animal and human exposures well outside source-remediation zones.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Douglas B Kent
- U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Martin Briggs
- U.S. Geological Survey, 11 Sherman Place, Unit 5015, Storrs Mansfield, CT 06269, USA
| | - Mark A Engle
- Dept. of Geological Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, TX 79968, USA
| | - Adam Benthem
- U.S. Geological Survey, New England Water Science Center, 331 Commerce Way, Suite 2, Pembroke, NH 03275, USA
| | | | - Adam C Mumford
- U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Dr., Reston, VA 20192, USA
| | - Jeanne Jaeschke
- U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Dr., Reston, VA 20192, USA
| | - Aïda Farag
- U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Jackson Field Research Station, 1475 Fish Hatchery Rd, Jackson, WY 83001 USA
| | - John W Lane
- U.S. Geological Survey, 11 Sherman Place, Unit 5015, Storrs Mansfield, CT 06269, USA
| | - Denise M Akob
- U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Dr., Reston, VA 20192, USA
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15
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Nie H, Nie M, Diwu Z, Wang L, Yan H, Bai X. Immobilization of Rhodococcus qingshengii strain FF on the surface of polyethylene and its adsorption and biodegradation of mimic produced water. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 403:124075. [PMID: 33265063 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Low pH and high salinity characteristic of produced water (PW) posed a big challenge for the direct biological treatment. The immobilization of R. qingshengii strain FF, which degraded petroleum effectively under low pH, and application of immobilized R. qingshengii strain FF in treating mimic PW was studied in this work. The immobilization of R. qingshengii strain FF on the surface of polyethylene foam (PEF), one type of waste packaging materials, was optimized using the response surface methodology. Under optimum conditions, cell density of R. qingshengii strain FF immobilized on the surface of PEF reached 388 mg (cells)/g(PEF). In addition, a few factors, including hydraulic retention time (HRT), pH and salinity, were studied for treating mimic PW using immobilized R. qingshengii strain FF. The result of this study demonstrated that TPH degradation efficiency of PW by immobilized R. qingshengii strain FF reached above 90% when HRT was longer than 8 h. Weak acid and high salinity conditions only moderately decreased TPH. Asphalt, alkanes and aromatic hydrocarbon contained in petroleum can be degraded to some extent. These results indicated that immobilized R. qingshengii strain FF can be used as a highly efficient strain which could be used in biological treatment of real PW.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyun Nie
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, No. 13 Yanta Road, Xi'an 710055, Shaanxi Province The People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Membrane Separation of Shaanxi Province, No. 13 Yanta Road, Xi'an 710055, Shaanxi Province The People's Republic of China
| | - Maiqian Nie
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, No. 13 Yanta Road, Xi'an 710055, Shaanxi Province The People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Membrane Separation of Shaanxi Province, No. 13 Yanta Road, Xi'an 710055, Shaanxi Province The People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhenjun Diwu
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, No. 13 Yanta Road, Xi'an 710055, Shaanxi Province The People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Membrane Separation of Shaanxi Province, No. 13 Yanta Road, Xi'an 710055, Shaanxi Province The People's Republic of China.
| | - Lei Wang
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, No. 13 Yanta Road, Xi'an 710055, Shaanxi Province The People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Membrane Separation of Shaanxi Province, No. 13 Yanta Road, Xi'an 710055, Shaanxi Province The People's Republic of China
| | - Han Yan
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, No. 13 Yanta Road, Xi'an 710055, Shaanxi Province The People's Republic of China
| | - Xuerui Bai
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, No. 13 Yanta Road, Xi'an 710055, Shaanxi Province The People's Republic of China
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16
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Shariq L, McLaughlin MC, Rehberg RA, Miller H, Blotevogel J, Borch T. Irrigation of wheat with select hydraulic fracturing chemicals: Evaluating plant uptake and growth impacts. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 273:116402. [PMID: 33482460 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.116402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Oilfield flowback and produced water (FPW) is a waste stream that may offer an alternative source of water for multiple beneficial uses. One practice gaining interest in several semi-arid states is the reuse of FPW for agricultural irrigation. However, it is unknown if the reuse of FPW on edible crops could increase health risks from ingestion of exposed food, or impact crop growth. A greenhouse experiment was conducted using wheat (Triticum aestivum) to investigate the uptake potential of select hydraulic fracturing additives known to be associated with health risks. The selected chemicals included acrylamide, didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC), diethanolamine, and tetramethylammonium chloride (TMAC). Mature wheat grain was extracted and analyzed by liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-QQQ) to quantify chemical uptake. Plant development observations were also documented to evaluate impacts of the chemicals on crop yield. Analytical results indicated that TMAC and diethanolamine had significantly higher uptake into both wheat grain and stems than control plants which were not exposed to the four chemicals under investigation. Acrylamide was measured in statistically higher concentrations in the stems only, while DDAC was not detected in grain or stems. Growth impacts included lodging in treated wheat plants due to increased stem height and grain weight, potentially resulting from increased nitrogen application. While analytical results show that uptake of select hydraulic fracturing chemicals in wheat grain and stems is measurable, reuse of FPW for irrigation in real world scenarios would likely result in less uptake because water would be subject to natural degradation, and often treatment and dilution practices. Nonetheless, based on the outstanding data gaps associated with this research topic, chemical specific treatment and regulatory safeguards are still recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linsey Shariq
- Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Molly C McLaughlin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University, 1320 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Rachelle A Rehberg
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, 1872 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Hannah Miller
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, 1170 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Jens Blotevogel
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University, 1320 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Thomas Borch
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University, 1320 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, 1872 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, 1170 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
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17
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Piotrowski PK, Tasker TL, Geeza TJ, McDevitt B, Gillikin DP, Warner NR, Dorman FL. Forensic tracers of exposure to produced water in freshwater mussels: a preliminary assessment of Ba, Sr, and cyclic hydrocarbons. Sci Rep 2020; 10:15416. [PMID: 32963276 PMCID: PMC7508860 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-72014-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydraulic fracturing is often criticized due in part to the potential degradation of ground and surface water quality by high-salinity produced water generated during well stimulation and production. This preliminary study evaluated the response of the freshwater mussel, Elliptio complanata, after exposure to produced water. A limited number of adult mussels were grown over an 8-week period in tanks dosed with produced water collected from a hydraulically fractured well. The fatty tissue and carbonate shells were assessed for accumulation of both inorganic and organic pollutants. Ba, Sr, and cyclic hydrocarbons indicated the potential to accumulate in the soft tissue of freshwater mussels following exposure to diluted oil and gas produced water. Exposed mussels showed accumulation of Ba in the soft tissue several hundred times above background water concentrations and increased concentrations of Sr. Cyclic hydrocarbons were detected in dosed mussels and principle component analysis of gas chromatograph time-of-flight mass spectrometer results could be a novel tool to help identify areas where aquatic organisms are impacted by oil and gas produced water, but larger studies with greater replication are necessary to confirm these results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulina K Piotrowski
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Travis L Tasker
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 212 Sackett Building, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.,Environmental Engineering, Saint Francis University, Loretto, PA, USA
| | - Thomas J Geeza
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 212 Sackett Building, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.,EES-14, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87544, USA
| | - Bonnie McDevitt
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 212 Sackett Building, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - David P Gillikin
- Department of Geology, Union College, 807 Union St, Schenectady, NY, 12308, USA
| | - Nathaniel R Warner
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 212 Sackett Building, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
| | - Frank L Dorman
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, 107 Althouse Lab, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
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18
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Kondash AJ, Redmon JH, Lambertini E, Feinstein L, Weinthal E, Cabrales L, Vengosh A. The impact of using low-saline oilfield produced water for irrigation on water and soil quality in California. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 733:139392. [PMID: 32446094 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The consecutive occurrence of drought and reduction in natural water availability over the past several decades requires searching for alternative water sources for the agriculture sector in California. One alternative source to supplement natural waters is oilfield produced water (OPW) generated from oilfields adjacent to agricultural areas. For over 25 years, OPW has been blended with surface water and used for irrigation in the Cawelo Water District of Kern County, as permitted by California Water Board policy. This study aims to evaluate the potential environmental impact, soil quality, and crop health risks of this policy. We examined a large spectrum of salts, metals, radionuclides (226Ra and 228Ra), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in OPW, blended OPW used for irrigation, groundwater, and soils irrigated by the three different water sources. We found that all studied water quality parameters in the blended OPW were below current California irrigation quality guidelines. Yet, soils irrigated by blended OPW showed higher salts and boron relative to soils irrigated by groundwater, implying long-term salts and boron accumulation. We did not, however, find systematic differences in 226Ra and 228Ra activities and DOC in soils irrigated by blended or unblended OPW relative to groundwater-irrigated soils. Based on a comparison of measured parameters, we conclude that the blended low-saline OPW used in the Cawelo Water District of California is of comparable quality to the local groundwater in the region. Nonetheless, the salt and boron soil accumulation can pose long-term risks to soil sodification, groundwater salinization, and plant health; as such, the use of low-saline OPW for irrigation use in California will require continual blending with fresh water and planting of boron-tolerant crops to avoid boron toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Kondash
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, United States; RTI International, 3040 E. Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, United States
| | | | - Elisabetta Lambertini
- RTI International, 3040 E. Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, United States
| | | | - Erika Weinthal
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, United States
| | - Luis Cabrales
- Department of Physics and Engineering, California State University Bakersfield, CA 93311, United States of America
| | - Avner Vengosh
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, United States.
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19
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Miller H, Dias K, Hare H, Borton MA, Blotevogel J, Danforth C, Wrighton KC, Ippolito JA, Borch T. Reusing oil and gas produced water for agricultural irrigation: Effects on soil health and the soil microbiome. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 722:137888. [PMID: 32208259 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Revised: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Produced water (PW) is a major waste-product of oil and gas production that some consider a viable agricultural irrigation water source. However, the presence of petroleum hydrocarbons, toxic metals and potentially high salinity of PW may be deleterious for soil health. Thus, we irrigated wheat with minimally treated PW to investigate effects on soil health, wheat growth, and the soil microbiome. Irrigation treatments included control irrigation water (IW), 1% and 5% PW dilutions (1% PW, 5% PW), and a saltwater solution with salinity equivalent to the 5% PW dilution (SW). Wheat was irrigated three times a week, for a total of 2.1 L per pot by harvest. During wheat growth, we measured plant physiological parameters, soil electrical conductivity, as well as profiled soil microbial diversity by performing 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) gene analysis. Soil health parameters were measured after harvest, including chemical, biological, physical, and nutrient properties that were used to calculate an overall soil health index (SQI). SQI analysis revealed that the SW and 5% PW treatments had significantly reduced soil health as compared to the control. Furthermore, the 16S rRNA gene analysis showed that the microbial community membership and structure was significantly different between irrigation treatments, highlighting shifts in the soil microbiome which may impact soil biochemical cycling. Both the SW- and 5% PW-treated wheat had reduced yields as compared to the control. Our results indicate that irrigating wheat with minimally treated PW may result in yield decreases, as well as reducing both overall soil health and soil microbial community diversity. Future large-scale field studies are needed to determine the long-term soil health effects of PW on different soil types and crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Miller
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, United States of America
| | - Kandis Dias
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, United States of America
| | - Hannah Hare
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, United States of America
| | - Mikayla A Borton
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, United States of America
| | - Jens Blotevogel
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, United States of America
| | - Cloelle Danforth
- Environmental Defense Fund, Boulder, CO 80302, United States of America
| | - Kelly C Wrighton
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, United States of America
| | - James A Ippolito
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, United States of America
| | - Thomas Borch
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, United States of America; Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, United States of America; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, United States of America.
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