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Tang L, Gao W, Lu Y, Tabelin CB, Liu J, Li H, Yang W, Tang C, Feng X, Jiang J, Xue S. The formation of multi-metal(loid)s contaminated groundwater at smelting site: Critical role of natural colloids. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 471:134408. [PMID: 38678716 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
The occurrence and migration of colloids at smelting sites are crucial for the formation of multi-metal(loid)s pollution in groundwater. In this study, the behavior of natural colloids (1 nm-0.45 µm) at an abandoned smelting site was investigated by analyzing groundwater samples filtered through progressively decreasing pore sizes. Smelting activities in this site had negatively impacted the groundwater quality, leading to elevated concentrations of zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), and cadmium (Cd). The results showed that heavy metal(loid)-bearing colloids were ubiquitous in the groundwater with the larger colloidal fractions (∼75 -450 nm) containing higher abundances of pollutants. It was also observed that the predominant colloids consisted of Zn-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH), sphalerite, kaolinite, and hematite. By employing multiple analytical techniques, including leaching experiments, soil colloid characterization, and Pb stable isotope measurements, the origin of groundwater colloids was successfully traced to the topsoil colloids. Most notably, our findings highlighted the increased risk of heavy metal(loid)s migration from polluted soils into adjacent sites through the groundwater because of colloid-mediated transport of contaminants. This field-scale investigation provides valuable insights into the geochemical processes governing heavy metal(loid) behavior as well as offering pollution remediation strategies specifically tailored for contaminated groundwater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Tang
- School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Hunan 410083, China
| | - Wenyan Gao
- School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Hunan 410083, China
| | - Yongping Lu
- China Railway Seventh Bureau Group Nanjing Engineering Co. Ltd., Nanjing 210012, China
| | - Carlito Baltazar Tabelin
- Department of Materials and Resources Engineering and Technology, College of Engineering, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, Iligan City 9200, Philippines
| | - Jie Liu
- School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Hunan 410083, China
| | - Haifeng Li
- China Railway Seventh Bureau Group Nanjing Engineering Co. Ltd., Nanjing 210012, China
| | - Weichun Yang
- School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Hunan 410083, China
| | - Chongjian Tang
- School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Hunan 410083, China
| | - Xiang Feng
- Henan Academy of Geology, Henan 450001, China
| | - Jun Jiang
- School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Hunan 410083, China
| | - Shengguo Xue
- School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Hunan 410083, China.
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Du Y, Shi L, Li X, Liu J, Ying R, Hu P, Wu L, Christie P. Potential mobilization of water-dispersible colloidal thallium and arsenic in contaminated soils and sediments in mining areas of southwest China. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 465:133211. [PMID: 38101008 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Water-dispersible colloids (WDCs) are vital for trace element migration, but there is limited information about the abundance, size distribution and elemental composition of WDC-bound thallium (Tl) and arsenic (As) in mining-contaminated soils and sediments solutions. Here, we investigated the potential mobilization of WDC-bound Tl and As in soils and sediments in a typical Tl/As-contaminated area. Ultrafiltration results revealed on average > 60% of Tl and As in soil solution (< 220 nm) coexisted in colloidal form whereas Tl and As in sediment solution primarily existed in the truly dissolved state (< 10 kDa) due to increased acidity. Using AF4-UV-ICP-MS and STEM-EDS, we identified Fe-bearing WDCs in association with aluminosilicate minerals and organic matter were main carriers of Tl and As. SAED further verified jarosite nanoparticles were important components of soil WDC, directly participating in the migration of Tl and As. Notably, high pollution levels and solution pH promoted the release of Tl/As-containing WDCs. This study provides quantitative and visual insights into the distribution of Tl and As in WDC, highlighting the important roles of Fe-bearing WDC, soil solution pH and pollution level in the potential mobilization of Tl and As in contaminated soils and sediments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanpei Du
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Lingfeng Shi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xinyang Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Juan Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Rongrong Ying
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Management and Pollution Control, Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing 210042, China.
| | - Pengjie Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China.
| | - Longhua Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Peter Christie
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
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Wei Y, Chen Y, Cao X, Xiang M, Huang Y, Li H. A Critical Review of Groundwater Table Fluctuation: Formation, Effects on Multifields, and Contaminant Behaviors in a Soil and Aquifer System. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:2185-2203. [PMID: 38237040 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c08543] [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: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
The groundwater table fluctuation (GTF) zone is an important medium for the hydrologic cycle between unsaturated soil and saturated aquifers, which accelerates the migration, transformation, and redistribution of contaminants and further poses a potential environmental risk to humans. In this review, we clarify the key processes in the generation of the GTF zone and examine its links with the variation of the hydrodynamic and hydrochemistry field, colloid mobilization, and contaminant migration and transformation. Driven by groundwater recharge and discharge, GTF regulates water flow and the movement of the capillary fringe, which further control the advection and dispersion of contaminants in soil and groundwater. In addition, the formation and variation of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) waterfall are impacted by GTF. The changing ROS components partially determine the characteristic transformation of solutes and the dynamic redistribution of the microbial population. GTF facilitates the migration and transformation of contaminants (such as nitrogen, heavy metals, non-aqueous phase liquids, and volatile organic compounds) through colloid mobilization, the co-migration effect, and variation of the hydrodynamic and hydrochemistry fields. In conclusion, this review illustrates the limitations of the current literature on GTF, and the significance of GTF zones in the underground environment is underscored by expounding on the future directions and prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaqiang Wei
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Yuling Chen
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Xinde Cao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Minghui Xiang
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Yuan Huang
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Hui Li
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
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Wang Y, Yuan S, Shi J, Ma T, Xie X, Deng Y, Du Y, Gan Y, Guo Z, Dong Y, Zheng C, Jiang G. Groundwater Quality and Health: Making the Invisible Visible. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:5125-5136. [PMID: 36877892 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c08061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Linking groundwater quality to health will make the invisible groundwater visible, but there are knowledge gaps to understand the linkage which requires cross-disciplinary convergent research. The substances in groundwater that are critical to health can be classified into five types according to the sources and characteristics: geogenic substances, biogenic elements, anthropogenic contaminants, emerging contaminants, and pathogens. The most intriguing questions are related to quantitative assessment of human health and ecological risks of exposure to the critical substances via natural or induced artificial groundwater discharge: What is the list of critical substances released from discharging groundwater, and what are the pathways of the receptors' exposure to the critical substances? How to quantify the flux of critical substances during groundwater discharge? What procedures can we follow to assess human health and ecological risks of groundwater discharge? Answering these questions is fundamental for humans to deal with the challenges of water security and health risks related to groundwater quality. This perspective provides recent progresses, knowledge gaps, and future trends in understanding the linkage between groundwater quality and health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanxin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Source Apportionment and Control, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, 430078 Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Songhu Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Source Apportionment and Control, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, 430078 Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Jianbo Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Source Apportionment and Control, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, 430078 Wuhan, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Teng Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Source Apportionment and Control, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, 430078 Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Xianjun Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Source Apportionment and Control, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, 430078 Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Yamin Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Source Apportionment and Control, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, 430078 Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Yao Du
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Source Apportionment and Control, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, 430078 Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Yiqun Gan
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Source Apportionment and Control, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, 430078 Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Zhilin Guo
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water-Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yiran Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Source Apportionment and Control, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, 430078 Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Chunmiao Zheng
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water-Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Guibin Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
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Tran E, Reimus P, Klein-BenDavid O, Teutsch N, Zavarin M, Kersting AB, Weisbrod N. Mobility of Radionuclides in Fractured Carbonate Rocks: Lessons from a Field-Scale Transport Experiment. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:11249-11257. [PMID: 32786561 PMCID: PMC7498145 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c03008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Current research on radionuclide disposal is mostly conducted in granite, clay, saltstone, or volcanic tuff formations. These rock types are not always available to host a geological repository in every nuclear waste-generating country, but carbonate rocks may serve as a potential alternative. To assess their feasibility, a forced gradient cross-borehole tracer experiment was conducted in a saturated fractured chalk formation. The mobility of stable Sr and Cs (as analogs for their radioactive counterparts), Ce (an actinide analog), Re (a Tc analog), bentonite particles, and fluorescent dye tracers through the flow path was analyzed. The migration of each of these radionuclide analogs (RAs) was shown to be dependent upon their chemical speciation in solution, their interactions with bentonite, and their sorption potential to the chalk rock matrix. The brackish groundwater resulted in flocculation and immobilization of most particulate RAs. Nevertheless, the high permeability of the fracture system allowed for fast overall transport times of all aqueous RAs investigated. This study suggests that the geochemical properties of carbonate rocks may provide suitable conditions for certain types of radionuclide storage (in particular, brackish, high-porosity, and low-permeability chalks). Nevertheless, careful consideration should be given to high-permeability fracture networks that may result in high radionuclide mobility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily
L. Tran
- Zuckerberg
Institute for Water Research, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert
Research, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben Gurion 8499000, Israel
| | - Paul Reimus
- Los
Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Ofra Klein-BenDavid
- Nuclear
Research Center of the Negev, Negev,
P.O. Box 9001, Beersheva 8419001, Israel
- Geological
and Environmental Science Department, Ben
Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Nadya Teutsch
- Geological
Survey of Israel, 32 Yeshayahu Leibowitz Street, Jerusalem 9371234, Israel
| | - Mavrik Zavarin
- Lawrence
Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, United States
| | - Annie B. Kersting
- Lawrence
Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, United States
| | - Noam Weisbrod
- Zuckerberg
Institute for Water Research, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert
Research, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben Gurion 8499000, Israel
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Lee S, Ko IW, Yoon IH, Kim DW, Kim KW. Colloid mobilization and heavy metal transport in the sampling of soil solution from Duckum soil in South Korea. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2019; 41:469-480. [PMID: 29574658 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-018-0099-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2017] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Colloid mobilization is a significant process governing colloid-associated transport of heavy metals in subsurface environments. It has been studied for the last three decades to understand this process. However, colloid mobilization and heavy metal transport in soil solutions have rarely been studied using soils in South Korea. We investigated the colloid mobilization in a variety of flow rates during sampling soil solutions in sand columns. The colloid concentrations were increased at low flow rates and in saturated regimes. Colloid concentrations increased 1000-fold higher at pH 9.2 than at pH 7.3 in the absence of 10 mM NaCl solution. In addition, those were fourfold higher in the absence than in the presence of the NaCl solution at pH 9.2. It was suggested that the mobility of colloids should be enhanced in porous media under the basic conditions and the low ionic strength. In real field soils, the concentrations of As, Cr, and Pb in soil solutions increased with the increase in colloid concentrations at initial momentarily changed soil water pressure, whereas the concentrations of Cd, Cu, Fe, Ni, Al, and Co lagged behind the colloid release. Therefore, physicochemical changes and heavy metal characteristics have important implications for colloid-facilitated transport during sampling soil solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyong Lee
- Environmental assessment group, Korea Environment Institute (KEI), Sicheong-daero, Sejong, 30147, Republic of Korea
| | - Il-Won Ko
- Korea Natural Resources and Economic Research Institute (KNERI), 701-2 Office, Gindo Bldg, 44, Mapo-daero, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - In-Ho Yoon
- Decontamination and Decommissioning Research Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), Daedeok-daero 989-111, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34057, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Wook Kim
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Kongju National University, 56 Gongjudaehak-Ro, Gongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyoung-Woong Kim
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea.
- Faculty of Environmental Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), 43400, Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
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Li S, Wang X, Huang Z, Du L, Zhang D, Tan Z, Fu Y, Wang X. Sorption–desorption hysteresis of uranium(VI) on/from GMZ bentonite. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-016-4831-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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