Bioremediation of trichloroethylene-contaminated groundwater using green carbon-releasing substrate with pH control capability

In this research, a sustainable substrate, termed green and long-lasting substrate (GLS), featuring a blend of emulsified substrate (ES) and modified rice husk ash (m-RHA) was devised. The primary objective was to facilitate the bioremediation of groundwater contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE) using innovative GLS for slow carbon release and pH control. The GLS was concocted by homogenizing a mixture of soybean oil, surfactants (Simple Green™ and soya lecithin), and m-RHA, ensuring a gradual release of carbon sources. The hydrothermal synthesis was applied for the production of m-RHA production. The analyses demonstrate that m-RHA were uniform sphere-shape granules with diameters in micro-scale ranges. Results from the microcosm study show that approximately 83% of TCE could be removed (initial TCE concentration = 7.6 mg/L) with GLS supplement after 60 days of operation. Compared to other substrates without RHA addition, higher TCE removal efficiency was obtained, and higher Dehalococcoides sp. (DHC) population and hydA gene (hydrogen-producing gene) copy number were also detected in microcosms with GLS addition. Higher hydrogen concentrations enhanced the DHC growth, which corresponded to the increased DHC populations. The addition of the GLS could provide alkalinity at the initial stage to neutralize the acidified groundwater caused by the produced organic acids after substrate biodegradation, which was advantageous to DHC growth and TCE dechlorination. The addition of m-RHA reached an increased TCE removal efficiency, which was due to the fact that the m-RHA had the zeolite-like structure with a higher surface area and lower granular diameter, and thus, it resulted in a more effective initial adsorption effect. Therefore, a significant amount of TCE could be adsorbed onto the surface of m-RHA, which caused a rapid TCE removal through adsorption. The carbon substrates released from m-RHA could then enhance the subsequent dechlorination. The developed GLS is an environmentally-friendly and green substrate.

An innovative permeable reactive bio-barrier to remediate trichloroethene-contaminated groundwater: A field study

Permeable reactive bio-barrier (PRBB), an innovative technology, could treat many contaminants via the natural gradient flow of groundwater based on immobilization or transformation of pollutants into less toxic and harmful forms. In this field study, we developed an innovative PRBB system comprising immobilized Dehalococcoides mccartyi (Dhc) and Clostridium butyricum embedded into the silica gel for long-term treatment of trichloroethene (TCE) polluted groundwater. Four injection wells and two monitoring wells were installed at the downstream of the TCE plume. Without PRBB, results showed that the TCE (6.23 ± 0.43 μmole/L) was converted to cis-dichloroethene (0.52 ± 0.63 μmole/L), and ethene was not detected, whereas TCE was completely converted to ethene (3.31 μmole/L) with PRBB treatment, indicating that PRBB could promote complete dechlorination of TCE. Noticeably, PRBB showed the long-term capability to maintain a high dechlorinating efficiency for TCE removal during the 300-day operational period. Furthermore, with qPCR analysis, the PRBB application could stably maintain the populations of Dhc and functional genes (bvcA, tceA, and vcrA) at >108 copies/L within the remediation course and change the bacterial communities in the contaminated groundwater. We concluded that our PRBB was first set up for cleaning up TCE-contaminated groundwater in a field trial.

Development of innovative and green adsorbents for in situ cleanup of fluoride-polluted groundwater: Mechanisms and field-scale studies

In this study, the magnesium oxide (MgO)-based adsorbents [granulated MgO aggregates (GA-MgO) and surface-modified MgO powder (SM-MgO)] were developed to remediate a fluoride-contaminated groundwater site. Both GA-MgO and SM-MgO had porous, spherical, and crystalline structures. Diameters for GA-MgO and SM-MgO were 1-1.7 mm and 1-10 μm, respectively. The pseudo second-order dynamic adsorption and the Freundlich isotherm could be applied to express the chemical adsorption phenomena. The monolayer adsorption was the dominant mechanism at the initial adsorption period. During the latter part of fluoride adsorption, the multilayer adsorption became the dominant mechanism for fluoride removal from the water phase, which also resulted in the increased adsorption capacity. Higher hydroxide, phosphate, and carbonate concentrations caused a decreased fluoride removal efficiency due to the competition of sorption sites between fluoride and other anions with similar electronic properties. Fluoride removal mechanism using GA-MgO and SM-MgO as the adsorbents was mainly carried out by the chemical adsorption. Reaction paths contained two main processes: (1) formation of magnesium hydroxide after the reaction of MgO with water, and (2) the hydroxyl group of the magnesium hydroxide was replaced by fluoride ions to form magnesium fluoride precipitation. Results from column tests show that up to 61 and 73% of fluoride removal (initial fluoride concentration = 9.3 mg/L) could be obtained after 50 pore volumes of groundwater pumping with GA-MgO and SM-MgO injection, respectively. The GA-MgO system could be applied to contain and remediate fluoride-contaminated groundwater, and SM-MgO could be applied as an immediate fluoride removal alternative to achieve a rapid pollutant removal for emergency responses. Up to 71% of fluoride removal (fluoride concentration = 10.8 mg/L) could be obtained with GA-MgO injection after 30 days of operation. The developed GA-MgO system is a potential and green remediation alternative to contain the fluoride plume significantly.

Application of novel nanobubble-contained electrolyzed catalytic water to cleanup petroleum-hydrocarbon contaminated soils and groundwater: A pilot-scale and performance evaluation study

Soil and groundwater contamination caused by petroleum hydrocarbons is a severe environmental problem. In this study, a novel electrolyzed catalytic system (ECS) was developed to produce nanobubble-contained electrolyzed catalytic (NEC) water for the remediation of petroleum-hydrocarbon-contaminated soils and groundwater. The developed ECS applied high voltage (220 V) with direct current, and titanium electrodes coated with iridium dioxide were used in the system. The developed ECS prototype contained 21 electrode pairs (with a current density of 20 mA/cm2), which were connected in series to significantly enhance the hydroxyl radical production rate. Iron-copper hybrid oxide catalysts were laid between each electrode pair to improve the radical generation efficiency. The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and Rhodamine B (RhB) methods were applied for the generated radical species and concentration determination. During the operation of the ECS, high concentrations of nanobubbles (nanobubble density = 3.7 × 109 particles/mL) were produced due to the occurrence of the cavitation mechanism. Because of the negative zeta potential and nano-scale characteristics of nanobubbles (mean diameter = 28 nm), the repelling force would prevent the occurrence of bubble aggregations and extend their lifetime in NEC water. The radicals produced after the bursting of the nanobubbles would be beneficial for the increase of the radical concentration and subsequent petroleum hydrocarbon oxidation. The highly oxidized NEC water (oxidation-reduction potential = 887 mV) could be produced with a radical concentration of 9.5 × 10-9 M. In the pilot-scale study, the prototype system was applied to clean up petroleum-hydrocarbon polluted soils at a diesel-oil spill site via an on-site slurry-phase soil washing process. The total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH)-contaminated soils were excavated and treated with the NEC water in a slurry-phase reactor. Results show that up to 74.4% of TPH (initial concentration = 2846 mg/kg) could be removed from soils after four rounds of NEC water treatment (soil and NEC water ratio for each batch = 10 kg: 40 L and reaction time = 10 min). Within the petroleum-hydrocarbon plume, one remediation well (RW) and two monitor wells (located 1 m and 3 m downgradient of the RW) were installed along the groundwater flow direction. The produced NEC water was injected into the RW and the TPH concentrations in groundwater (initial concentrations = 12.3-15.2 mg/L) were assessed in these three wells. Compared to the control well, TPH concentrations in RW and MW1 dropped to below 0.4 and 2.1 mg/L after 6 m3 of NEC water injection in RW, respectively. Results from the pilot-scale study indicate that the NEC water could effectively remediate TPH-contaminated soils and groundwater without secondary pollution production. The main treatment mechanisms included (1) in situ chemical oxidation via produced radicals, (2) desorption of petroleum hydrocarbons from soil particles due to the dispersion of nanobubbles into soil pores, and (3) enhanced TPH oxidation due to produced radicals and energy after nanobubble bursting.

Cleanup of Cr(VI)-polluted groundwater using immobilized bacterial consortia via bioreduction mechanisms

Cr(VI) bioreduction has become a remedial alternative for Cr(VI)-polluted site cleanup. However, lack of appropriate Cr(VI)-bioreducing bacteria limit the field application of the in situ bioremediation process. In this study, two different immobilized Cr(VI)-bioreducing bacterial consortia using novel immobilization agents have been developed for Cr(VI)-polluted groundwater remediation: (1) granular activated carbon (GAC) + silica gel + Cr(VI)-bioreducing bacterial consortia (GSIB), and (2) GAC + sodium alginate (SA) + polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) + Cr(VI)-bioreducing bacterial consortia (GSPB). Moreover, two unique substrates [carbon-based agent (CBA) and emulsified polycolloid substrate (EPS)] were developed and used as the carbon sources for Cr(VI) bioreduction enhancement. The microbial diversity, dominant Cr-bioreducing bacteria, and changes of Cr(VI)-reducing genes (nsfA, yieF, and chrR) were analyzed to assess the effectiveness of Cr(VI) bioreduction. Approximately 99% of Cr(VI) could be bioreduced in microcosms with GSIB and CBA addition after 70 days of operation, which caused increased populations of total bacteria, nsfA, yieF, and chrR from 2.9 × 10⁸ to 2.1 × 10¹², 4.2 × 10⁴ to 6.3 × 10¹¹, 4.8 × 10⁴ to 2 × 10¹¹, and 6.9 × 10⁴ to 3.7 × 10⁷ gene copies/L. In microcosms with CBA and suspended bacteria addition (without bacterial immobilization), the Cr(VI) reduction efficiency dropped to 60.3%, indicating that immobilized Cr-bioreducing bacteria supplement could enhance Cr(VI) bioreduction. Supplement of GSPB led to a declined bacterial growth due to the cracking of the materials. The addition of GSIB and CBA could establish a reduced condition, which favored the growth of Cr(VI)-reducing bacteria. The Cr(VI) bioreduction efficiency could be significantly improved through adsorption and bioreduction mechanisms, and production of Cr(OH)₃ precipitates confirmed the occurrence of Cr(VI) reduction. The main Cr-bioreducing bacteria included Trichococcus, Escherichia-Shigella, and Lactobacillus. Results suggest that the developed GSIB bioremedial system could be applied to cleanup Cr(VI)-polluted groundwater effectively.

Toxicity Evaluation of a Heavy-metal Polluted River: Pollution Identification and Bacterial Community Assessment

The Salt River is an important urban river in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. In this study, the source identification and risk and toxicity assessment of the heavy-metal contaminated sediments in the Salt River were investigated. The geo-accumulation index (Igeo), enrichment factor (EF), sediment quality guidelines (SQGs), potential ecological risk index (RI), pollution load index (PLI), and toxic units (TU) were applied to determine effects of heavy metals on microbial diversities and ecosystems. Results from the ecological and environmental risk assessment show that high concentrations of Zn, Cr, and Ni were detected in the midstream area, the sum of toxic units (ΣTUs) in the midstream (7.2 - 32.0) is higher than in the downstream (14.0 - 19.7) and upstream (9.2 - 17.1). It could be because of the continuous inputs of heavy-meta-contained wastewaters from adjacent industrial parks. Results also inferred that the detected heavy metals in the upstream residential and commercial areas were possibly caused by nearby vehicle emissions, non-point source pollution, and domestic wastewater discharges. Results of metagenomic assays show that the sediments contained significant microbial diversities. Metal-tolerant bacterial phyla (Proteobacteria: 24.4% to 46.4%, Bacteroidetes: 1.3% to 14.8%, and Actinobacteria: 2.3% to 11.1%) and pathogenic bacterial phyla (Chlamydiae: 0.5% to 37.6%, and Chloroflexi: 5.8% to 7.2%) with relatively high abundance were detected. Metal-tolerant bacteria would adsorb metals and cause the increased metal concentrations in sediments. Results indicate that the bacterial composition in sediment environments was affected by anthropogenic pollution and human activities, and the heavy-metal-polluted ecosystem caused the variations in bacterial communities.

Permanganate activation by glucose-derived carbonaceous materials for highly efficient degradation of phenol and p-nitrophenol: Formation of hydroxyl radicals and multiple roles of carbonaceous materials

Owing to its inertness toward refractory organic pollutants and the release of Mn²⁺, the use of permanganate was limited in soil and groundwater remediation. The present study proposed an improvement strategy based on glucose-derived carbonaceous materials, which enhanced the potential of permanganate degrading organic pollutants. The glucose-derived carbonaceous material with 1000 °C charring temperature was named C1000, which was exploited in activating KMnO₄ for the elimination of refractory organic contaminants. The addition of C1000 in the KMnO₄ system triggered the degradation of refractory p-nitrophenol and quicken phenol degradation. Unlike the detection of Mn(III) species in a solo KMnO₄ system, the presence of C1000 facilitated the formation of ^•OH in the KMnO₄ system, which was confirmed by the use of quenchers such as methanol, benzoic acid, tertiary butanol, and carbonate. Additionally, the glucose-derived carbonaceous material played multiple roles in improving the performance of permanganate, including the enrichment of organic pollutants, donation of electrons to permanganate, and acting as an electron shuttle to facilitate the oxidation of organic pollutants by permanganate. The study's novel findings have the potential to expand the use of permanganate in the remediation of organic pollutants.

Bioremediation potential of cadmium by recombinant Escherichia coli surface expressing metallothionein MTT5 from Tetrahymenathermophila

Cadmium (Cd) is a common heavy metal contaminant in industrial wastewater that causes many diseases in humans. Metallothionein (MT), a cysteine-rich metal-binding protein, is well known in chelate-heavy metals. In this study, we expressed MTT5 of Tetrahymena thermophila fused with Lpp-OmpA in the outer membrane of Escherichia coli to determine its ability to accumulate and adsorb Cd. Our results revealed that our recombinant E. coli had a 4.9-fold greater Cd adsorption compared to wild E. coli. Adsorption isothermic analysis demonstrated that the adsorption behavior for Cd in our recombinant bacteria was better fitted into the Freundlich isotherm model than Langmuir isotherm model. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy indicated that phosphate and organic phosphate groups were involved in the interaction between Cd and the bacterial surface. Using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, we further showed that the expression of metal-resistance genes (dnaK and clpB) was downregulated due to surface MTT5 protected our recombinant bacteria from Cd²⁺ adsorption. Furthermore, we showed that our recombinant bacteria could adsorb Cd from the contaminated wastewater containing other metals and were suggested to be applied in the field study.

Toxicity determination, pollution source delineation, and microbial diversity evaluation of PAHs-contaminated sediments for an urban river

The Feng-Sang River is a metropolitan river in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan. In this study, Feng-Sang River sediments were analyzed to investigate the distributions and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The Sediment Quality Guidelines (SQGs), potentially carcinogenic PAHs (TEQcarc ), and toxic equivalence quotient (TEQ) were applied to evaluate influences of PAHs on ecosystems and microbial diversities. Results indicate that PAHs concentrations varied between seasons and locations. The concentrations of ∑16 PAHs ranged from 73.6 to 603.8 ng/kg in dry seasons and from 2.3 to 199.3 ng/kg in wet seasons. This could be because of the flushing effect during wet seasons, which caused the movement and dilution of the PAH-contaminated sediments. Diagnostic ratio analysis infers that high PAHs levels were generated by combustion processes and vehicle traffic, and results from multivariate descriptive statistical analysis also demonstrate that the vehicular traffic pollution could be the major emission source of PAHs contamination. Comparisons of PAHs with SQGs indicate that PAHs concentrations in sediment were below the effects range low (ERL) values, and thus, the immediate threat to organisms might not be significant. The diagnostic ratio analyses are effective methods for PAH source appointment. The metagenomic assay results imply that sediments contained essential microbial species with eminent diversity. The detected PAH-degrading bacteria (Desulfatiglans, Dechloromonas, Sphingomonas, Methylobacterium, Rhodobacter, Clostridium, and Exiguobacterium) played a key role in PAHs biotransformation, and Dechloromonas and Rhodobacter had a higher relative abundance. Results of microbial diversity analyses indicate that the contaminated environment induced the changes of governing microbial groups in sediments. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Diagnostic ratio analyses are effective methods for PAHs source appointment. Microbial composition in sediments are highly affected by anthropogenic pollution. Combustion and vehicle traffic contribute to urban river sediments pollution by PAHs. Dechloromonas and Rhodobacter are dominant PAHs-degrading bacteria in sediments.

Draft genome sequence of Pseudomonas sp. A46 isolated from mercury-contaminated wastewater

Pseudomonas sp. A46 was first isolated from mercury-contaminated groundwater in Taiwan. This study is the first to report the draft whole-genome sequence of Pseudomonas sp. A46. Its genome consists of 126 contigs, with a total length of 6,782,516 bp and a GC content of 64.7%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16 S rRNA gene sequences revealed that Pseudomonas sp. A46 is closely related to Pseudomonas citronellolis. Assessment of the draft genome sequence revealed that Pseudomonas sp. A46 harbors sets of genes conferring resistance to heavy metals, such as mercury, zinc, lead, copper, cadmium, chromate, and arsenate. These identified genes enable this bacterium to tolerate heavy metal stress.

Long-term dechlorination of cis-DCE to ethene with co-immobilized Dehalococcoides mccartyi BAV1 and Clostridium butyricum in silica gel system

Chloroethenes are common groundwater pollutants, and have been classified as toxic and carcinogenic to humans. The metabolites of chloroethenes, cis-dichloroethene (cis-DCE) and vinyl chloride (VC) commonly accumulate in groundwater due to their recalcitrant reductive dechlorination under anaerobic conditions. Dehalococcoides mccartyi (Dhc) is the key anaerobic bacteria for complete dechlorination of chloroethene, and Clostridium butyricum (C. butyricum) can provide hydrogen for supporting the growth of Dhc. In this study, we co-immobilized Dhc strain BAV1 and C. butyricum in a silica gel to determine the ability of the complete dechlorination of cis-DCE. Our results showed that our immobilized system could protect BAV1 from a high concentration (8 mM) of cis-DCE to carry out complete dechlorination. After the long-term use of our immobilized system, the activity of complete dechlorination was maintained for more than 180 consecutive days. Furthermore, we applied the immobilized system to remediate contaminated groundwater and uncovered the complete dechlorination of cis-DCE into ethene, a non-toxic product, within 28 days. Therefore, this novel co-immobilized system could serve a solution for bioremediation at chloroethene-contaminated sites.

Bioremediation of hexavalent-chromium contaminated groundwater: Microcosm, column, and microbial diversity studies

Sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) have the capability of bioreducing hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] to trivalent chromium [Cr(III)] under sulfate-reducing conditions for toxicity reduction. However, a high amount of sulfate addition would cause elevated sulfide production, which could inhibit the growth of SRB and result in reduced Cr(VI) bioreduction efficiency. A slow release reagent, viscous carbon and sulfate-releasing colloidal substrates (VCSRCS), was prepared for a long-lasting carbon and sulfate supplement. In the column study, VCSRCS was injected into the column system to form a VCSRCS biobarrier for Cr(VI) containment and bioreduction. A complete Cr(VI) removal was observed via the adsorption and bioreduction mechanisms in the column with VCSRCS addition. Results from X-ray diffractometer analyses indicate that Cr(OH)_3(s) and Cr₂O_3(s) were detected in precipitates, indicating the occurrence of Cr(VI) reduction followed by Cr(III) precipitation. Results from the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analyses show that cell deposits carried functional groups, which could adsorb Cr. Addition of VCSRCS caused increased populations of total bacteria and dsrA, which also enhanced Cr(VI) reduction. Microbial diversity results indicate that VCSRCS addition resulted in the growth of Cr(VI)-reducing bacteria including Exiguobacterium, Citrobacter, Aerococcus, and SRB. Results of this study will be helpful in developing an effective and green VCSRCS biobarrier for the bioremediation of Cr(VI)-polluted groundwater.

Effects of treatment processes on AOC removal and changes of bacterial diversity in a water treatment plant

The effectiveness of different treatment processes on assimilable organic carbon (AOC) removal and bacterial diversity variations was evaluated in a water treatment plant. The van der Kooij technique was applied for AOC analysis and responses of bacterial communities were characterized by the metagenomics assay. Results show that the AOC concentrations were about 93, 148, 43, 51, 37, and 38 μg acetate-C/L in effluents of raw water basin, preozonation, rapid sand filtration (RSF), ozonation, biofiltration [biological activated carbon (BAC) filtration], and chlorination (clear water), respectively. Increased AOC concentrations were observed after preozonation, ozonation, and chlorination units due to the production of biodegradable organic matters after the oxidation processes. Results indicate that the oxidation processes were the main causes of AOC formation, which resulted in significant increases in AOC concentrations (18-59% increment). The AOC removal efficiencies were 47, 28, and 60% in the RSF, biofiltration, and the whole system, respectively. RSF and biofiltration were responsible for the AOC treatment and both processes played key roles in AOC removal. Thus, both RSF and biofiltration processes would contribute to AOC treatment after oxidation. Sediments from the raw water basin and filter samples from RSF and BAC units were collected and analyzed for bacterial communities. Results from scanning electron microscope analysis indicate that bacterial colonization was observed in filter materials. This indicates that the surfaces of the filter materials were beneficial to bacterial growth and AOC removal via the adsorption and biodegradation mechanisms. Next generation sequencing analyses demonstrate that water treatment processes resulted in the changes of bacterial diversity and community profiles in filters of RSF and BAC. According to the findings of bacterial composition and interactions, the dominant bacterial phyla were Proteobacteria (41% in RSF and 56% in BAC) followed by Planctomycetes and Acidobacteria in RSF and BAC systems, which might affect the AOC biodegradation efficiency. Results would be useful in developing AOC treatment and management processes in water treatment plants.

Cleanup chlorinated ethene-polluted groundwater using an innovative immobilized Clostridium butyricum column scheme: A pilot-scale study

In this study, the developed innovative immobilized Clostridium butyricum (ICB) (hydrogen-producing bacteria) column scheme was applied to cleanup chlorinated-ethene [mainly cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cis-DCE)] polluted groundwater in situ via the anaerobic reductive dechlorinating processes. The objectives were to assess the effectiveness of the field application of ICB scheme on the cleanup of cis-DCE polluted groundwater, and characterize changes of microbial communities after ICB application. Three remediation wells and two monitor wells were installed within the cis-DCE plume. In the remediation well, a 1.2-m PVC column (radius = 2.5 cm) (filled with ICB beads) and 20 L of slow polycolloid-releasing substrate (SPRS) were supplied for hydrogen production enhancement and primary carbon supply, respectively. Groundwater samples from remediation and monitor wells were analyzed periodically for cis-DCE and its degradation byproducts, microbial diversity, reductive dehalogenase, and geochemical indicators. Results reveal that cis-DCE was significantly decreased within the ICB and SPRS influence zone. In a remediation well with ICB injection, approximately 98.4% of cis-DCE removal (initial concentration = 1.46 mg/L) was observed with the production of ethene (end-product of cis-DCE dechlorination) after 56 days of system operation. Up to 0.72 mg/L of hydrogen was observed in remediation wells after 14 days of ICB and SPRS introduction, which corresponded with the increased population of Dehalococcoides spp. (Dhc) (increased from 3.76 × 103 to 5.08 × 105 gene copies/L). Results of metagenomics analyses show that the SPRS and ICB introduction caused significant impacts on the bacterial communities, and increased Bacteroides, Citrobacter, and Desulfovibrio populations were observed, which had significant contributions to the reductive dechlorination of cis-DCE. Application of ICB could effectively result in increased populations of Dhc and RDase genes, which corresponded with improved dechlorination of cis-DCE and vinyl chloride. Introduction of ICB and SPRS could be applied as a potential in situ remedial option to enhance anaerobic dechlorination efficiencies of chlorinated ethenes.

Bioremediation of trichloroethylene-polluted groundwater using emulsified castor oil for slow carbon release and acidification control

In this study, the emulsified castor oil (ECO) substrate was developed for a long-term supplement of biodegradable carbon with pH buffering capacity to anaerobically bioremediate trichloroethylene (TCE)-polluted groundwater. The ECO was produced by mixing castor oil, surfactants (sapindales and soya lecithin [SL]), vitamin complex, and a citrate/sodium phosphate dibasic buffer system together for slow carbon release. Results of the emulsification experiments and microcosm tests indicate that ECO emulsion had uniform small droplets (diameter = 539 nm) with stable oil-in-water characteristics. ECO had a long-lasting, dispersive, negative zeta potential (-13 mv), and biodegradable properties (viscosity = 357 cp). Approximately 97% of TCE could be removed with ECO supplement after a 95-day operational period without the accumulation of TCE dechlorination byproducts (dichloroethylene and vinyl chloride). The buffer system could neutralize acidified groundwater, and citrate could be served as a primary substrate. ECO addition caused an abrupt TCE adsorption at the initial stage and the subsequent removal of adsorbed TCE. Results from the next generation sequences and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) indicate that the increased microbial communities and TCE-degrading bacterial consortia were observed after ECO addition. ECO could be used as a pH-control and carbon substrate to enhance anaerobic TCE biodegradation effectively. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Emulsified castor oil (ECO) contains castor oil, surfactants, and buffer for a slow carbon release and pH control. ECO can be a long-term carbon source for trichloroethylene (TCE) dechlorination without causing acidification. TCE removal after ECO addition is due to adsorption and reductive dechlorination mechanisms.

Application of zeolitic imidazolate framework for hexavalent chromium removal: A feasibility and mechanism study

The mechanisms and effectiveness of using zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-8) [a sub-family of metal-organic framework (MOF)] particles on hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] removal were evaluated. The ultrasonic mixing method was applied for the preparation of ZIF-8, and chemicals used for ZIF-8 synthesis included ammonium hydroxide, zinc nitrate hexahydrate, and 2-methylimidazole. ZIF-8 particle had a clear rhombic dodecahedron morphology shape and a strong peak intensity with high crystallinity. The adsorption capacity (AC) of ZIF-8 was 30.3 mg of Cr(VI)/g of ZIF-8 [Cr(VI) = 50 mg/L]. The AC of Cr(VI) raised to 34.3 mg/g under acidic conditions (pH = 5), and the AC dropped to below 13.7 mg/g with a pH range from 7 to 11. It could be because of the competitive effects between CrO₄ ^2- and hydroxide ions for adsorption locations of ZIF-8. Cr(VI) removal relied on the amount of Cr(VI) adsorbed on the particles of ZIF-8, and the mechanisms of Cr(VI) adsorption by ZIF-8 included chemical/physical processes and the rate-limiting step was the chemical adsorption. A fraction of sorbed Cr(VI) was reduced to Cr(III), and thus, ZIF-8 could serve as a reducing agent during Cr(VI) reduction. Cr(VI) was removed effectively from the water phase by ZIF-8 via adsorption and reduction mechanisms. PRACTITIONER POINTS: ZIF-8 particles had an adsorption capacity of 30.33 mg of Cr(VI)/g of ZIF-8. Cr(VI) sorption by ZIF-8 has chemical (rate-limiting step) and physical processes. ZIF-8 can serve as a reducing agent for Cr(VI) reduction. Cr(VI) can be removed by ZIF-8 via the adsorption and reduction mechanisms.

Novel rapid room temperature synthesis of conjugated microporous polymer for metal-free photocatalytic degradation of fluoroquinolones

The existence of Fluoroquinolones (FQs), non-biodegradable pharmacophores, in the natural environment possesses a serious threat. We herein report a novel, rapid, room-temperature synthesis of semiconducting conjugated microporous polymer (CMP) for the decontamination of four second-generation FQs, Norfloxacin, Enrofloxacin, Ciprofloxacin, and Ofloxacin. The CMP demonstrated impressive gas uptake and FQ adsorption ability. Decreased HOMO-LUMO bandgap resulted in enhanced exciton pair generation on visible-light-illumination. Additionally, a high degree of photocurrent response and suitable redox potentials of the material conjointly endorsed its almost quantitative FQ-degradation efficiency. Ofloxacin showed the best removal efficiency with 0.061 and 0.207 min^-1 adsorption and degradation rate constants, respectively, one of the highest values reported. The CMP exhibited equipotent activity for other FQs as well. On increasing the concentration of the FQs or decreasing the incident photo-intensity, quantitative removal efficiencies are observed. Changing the pH of the medium from acidic to alkaline did not impart any change in catalytic activity as well. The reactive species involved viz. O₂^-, ¹O₂, etc. and their roles in the degradation process were determined through control and trapping experiments. A plausible in-depth mechanistic pathway was assessed from the FQ degradation intermediates, and the reactive catalytic species substantiating step-by-step break down of the antibiotic backbone.

Application of iron/aluminum bimetallic nanoparticle system for chromium-contaminated groundwater remediation

When the nanoscale zero valent iron (nZVI) is used for the reduction of hexavalent chromium (Cr⁶⁺) to trivalent chromium (Cr³⁺) in groundwater, the reduction efficiency is decreased due to the passivation of reactive sites by precipitation. The bimetallic nanoparticle (BNP) can be created with the addition of the second metal to achieve a higher activity and reduce the occurrence of the ferrous/ferric hydroxide precipitation. In this study, the iron-coated aluminum (Fe/Al) BNP and aluminum-coated iron (Al/Fe) BNP systems were designed for remediating Cr⁶⁺-contaminated groundwater. The chemical liquid-phase deposition and co-reduction method was applied to produce BNPs. Cr⁶⁺ removal rate by Fe/Al BNPs was directly proportional to the saturation concentration and reactive sites, which caused a higher Cr⁶⁺ removal rate. The pseudo-first-order kinetic model could be used to describe the Cr⁶⁺ adsorption mechanism by Fe/Al BNPs. Results show that Fe/Al BNPs and Al/Fe BNPs could reduce Cr⁶⁺ to Cr³⁺, and the removal efficiencies for Cr⁶⁺ were 1.47 g/g BNP and 0.07 g/g BNP, respectively. Detection of Cr³⁺ in the aqueous phase was observed during the Cr⁶⁺ removal process. Results from X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed that Cr(OH)₃ was present on the surface of BNPs. Main mechanisms caused Cr⁶⁺ removal included reduction, precipitation, and adsorption. The reduction of Cr⁶⁺ produced OH^-, which created alkaline environment and facilitated the formation of chromium hydroxide precipitates [Cr(OH)₃]. Thus, the migration of Cr³⁺ was prevented and the environmental risk was reduced. BNP had a higher activity and stability, and it was applicable for Cr⁶⁺-contaminated site remediation.

Growth inhibition of sulfate-reducing bacteria for trichloroethylene dechlorination enhancement

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a frequently found organic contaminant in polluted-groundwater. In this microcosm study, effects of hydrogen-producing bacteria [Clostridium butyricum (Clostridium sp.)] and inhibitor of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) addition on the enhancement of TCE dechlorination were evaluated. Results indicate that Clostridium sp. supplement could effectively enhance TCE reductive dechlorination (97.4% of TCE removal) due to increased hydrogen concentration and Dehalococcoides (DHC) populations (increased to 1 × 10⁴ gene copies/L). However, addition of Clostridium sp. also caused the increase in dsrA (dissimilatory sulfide reductase subunit A) (increased to 2 × 10⁸ gene copies/L), and thus, part of the hydrogen was consumed by SRB, which would limit the effective application of hydrogen by DHC. Control of Clostridium sp. addition is a necessity to minimize the adverse impact of Clostridium sp. on DHC growth. Ferric citrate caused the slight raise of the oxidation-reduction state, which resulted in growth inhibition of SRB. Molybdate addition inhibited the growth of SRB, and thus, the dsrA concentrations (dropped from 4 × 10⁷ to 9 × 10⁵ gene copies/L) and sulfate reduction efficiency were decreased. Increased DHC populations (increased from 8 × 10³ to 1 × 10⁵ gene copies/L) were due to increased available hydrogen (increased from 0 to 2 mg/L), which enhanced TCE dechlorination (99.3% TCE removal). Metagenomic analyses show that a significant microbial diversity was detected in microcosms with different treatments. Clostridium sp., ferric citrate, and molybdate addition caused a decreased SRB communities and increased fatty acid production microbial communities (increased from 4.9% to 20.2%), which would be beneficial to the hydrogen production and TCE dechlorination processes.

Application of enhanced bioreduction for hexavalent chromium-polluted groundwater cleanup: Microcosm and microbial diversity studies

Hexavalent chromium (Cr⁶⁺) is a commonly found heavy metal at polluted groundwater sites. In this study, the effectiveness of Cr⁶⁺ bioreduction by the chromium-reducing bacteria was evaluated to remediate Cr⁶⁺-contaminated groundwater. Microcosms were constructed using indigenous microbial consortia from a Cr⁶⁺-contaminated aquifer as the inocula, and slow-releasing emulsified polycolloid-substrate (ES), cane molasses (CM), and nutrient broth (NB) as the primary substrates. The genes responsible for the bioreduction of Cr⁶⁺ and variations in bacterial diversity were evaluated using metagenomics assay. Complete Cr⁶⁺ reduction via the biological mechanism was observed within 80 days using CM as the carbon source under anaerobic processes with the increased trivalent chromium (Cr³⁺) concentrations. Cr⁶⁺ removal efficiencies were 83% and 59% in microcosms using ES and NB as the substrates, respectively. Increased bacterial communities associated with Cr⁶⁺ bioreduction was observed in microcosms treated with CM and ES. Decreased bacterial communities were observed in NB microcosms. Compared to ES, CM was more applicable by indigenous Cr⁶⁺ reduction bacteria and resulted in effective Cr⁶⁺ bioreduction, which was possibly due to the growth of Cr⁶⁺-reduction related bacteria including Sporolactobacillus, Clostridium, and Ensifer. While NB was applied for specific bacterial selection, it might not be appropriate for electron donor application. These results revealed that substrate addition had significant impact on microbial diversities, which affected Cr⁶⁺ bioreduction processes. Results are useful for designing a green and sustainable bioreduction system for Cr⁶⁺-polluted groundwater remediation.

Distribution, sources, and behavior of PAHs in estuarine water systems exemplified by Salt River, Taiwan

Water, suspended particulate matter (SPM), and sediment samples were collected from Salt River in Taiwan and analyzed the concentrations of 16 types of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The analysis results were used to examine the distribution, source, partition behavior, and potential ecological risks of PAHs in the estuarine water systems. The mean concentration of total PAHs in water, SPM, and sediment samples was 0.485-10.2 μg/L, 26.7-169 mg/kg dw, and 0.343-29.4 mg/kg dw, respectively. The highest concentration was found at the river mouth and decreased toward the river and sea with the tide. The distribution of the diagnostic ratios of PAHs showed that the combustion of coal and petroleum products are the main sources of PAHs in Salt River. The in site organic carbon normalized partition coefficients for SPM-water (K'_oc(SPMW)) and sediment-water (K'_oc(SedW)) were 2.8-4.5 and 4.6-6.0 (log units), respectively, increasing with the number of rings in PAHs. The values log K'_oc(SedW) and log K'_oc(SPM-W) showed a significant linear correlation with their octanol-water partition coefficients (p < 0.01), and their slopes were 0.427 and 0.316, respectively. The fugacity fraction was used to evaluate the exchange of PAHs in water-SPM-sediment systems. Results showed that in SPM, 2-4-ring PAHs tend to be released into water, whereas 5-6-ring PAHs in water tend to be adsorbed onto SPM. The exchange of PAHs between water and sediment occurs in the direction of adsorption onto sediment from water. The assessment of the mean risk quotient, total toxicity equivalence, and mean effect range-median quotient of PAHs showed that the PAHs in the water and SPM of Salt River may have moderate to high ecological risk. In sediment, PAHs in the lower reaches and estuary may pose moderate to high ecological risk, whereas PAHs in the middle and upper reaches show low to moderate ecological risk.

Enhanced reductive dechlorination of trichloroethene with immobilized Clostridium butyricum in silica gel

Deteriorated environmental conditions during the bioremediation of trichloroethene (TCE)-polluted groundwater cause decreased treatment efficiencies. This study assessed the effect of applying immobilized Clostridium butyricum (a hydrogen-producing bacterium) in silica gel on enhancing the reductive dechlorination efficiency of TCE with the slow polycolloid-releasing substrate (SPRS) supplement in groundwater. The responses of microbial communities with the immobilized system (immobilized Clostridium butyricum and SPRS amendments) were also characterized by the metagenomics assay. A complete TCE removal in microcosms was obtained within 30 days with the application of this immobilized system via reductive dechlorination processes. An increase in the population of Dehalococcoides spp. was observed using the quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis. Results of metagenomics assay reveal that the microbial communities in the immobilized system were distinct from those in systems with SPRS only. Bacterial communities associated with TCE biodegradation also increased in microcosms treated with the immobilized system. The immobilized system shows a great potential to promote the TCE dechlorination efficiency, and the metagenomics-based approach provides detailed insights into dechlorinating microbial community dynamics. The results would be helpful in designing an in situ immobilized system to enhance the bioremediation efficiency of TCE-contaminated groundwater.

Application of γ-PGA as the primary carbon source to bioremediate a TCE-polluted aquifer: A pilot-scale study

The effectiveness of using gamma poly-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) as the primary carbon and nitrogen sources to bioremediate trichloroethene (TCE)-contaminated groundwater was studied in this pilot-scale study. γ-PGA (40 L) solution was injected into the aquifer via the injection well (IW) for substrate supplement. Groundwater samples were collected from monitor wells and IW and analyzed for TCE and its byproducts, geochemical indicators, dechlorinating bacteria, and microbial diversity periodically. Injected γ-PGA resulted in an increase in total organic carbon (TOC) (up to 9820 mg/L in IW), and the TOC biodegradation caused the formation of anaerobic conditions. Increased ammonia concentration (because of amine release from γ-PGA) resulted in the neutral condition in groundwater, which benefited the growth of Dehalococcoides. The negative zeta potential and micro-scale diameter of γ-PGA allowed its globule to distribute evenly within soil pores. Up to 93% of TCE removal was observed (TCE dropped from 0.14 to 0.01 mg/L) after 59 days of γ-PGA injection, and TCE dechlorination byproducts were also biodegraded subsequently. Next generation sequence (NGS) analyses were applied to determine the dominant bacterial communities. γ-PGA supplement developed reductive dechlorinating conditions and caused variations in microbial diversity and dominant bacterial species. The dominant four groups of bacterial communities including dechlorinating bacteria, vinyl chloride degrading bacteria, hydrogen producing bacteria, and carbon biodegrading bacteria.

Remediation of TCE-contaminated groundwater using KMnO4 oxidation: laboratory and field-scale studies

The objectives of this study were to (1) conduct laboratory bench and column experiments to determine the oxidation kinetics and optimal operational parameters for trichloroethene (TCE)-contaminated groundwater remediation using potassium permanganate (KMnO₄) as oxidant and (2) to conduct a pilot-scale study to assess the efficiency of TCE remediation by KMnO₄ oxidation. The controlling factors in laboratory studies included soil oxidant demand (SOD), molar ratios of KMnO₄ to TCE, KMnO₄ decay rate, and molar ratios of Na₂HPO₄ to KMnO₄ for manganese dioxide (MnO₂) production control. Results show that a significant amount of KMnO₄ was depleted when it was added in a soil/water system due to the existence of natural soil organic matters. The presence of natural organic material in soils can exert a significant oxidant demand thereby reducing the amount of KMnO₄ available for the destruction of TCE as well as the overall oxidation rate of TCE. Supplement of higher concentrations of KMnO₄ is required in the soil systems with high SOD values. Higher KMnO₄ application resulted in more significant H⁺ and subsequent pH drop. The addition of Na₂HPO₄ could minimize the amount of produced MnO₂ particles and prevent the clogging of soil pores, and TCE oxidation efficiency would not be affected by Na₂HPO₄. To obtain a complete TCE removal, the amount of KMnO₄ used to oxidize TCE needs to be higher than the theoretical molar ratio of KMnO₄ to TCE based on the stoichiometry equation. Relatively lower oxidation rates are obtained with lower initial TCE concentrations. The half-life of TCE decreased with increased KMnO₄ concentrations. Results from the pilot-scale study indicate that a significant KMnO₄ decay occurs after the injection due to the reaction of KMnO₄ with soil organic matters, and thus, the amount of KMnO₄, which could be transported from the injection point to the downgradient area, would be low. The effective influence zone of the KMnO₄ oxidation was limited to the KMnO₄ injection area (within a 3-m radius zone). Migration of KMnO₄ to farther downgradient area was limited due to the reaction of KMnO₄ to natural organic matters. To retain a higher TCE removal efficiency, continuous supplement of high concentrations of KMnO₄ is required. The findings would be useful in designing an in situ field-scale ISCO system for TCE-contaminated groundwater remediation using KMnO₄ as the oxidant.

Biotransformation of trinitrotoluene by Citrobacter sp. YC4 and evaluation of its cyto-toxicological effects

Trinitrotoluene (TNT) is an explosive chemical generally used for military, civil and industrial purposes. Therefore, TNT residue can be found in soil and ground water as an environmental pollutant. The environmental control of TNT pollution has become a critical issue because of its potential toxicity and carcinogenicity. The aim of this study is to evaluate the cyto-toxicological effects of TNT after bioremediation. Citrobacter sp. YC4 is able to utilize TNT as a sole nitrogen source. Citrobacter sp. YC4 cells grown in medium with TNT as the sole nitrogen source (TNT-N) were able to rapidly degrade TNT, in contrast to cells grown in Luria Bertani medium as determined by resting cell suspension. The concentration of TNT decreased from 100 to 0 ppm within 10 h in the solution containing TNT mixed with TNT-N-grown YC4. The cytotoxicity of TNT and its degradation products generated by TNT-N-grown YC4 were assessed by WST-1-based cell cytotoxicity assays. Our results showed that the cytotoxic potential of solutions containing TNT decreased almost to the level of the control after a 1-h incubation with TNT-N-grown YC4 cells. The rapid conversion of TNT into possibly less toxic products by Citrobacter sp. YC4 proposes a bioremediation prospection.

Copper promotes E. coli laccase-mediated TNT biotransformation and alters the toxicity of TNT metabolites toward Tigriopus japonicus

Although laccase is involved in the biotransformation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), little is known regarding the effect of E. coli laccase on TNT biotransformation. In this study, E. coli K12 served as the parental strain to construct a laccase deletion strain and two laccase-overexpressing strains. These E. coli strains were used to investigate the effect of laccase together with copper ions on the efficiency of TNT biotransformation, the variety of TNT biotransformation products generated and the toxicity of the TNT metabolites. The results showed that the laccase level was not relevant to TNT biotransformation in the soluble fraction of the culture medium. Conversely, TNT metabolites varied in the insoluble fraction analyzed by thin-layer chromatography (TLC). The insoluble fraction from the laccase-null strain showed fewer and relatively fainter spots than those detected in the wild-type and laccase-overexpressing strains, indicating that laccase expression levels were interrelated determinants of the varieties and amounts of TNT metabolites produced. In addition, the aquatic invertebrate Tigriopus japonicus was used to assess the toxicity of the TNT metabolites. The toxicity of the TNT metabolite mixture increased when the intracellular laccase level in strains increased or when purified E. coli recombinant Laccase (rLaccase) was added to the culture medium. Thus, our results suggest that laccase activity must be considered when performing microbial TNT remediation.

Emulsified polycolloid substrate biobarrier for benzene and petroleum-hydrocarbon plume containment and migration control - A field-scale study

The objective of this field-scale study was to assess the effectiveness of applying an emulsified polycolloid substrate (EPS; containing cane molasses, soybean oil, and surfactants) biobarrier in the control and remediation of a petroleum-hydrocarbon plume in natural waters. An abandoned petrochemical manufacturing facility site was contaminated by benzene and other petroleum products due to a leakage from a storage tank. Because benzene is a petroleum hydrocarbon with a high migration ability, it was used as the target compound in the field-scale study. Batch partition and sorption experiment results indicated that the EPS to water partition coefficient for benzene was 232 mg/mg at 25 °C. This suggests that benzene had a higher sorption affinity to EPS, which decreased the benzene concentrations in groundwater. The EPS solution was pressure-injected into three remediation wells (RWs; 150 L EPS in 800 L groundwater). Groundwater samples were collected from an upgradient background well, two downgradient monitor wells (MWs), and the three RWs for analyses. EPS injection increased total organic carbon (TOC) concentrations (up to 786 mg/L) in groundwater, which also resulted in the formation of anaerobic conditions. An abrupt drop in benzene concentration (from 6.9 to below 0.04 mg/L) was observed after EPS supplementation in the RWs due to both sorption and biodegradation mechanisms. Results show that the EPS supplement increased total viable bacteria and enhanced bioremediation efficiency, which accounted for the observed decrease in benzene concentration. The first-order decay rate in RW1 increased from 0.003 to 0.023 d^-1 after EPS application. Injection of EPS resulted in significant growth of indigenous bacteria, and 23 petroleum-hydrocarbon-degrading bacterial species were detected, which enhanced the in situ benzene biodegradation efficiency. Results demonstrate that the EPS biobarrier can effectively contain a petroleum-hydrocarbon plume and prevent its migration to downgradient areas, which reduces the immediate risk presented to downgradient receptors.

Characterization of released metabolic organics during AOC analyses by P17 and NOX strains using 3-D fluorescent signals

Assimilable organic carbon (AOC) serves as an indicator of the biostability of drinking water distribution systems; however, the properties of the released organic metabolites by Pseudomonas fluorescens (P17) and Spirillum (NOX) used in AOC bioassays are seldom discussed. In this study, fluorescence excitation emission matrix (FEEM) was selected to characterize organic metabolites after substrate biotransformation and their divergences at different growth stages of both strains in AOC bioassay. Excellent correlation between ATP and colony-forming units (CFUs) was observed for both strains. The concentration of ATP per colony was six times higher in the P17 strain than in the NOX strain. A retarding phenomenon was observed for the NOX strain in the presence of high acetate-C content (100-150 μg acetate-C/L). The fluorescence wavelength peaks were wider for the protein-like substance released by the P17 strain than for those released by the NOX strain. However, fluorescent fulvic-like substances only existed in the NOX strain. Relative humus accumulation (RHA), the ratio of protein-like fluorescence intensity to humus-like fluorescence intensity, decreased in the P17 strain but substantially increased in the NOX strain in the logarithmic growth phase. RHA showed a descending trend for the P17 strain as compared to that of the NOX strain during the progress from logarithmic to stationary growth phase at three different acetate-C concentrations; however, the opposite was observed at 100 μg acetate-C/L, indicating that high acetate-C content may affect the properties of released organic matter from both strains.

Application of an emulsified polycolloid substrate biobarrier to remediate petroleum-hydrocarbon contaminated groundwater

Emulsified polycolloid substrate (EPS) was developed and applied in situ to form a biobarrier for the containment and enhanced bioremediation of a petroleum-hydrocarbon plume. EPS had a negative zeta potential (-35.7 mv), which promoted its even distribution after injection. Batch and column experiments were performed to evaluate the effectiveness of EPS on toluene containment and biodegradation. The EPS-to-water partition coefficient for toluene (target compound) was 943. Thus, toluene had a significant sorption affinity to EPS, which caused reduced toluene concentration in water phase in the EPS/water system. Groundwater containing toluene (18 mg/L) was pumped into the three-column system at a flow rate of 0.28 mL/min, while EPS was injected into the second column to form a biobarrier. A significant reduction of toluene concentration to 0.1 mg/L was observed immediately after EPS injection. This indicates that EPS could effectively contain toluene plume and prevent its further migration to farther downgradient zone. Approximately 99% of toluene was removed after 296 PVs of operation via sorption, natural attenuation, and EPS-enhanced biodegradation. Increase in total organic carbon and bacteria were also observed after EPS supplement. Supplement of EPS resulted in a growth of petroleum-hydrocarbon degrading bacteria, which enhanced the toluene biodegradation.

Cationic nickel metal-organic frameworks for adsorption of negatively charged dye molecules

Industrial dye effluents with low biodegradability are highly toxic and carcinogenic on both human and aquatic lives, thus they are detrimental to the biodiversity of environment. Herein, this data set presents the potential of cationic Nickel based MOFs in the adsorption of charged and neutral dye molecules. Data set include a concise description of experimental conditions for the synthesis of imidazolium ligands, 1,3-bis(4-carboxyphenyl)imidazolium chloride (H₂L⁺Cl⁻) and 1,3-bis(3,5-dicarboxyphenyl)imidazolium chloride (H₄L⁺Cl⁻), and MOFs. The data show that the two Nickel MOFs, 1 and 2, synthesized from imidazolium ligands are cationic frameworks. The adsorption and analysis data show that the cationic MOFs exhibit efficient adsorptive removal capacity for positively charged dyes, adsorbing up to 81.08% and 98.65% of Methyl orange and Congo red, respectively.

Development of a two-stage biotransformation system for mercury-contaminated soil remediation

Utilization of bacterial volatilization can be problematic to remediate mercury (Hg)-contaminated soils because most of the Hg in soils is bound to soil particles. The objective of this study was to develop a two-stage system (chemical extraction followed by microbial reduction) for Hg-contaminated soil remediation. The tasks were to (1) select the extraction reagents for Hg extraction, (2) assess the effects of extraction reagents on the growth of Hg-reducing bacterial strains, and (3) evaluate the effectiveness of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ addition on merA gene (Hg reductase) induction. Bacterial inhibition was observed with the addition of 0.1 M ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid or citric acid. Up to 65% of Hg was biotransformed (Hg concentration = 69 mg/kg) from the soils after a 24 h extraction using 0.5 M ammonium thiosulfate. Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ were selected because they have the same electric charge as Hg and the studied groundwater contained high concentrations of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺. Results showed that the addition of 200 mg/L Ca²⁺ or 650 mg/L Mg²⁺ could reach effective merA induction. In the two-stage experiment, 120 mg/kg Hg-contaminated soils were extracted with 2 rounds of extraction processes for 10 h using 0.5 M ammonium thiosulfate. Approximately 77% of Hg was extracted from the soils after the first-step extraction process. Up to 81% of Hg²⁺ was transformed from the washing solution via the biotransformation processes with Enterobacter cloacae addition and Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ supplementation. The two-stage remedial system has the potential to be developed into a practical technology to remediate Hg-contaminated sites.

Source identification and ecological impact evaluation of PAHs in urban river sediments: A case study in Taiwan

The Love River and Ho-Jin River, two major urban rivers in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, are moderately to heavily polluted because different types of improperly treated wastewaters are discharged into the rivers. In this study, sediment and river water samples were collected from two rivers to investigate the river water quality and accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments. The spatial distribution, composition, and source appointment of PAHs of the sediments were examined. The impacts of PAHs on ecological system were assessed using toxic equivalence quotient (TEQ) of potentially carcinogenic PAHs (TEQ^carc) and sediment quality guidelines. The average PAHs concentrations ranged from 2161 ng/g in Love River sediment to 160 ng/g in Ho-Jin River sediment. This could be due to the fact that Love River Basin had much higher population density and pyrolytic activities. High-ring PAHs (4-6 rings) contributed to 59-90% of the total PAHs concentrations. Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) had the highest toxic equivalence quotient (up to 188 ng TEQ/g). Moreover, the downstream sediments contained higher TEQ of total TPHs than midstream and upstream sediment samples. The PAHs were adsorbed onto the fine particles with high organic content. Results from diagnostic ratio analyses indicate that the PAHs in two urban river sediments might originate from oil/coal combustion, traffic-related emissions, and waste combustion (pyrogenic activities). Future pollution prevention and management should target the various industries, incinerators, and transportation emission in this region to reduce the PAHs pollution.

Using poly-glutamic acid as soil-washing agent to remediate heavy metal-contaminated soils

The extraction efficiency of heavy metals from soils using three forms of gamma poly-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) as the washing agents was investigated. Controlling factors including agent concentrations, extraction time, pH, and liquid to soil ratio were evaluated to determine the optimum operational conditions. The distribution of heavy metal species in soils before and after extraction processes was analyzed. Up to 46 and 74% of heavy metal removal efficiencies were achieved with one round and a sequential extraction process using H-bonding form of γ-PGA (200 mM) with washing time of 40 min, liquid to solid ratio of 10 to 1, and pH of 6. Major heavy metal removal mechanisms were (1) γ-PGA-promoted dissolution and (2) complexation of heavy metal with free carboxyl groups in γ-PGA, which resulted in heavy metal desorption from soils. Metal species on soils were redistributed after washing, and soils were remediated without destruction of soil structures and productivity.

Chelant-enhanced washing of CCA-contaminated soil: Coupled with selective dissolution or soil stabilization

Remediation of CCA-contaminated soil (Cr, Cu, and As) by biodegradable chelant-enhanced washing (EDDS, S,S-ethylene-diamine-disuccinic-acid) needs further enhancement. This study investigated the effectiveness of coupling with pre-treatment by selective dissolution and post-treatment by soil amendments, respectively. Three groups of reagents (reductants, alkaline solvents, and organic ligands) were adopted in the pre-treatment to dissolve the oxide minerals before EDDS extraction. In the post-treatment, soil amendments (coal fly ash (CFA), acid mine drainage sludge (AMDS), green waste compost (GWC)), and their mixtures) were used for a 2-month stabilization after 2-h EDDS washing. Multi-endpoint evaluation was performed by assessing the chemical state, leachability, mobility, bioaccessibility, and plant-availability of residual metal(loid)s as well as the cytotoxicity, enzyme activities, and available nutrients of the treated soils. Pre-treatment by dithionite-citrate-bicarbonate significantly enhanced extraction efficiency, but also increased the leachability of As and Cr and bioaccessibility of Cr in the treated soils. While sodium hydroxide removed the majority of As without increasing its leachability and bioaccessibility, it increased the cytotoxicity and inhibited the acid phosphatase activity. Post-treatment with AMDS and CFA effectively controlled the mobility and leachability of residual As and Cr after EDDS washing. However, destabilized Cu was only marginally immobilized by GWC due to strong Cu-EDDS complexation. The bioaccessibility and phytoavailability of Cu was primarily reduced by EDDS washing, while those of As and Cr could be attenuated by AMDS and CFA. This study indicates that coupling chemical extraction with subsequent soil amendment plays complementary roles in mitigating effects of residual metal(loid)s and improving environmental quality.

Impact of disposal of dredged material on sediment quality in the Kaohsiung Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, Taiwan

Kaohsiung Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site (KODMDS) that located in the southwest offshore of Taiwan, has been annually disposed about 500,000 ton dredged sediments of Kaohsiung Harbor from 2003 to 2012. Five sediment cores collected from KODMDS and three from nearby reference sites were analyzed to evaluate their sedimentation rates, vertical profiles of heavy metal, and heavy metal pollution indices to assess the impact of dumping harbor dredged sediments into the ocean on the sediment quality in KODMDS. The sedimentation rate of 0.24 cm/y was estimated by the ²¹⁰Pb method, which means that the effected depth of the top layer of a core of D1 was affected in the period of dumping dredging sediments. The vertical distribution of heavy metals in the sediment cores from KODMDS showed the concentrations of most heavy metals were slightly elevated in the top layers of the sediment cores, which may be affected by the dumping of harbor dredged sediments. According to the analyzed results of the heavy metal pollution indices, the level of heavy metal pollution, the potential eco-toxicity and the potential ecological risk of the sediments in KODMDS exhibited only a slight increase, which indicated that the increase in concentration of heavy metals may potentially pose the insignificant impact on benthos inhabiting the disposal site.

Aerobic Biodegradation of OCDD by P. Mendocina NSYSU: Effectiveness and Gene Inducement Studies

  The goals of this study were to assess the effectiveness of (1) enhancing octachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD) biodegradation under aerobic conditions by Pseudomonas mendocina NSYSU (P. Mendocina NSYSU) with the addition of lecithin, and (2) inducing OCDD ring-cleavage genes by pentachlorophenol (PCP) and OCDD addition. P. Mendocina NSYSU could biodegrade OCDD via aerobic cometabolism and lecithin was used as a primary substrate. Approximately 74 and 67% of OCDD biodegradation was observed after 60 days of incubation with lecithin and glucose supplement, respectively. Lecithin was also used as the solubilization additive resulting in OCDD solubilization and enhanced bioavailability of OCDD to P. Mendocina NSYSU. Two intradiol and extradiol ring-cleavage dioxygenase genes (Pmen_0474 and Pmen_2526) were identified from gene analyses. Gene concentration was significantly enhanced after the inducement by PCP and OCDD. Higher gene inducement efficiency was obtained using PCP as the inducer, and Pmen_2526 played a more important role in OCDD biodegradation.

Decadal changes in nutrient fluxes and environmental effects in the Jiulong River Estuary

Estuaries are areas of both freshwater and seawater that are partially enclosed with contact to the open sea and a flow of fresh water. Although the Jiulong River Estuary has a relatively small catchment, this area was found to exhibit high nutrient fluxes. The nutrient fluxes showed obvious fluctuations for different years. The Jiulong River Estuary was predominantly P-limited, and was slowly moving towards higher DIN:DIP and DSi:DIP ratios as the nitrate concentrations increased. The high nutrient fluxes into the estuary may affect estuarine ecosystems by the alteration of DO concentrations in bottom waters, causing harm to benthic fauna due to a lack of oxygen, triggering algal blooms. Additionally, the Jiulong River Estuary was slowly moving towards lower DSi:DIN and DSi:DIP ratios along with the change of time scales, which caused nutrient limitation of phytoplankton growth as P and Si levels decreased and became more limiting.

Enhancement of microbial 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene transformation with increased toxicity by exogenous nutrient amendment

In this study, the bacterial strain Citrobacter youngae strain E4 was isolated from 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT)-contaminated soil and used to assess the capacity of TNT transformation with/without exogenous nutrient amendments. C. youngae E4 poorly degraded TNT without an exogenous amino nitrogen source, whereas the addition of an amino nitrogen source considerably increased the efficacy of TNT transformation in a dose-dependent manner. The enhanced TNT transformation of C. youngae E4 was mediated by increased cell growth and up-regulation of TNT nitroreductases, including NemA, NfsA and NfsB. This result indicates that the increase in TNT transformation by C. youngae E4 via nitrogen nutrient stimulation is a cometabolism process. Consistently, TNT transformation was effectively enhanced when C. youngae E4 was subjected to a TNT-contaminated soil slurry in the presence of an exogenous amino nitrogen amendment. Thus, effective enhancement of TNT transformation via the coordinated inoculation of the nutrient-responsive C. youngae E4 and an exogenous nitrogen amendment might be applicable for the remediation of TNT-contaminated soil. Although the TNT transformation was significantly enhanced by C. youngae E4 in concert with biostimulation, the 96-h LC50 value of the TNT transformation product mixture on the aquatic invertebrate Tigriopus japonicas was higher than the LC50 value of TNT alone. Our results suggest that exogenous nutrient amendment can enhance microbial TNT transformation; however, additional detoxification processes may be needed due to the increased toxicity after reduced TNT transformation.

Developing an Integrated Modeling Tool for River Water Quality Index Assessment

  The goal of this study was to establish a modeling tool for river water quality with a direct linkage to the water quality index (WQI5) calculation and the river water quality model, the Water Quality Analysis Simulation Program (WASP), for pollutant transport modeling. The integrated WASP and WQI5 tool was field-tested to assess pollutant loadings and their impacts on river environment. Suspended solid (SS) and electric conductivity (EC) correlation equations and the WQI5 calculation tool were included in the water quality model and direct WQI5 calculation. The SS concentration, which was influenced by river flows, had crucial effects on river water quality and WQI5 values. EC value was controlled by dissolution of soil minerals, which was affected by the watershed drainage area and surface runoff. The integrated system could establish a direct correlation for river water quality, river flow, and WQI5.

Bioremediation of diesel and lubricant oil-contaminated soils using enhanced landfarming system

Lubricant and diesel oil-polluted sites are difficult to remediate because they have less volatile and biodegradable characteristics. The goal of this research was to evaluate the potential of applying an enhanced landfarming to bioremediate soils polluted by lubricant and diesel. Microcosm study was performed to evaluate the optimal treatment conditions with the addition of different additives (nutrients, addition of activated sludge from oil-refining wastewater facility, compost, TPH-degrading bacteria, and fern chips) to enhance total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) removal. To simulate the aerobic landfarming biosystem, air in the microcosm headspace was replaced once a week. Results demonstrate that the additives of activated sludge and compost could result in the increase in soil microbial populations and raise TPH degradation efficiency (up to 83% of TPH removal with 175 days of incubation) with initial (TPH = 4100 mg/kg). The first-order TPH degradation rate reached 0.01 1/d in microcosms with additive of activated sludge (mass ratio of soil to inocula = 50:1). The soil microbial communities were determined by nucleotide sequence analyses and 16S rRNA-based denatured gradient gel electrophoresis. Thirty-four specific TPH-degrading bacteria were detected in microcosm soils. Chromatograph analyses demonstrate that resolved peaks were more biodegradable than unresolved complex mixture. Results indicate that more aggressive remedial measures are required to enhance the TPH biodegradation, which included the increase of (1) microbial population or TPH-degrading bacteria, (2) biodegradable carbon sources, (3) nutrient content, and (4) soil permeability.

Acidification and sulfide formation control during reductive dechlorination of 1,2-dichloroethane in groundwater: Effectiveness and mechanistic study

To enhance the reductive dechlorination of 1,2-dichloroethane (DCA) in groundwater, substrate injection may be required. However, substrate biodegradation causes groundwater acidification and sulfide production, which inhibits the bacteria responsible for DCA dechlorination and results in an odor problem. In the microcosm study, the effectiveness of the addition of ferrous sulfate (FS), desulfurization slag (DS), and nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) on acidification and sulfide control was studied during reductive dechlorination of DCA, and the emulsified substrate (ES) was used as the substrate. Up to 94% of the sulfide was removed with FS and DS addition (0.25 wt%) (initial DCA concentration = 13.5 mg/L). FS and DS amendments resulted in the formation of a metal sulfide, which reduced the hydrogen sulfide concentration as well as the subsequent odor problem. Approximately 96% of the DCA was degraded under reductive dechlorination with nZVI or DS addition using ES as the substrate. In microcosms with nZVI or DS addition, the sulfide concentration was reduced to less than 15 μg/L. Acidification can be controlled via hydroxide ions production after nZVI oxidation and reaction of free CaO (released from DS) with water, which enhanced DCA dechlorination. The quantitative polymerase chain reaction results confirmed that the microcosms with nZVI added had the highest Dehalococcoides population (up to 2.5 × 10(8) gene copies/g soil) due to effective acidification control. The α-elimination mechanism was the main abiotic process, and reductive dechlorination dominated by Dehalococcides was the biotic mechanism that resulted in DCA removal. More than 22 bacterial species were detected, and dechlorinating bacteria existed in soils under alkaline and acidic conditions.

The change of microbial community from chlorinated solvent-contaminated groundwater after biostimulation using the metagenome analysis

The compositions of bacterial community in one site contaminated with PCE/TCE after the slow polycolloid-releasing substrate (SPRS) (contained vegetable oil, cane molasses, and surfactants) addition were analyzed. Results show that SPRS caused a rapid enhancement of reductive dechlorination of TCE. The transformation of PCE/TCE into ethene was observed after 20 days of operation. To compare the change of bacterial communities before and after SPRS addition, 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing using the metagenome analysis was performed. Results demonstrated the detection of the increased amounts of Dehalogenimonas by 2.2-fold, Pseudomonas by 3.4-fold and Sulfuricurvum by 4-fold with the analysis of the ribosomal database project (RDP). Metagenomic DNA was extracted from PCE/TCE-contaminated groundwater after SPRS addition, and subjected to sequencing. Results obtained from metagenomic sequencing indicate that genes from Dehalococcoides mccartyi was ranked as the second abundant bacteria among all of the detected bacteria via the analysis of the lowest common ancestor (LCA). Abundance of these bacterial groups, as shown above suggests their role in TCE biodegradation. Functional analysis of the metagenome, with the specific reference to chloroalkane and chloroalkene degradation, revealed the presence of some genes responsible for TCE biodegradation. Overall, results of this study provided new insights for a better understanding of the potential of biostimulation on TCE-contaminated sites.

Bioremediation of 1,2-dichloroethane contaminated groundwater: Microcosm and microbial diversity studies

In this study, the effectiveness of bioremediating 1,2-dichloroethane (DCA)-contaminated groundwater under different oxidation-reduction processes was evaluated. Microcosms were constructed using indigenous bacteria and activated sludge as the inocula and cane molasses and a slow polycolloid-releasing substrate (SPRS) as the primary substrates. Complete DCA removal was obtained within 30 days under aerobic and reductive dechlorinating conditions. In anaerobic microcosms with sludge and substrate addition, chloroethane, vinyl chloride, and ethene were produced. The microbial communities and DCA-degrading bacteria in microcosms were characterized by 16S rRNA-based denatured-gradient-gel electrophoresis profiling and nucleotide sequence analyses. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was applied to evaluate the variations in Dehalococcoides spp. and Desulfitobacterium spp. Increase in Desulfitobacterium spp. indicates that the growth of Desulfitobacterium might be induced by DCA. Results indicate that DCA could be used as the primary substrate under aerobic conditions. The increased ethene concentrations imply that dihaloelimination was the dominate mechanism for DCA biodegradation.

Application of a long-lasting colloidal substrate with pH and hydrogen sulfide control capabilities to remediate TCE-contaminated groundwater

A long-lasting emulsified colloidal substrate (LECS) was developed for continuous carbon and nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) release to remediate trichloroethylene (TCE)-contaminated groundwater under reductive dechlorinating conditions. The developed LECS contained nZVI, vegetable oil, surfactants (Simple Green™ and lecithin), molasses, lactate, and minerals. An emulsification study was performed to evaluate the globule droplet size and stability of LECS. The results show that a stable oil-in-water emulsion with uniformly small droplets (0.7 μm) was produced, which could continuously release the primary substrates. The emulsified solution could serve as the dispensing agent, and nZVI particles (with diameter 100-200 nm) were distributed in the emulsion evenly without aggregation. Microcosm results showed that the LECS caused a rapid increase in the total organic carbon concentration (up to 488 mg/L), and reductive dechlorination of TCE was significantly enhanced. Up to 99% of TCE (with initial concentration of 7.4 mg/L) was removed after 130 days of operation. Acidification was prevented by the production of hydroxide ion by the oxidation of nZVI. The formation of iron sulfide reduced the odor from produced hydrogen sulfide. Microbial analyses reveal that dechlorinating bacteria existed in soils, which might contribute to TCE dechlorination.

Enhanced anaerobic biodegradation of OCDD-contaminated soils by Pseudomonas mendocina NSYSU: microcosm, pilot-scale, and gene studies

In this study, microcosm and pilot-scale experiments were performed to investigate the capability and effectiveness of Pseudomonas mendocina NSYSU (P. mendocina NSYSU) on the bioremediation of octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD)-contaminated soils. The objectives were to evaluate the (1) characteristics of P. mendocina NSYSU, (2) feasibility of enhancing OCDD biodegradation with the addition of P. mendocina NSYSU and lecithin, and (3) variation in microbial diversity and genes responsible for the dechlorination of OCDD. P. mendocina NSYSU was inhibited when salinity was higher than 7%, and it could biodegrade OCDD under reductive dechlorinating conditions. Lecithin could serve as the solubilization agent causing the enhanced solubilization and dechlorination of OCDD. Up to 71 and 62% of OCDD could be degraded after 65 days of incubation under anaerobic conditions with and without the addition of lecithin, respectively. Decreased OCDD concentrations caused significant increase in microbial diversity. Results from the pilot-scale study show that up to 75% of OCDD could be degraded after a 2.5-month operational period with lecithin addition. Results from the gene analyses show that two genes encoding the extradiol/intradiol ring-cleavage dioxygenase and five genes encoding the hydrolase in P. mendocina NSYSU were identified and played important roles in OCDD degradation.

Development of KMnO(4)-releasing composites for in situ chemical oxidation of TCE-contaminated groundwater

The objective of this study was to develop a controlled-oxidant-release technology combining in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) and permeable reactive barrier (PRB) concepts to remediate trichloroethene (TCE)-contaminated groundwater. In this study, a potassium permanganate (KMnO4)-releasing composite (PRC) was designed for KMnO4 release. The components of this PRC included polycaprolactone (PCL), KMnO4, and starch with a weight ratio of 1.14:2:0.96. Approximately 64% (w/w) of the KMnO4 was released from the PRC after 76 days of operation in a batch system. The results indicate that the released KMnO4 could oxidize TCE effectively. The results from a column study show that the KMnO4 released from 200 g of PRC could effectively remediate 101 pore volumes (PV) of TCE-contaminated groundwater (initial TCE concentration = 0.5 mg/L) and achieve up to 95% TCE removal. The effectiveness of the PRC system was verified by the following characteristics of the effluents collected after the PRC columns (barrier): (1) decreased TCE concentrations, (2) increased ORP and pH values, and (3) increased MnO2 and KMnO4 concentrations. The results of environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) analysis show that the PCL and starch completely filled up the pore spaces of the PRC, creating a composite with low porosity. Secondary micro-scale capillary permeability causes the KMnO4 release, mainly through a reaction-diffusion mechanism. The PRC developed could be used as an ISCO-based passive barrier system for plume control, and it has the potential to become a cost-effective alternative for the remediation of chlorinated solvent-contaminated groundwater.

Biotransformation of trinitrotoluene (TNT) by Pseudomonas spp. isolated from a TNT-contaminated environment

The compound 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) is a secondary explosive widely used worldwide for both military and civil purposes. As a result, residual TNT has been detected as an environmental pollutant in both soil and groundwater. The authors have isolated several microbial strains from soil contaminated with TNT by enrichment culture techniques using TNT as a carbon, nitrogen, and energy source. The contaminated soil contained approximately 1860 ppm TNT measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The initial identification of these isolates was determined by 16S rRNA gene comparison. The isolates mainly included species belonging to the genus Pseudomonas. Two strains (Pseudomonas putida strain TP1 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain TP6) were selected for further examination. Both strains demonstrated the ability to grow on the medium containing TNT as a carbon, energy, and nitrogen source and also clearly demonstrated the ability to degrade TNT. More than 90% of the TNT in the growth medium was degraded by both strains after 22 d incubation, as determined by HPLC. Additionally, the resting cells of P. putida TP1 and P. aeruginosa TP6 both significantly displayed the ability to transform (metabolize) TNT.

Application of polycolloid-releasing substrate to remediate trichloroethylene-contaminated groundwater: a pilot-scale study

The objectives of this pilot-scale study were to (1) evaluate the effectiveness of bioremediation of trichloroethylene (TCE)-contaminated groundwater with the supplement of slow polycolloid-releasing substrate (SPRS) (contained vegetable oil, cane molasses, surfactants) under reductive dechlorinating conditions, (2) apply gene analyses to confirm the existence of TCE-dechlorinating genes, and (3) apply the real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to evaluate the variations in TCE-dechlorinating bacteria (Dehalococcoides spp.). Approximately 350L of SPRS solution was supplied into an injection well (IW) and groundwater samples were collected and analyzed from IW and monitor wells periodically. Results show that the SPRS caused a rapid increase of the total organic carbon concentration (up to 5794mg/L), and reductive dechlorination of TCE was significantly enhanced. TCE dechlorination byproducts were observed and up to 99% of TCE removal (initial TCE concentration=1872μg/L) was observed after 50 days of operation. The population of Dehalococcoides spp. increased from 4.6×10(1) to 3.41×10(7)cells/L after 20 days of operation. DNA sequencing results show that there were 31 bacterial species verified, which might be related to TCE biodegradation. Results demonstrate that the microbial analysis and real-time PCR are useful tools to evaluate the effectiveness of TCE reductive dechlorination.