The ecotoxic potential of a new zero-valent iron nanomaterial, designed for the elimination of halogenated pollutants, and its effect on reductive dechlorinating microbial communities.
The purpose of this study was to assess the ecotoxic potential of a new zero-valent iron nanomaterial produced for the elimination of chlorinated pollutants at contaminated sites. Abiotic dechlorination through the newly developed nanoscale zero-valent iron material and its effects on dechlorinating bacteria were investigated in anaerobic batch and column experiments. The aged, i.e. oxidized, iron material was characterization with dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray analysis, x-ray diffractometry and cell-free reactive oxygen measurements. Furthermore, it was evaluated in aerobic ecotoxicological test systems with algae, crustacean, and fish, and also applied in a mechanism specific test for mutagenicity. The anaerobic column experiments showed co-occurrence of abiotic and biological dechlorination of the common groundwater contaminant perchloroethene. No prolonged toxicity of the nanomaterial (measured for up to 300 days) towards the investigated dechlorinating microorganism was observed. The nanomaterial has a flake like appearance and an inhomogeneous size distribution. The toxicity to crustacean and fish was calculated and the obtained EC50 values were 163 mg/L and 458 mg/L, respectively. The nanomaterial showed no mutagenicity. It physically interacted with algae, which had implications for further testing and the evaluation of the results. Thus, the newly developed iron nanomaterial was slightly toxic in its reduced state but no prolonged toxicity was recorded. The aquatic tests revealed a low toxicity with EC50 values ≥ 163 mg/L. These concentrations are unlikely to be reached in the aquatic environment. Hence, this nanomaterial is probably of no environmental concern not prohibiting its application for groundwater remediation.
Institute for Environmental Research, ABBt - Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, Aachen 52074, Germany.
Andreas
A
Schiwy
Institute for Environmental Research, ABBt - Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, Aachen 52074, Germany.
Hanna M
HM
Maes
Institute for Environmental Research, ABBt - Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, Aachen 52074, Germany.
Daniel
D
Koske
Institute for Environmental Research, ABBt - Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, Aachen 52074, Germany.
Mirkko
M
Flecken
Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Water Technology Center, Karlsruher Str. 84, Karlsruhe 76139, Germany.
Kathrin R
KR
Schmidt
Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Water Technology Center, Karlsruher Str. 84, Karlsruhe 76139, Germany.
Heico
H
Schell
Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Water Technology Center, Karlsruher Str. 84, Karlsruhe 76139, Germany.
Andreas
A
Tiehm
UVR-FIA GmbH, Chemnitzer Straße 40, 09599 Freiberg, Germany.
Andre
A
Kamptner
UVR-FIA GmbH, Chemnitzer Straße 40, 09599 Freiberg, Germany.
Silke
S
Thümmler
Clay and Interface Mineralogy, RWTH Aachen University, Bunsenstrasse 8, 52072 Aachen, Germany.
Helge
H
Stanjek
Ernst Ruska-Centre for Microscopy and Spectroscopy with Electrons, Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, 52425 Juelich, Germany.
Marc
M
Heggen
Ernst Ruska-Centre for Microscopy and Spectroscopy with Electrons, Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, 52425 Juelich, Germany.
Rafal E
RE
Dunin-Borkowski
VEGAS-Research Facility for Subsurface Remediation, University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 61, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany.
Jürgen
J
Braun
Institute for Environmental Research, ABBt - Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, Aachen 52074, Germany; College of Resources and Environmental Science, Chongqing University, 1 Tiansheng Road Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China; State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, 163 Qixia District Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing 210023, China.
Andreas
A
Schäffer
Institute for Environmental Research, ABBt - Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, Aachen 52074, Germany; College of Resources and Environmental Science, Chongqing University, 1 Tiansheng Road Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China; State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, 163 Qixia District Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing 210023, China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering and State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China. Electronic address: henner.hollert@bio5.rwth-aachen.de.
Henner
H
Hollert
D000818:Animals; D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000187:drug effects*; D001419:Bacteria; D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000187:drug effects; D003445:Crustacea; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation; D005399:Fishes; D060587:Groundwater; D054879:Halogenation; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000737:chemistry*; D007501:Iron; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000633:toxicity; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D014871:Water Microbiology
D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D007501:Iron
Ecotoxicology; Nanoremediation; nZVI