Using the natural biodegradation potential of shallow soils for in-situ remediation of deep vadose zone and groundwater.
In this study, we examined the ability of top soil to degrade perchlorate from infiltrating polluted groundwater under unsaturated conditions. Column experiments designed to simulate typical remediation operation of daily wetting and draining cycles of contaminated water amended with an electron donor. Covering the infiltration area with bentonite ensured anaerobic conditions. The soil remained unsaturated, and redox potential dropped to less than -200mV. Perchlorate was reduced continuously from ∼1150mg/L at the inlet to ∼300mg/L at the outlet in daily cycles. Removal efficiency was between 60 and 84%. No signs of bioclogging were observed during three operation months although occasional iron reduction observed due to excess electron donor. Changes in perchlorate reducing bacteria numbers were inferred from an increased in pcrA gene abundances from ∼105to 107copied per gram at the end of the experiment indicating the growth of perchlorate-reducing bacteria. We proposed that the topsoil may serve as a bioreactor to treat high concentrations of perchlorate from the contaminated groundwater. The treated water that infiltrates from the topsoil through the vadose zone could be used to flush perchlorate from the deep vadose zone into the groundwater where it is retrieved again for treatment in the topsoil.
Department of Environmental Hydrology & Microbiology, Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boker Campus, 8499000, Israel.
Lior
L
Avishai
Department of Environmental Hydrology & Microbiology, Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boker Campus, 8499000, Israel.
Hagar
H
Siebner
Department of Environmental Hydrology & Microbiology, Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boker Campus, 8499000, Israel. Electronic address: odahan@bgu.ac.il.
Ofer
O
Dahan
Department of Environmental Hydrology & Microbiology, Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boker Campus, 8499000, Israel. Electronic address: zeevrone@bgu.ac.il.
Zeev
Z
Ronen
D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D004265:DNA Helicases / Q000235:genetics; D060587:Groundwater; D010472:Perchlorates / Q000378:metabolism*; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012987:Soil; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D010472:Perchlorates; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D012987:Soil; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C084217:pcrA protein, Bacteria; D004265:DNA Helicases; C494474:perchlorate
In-situ remediation; Perchlorate; Soil flushing; Vadose-zone monitoring