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Final Report: Sediment-Based Remediation of Hazardous Substances at a Contaminated Military Base
EPA Grant Number: R825513C014Subproject: this is subproject number 014 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R825513
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: HSRC (1989) - South and Southwest HSRC
Center Director: D. Reible, Danny
Title: Sediment-Based Remediation of Hazardous Substances at a Contaminated Military Base
Investigators: Saunders, F. Michael , Wang, X.
Institution: Georgia Institute of Technology
EPA Project Officer: Manty, Dale
Project Period: January 1, 1995 through January 1, 1996
Project Amount: Refer to main center abstract for funding details.
RFA: Hazardous Substance Research Centers - HSRC (1989)
Research Category: Hazardous Substance Research Centers
Description:
Objective:The purpose of this research is to advance fundamental understanding of the transformation of hazardous substances in sediment systems exposed to a complex array of chlorinated solvents and petroleum hydrocarbons. This research was conducted to both delineate fundamental pathways of biodegradation and to advance this in-situ technological approach to the field assessment stage.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):The research focus for this project was on the delineation of the fate and transformation of selected contaminants in wetland sediments. The contaminants of concern were TCE, BTEX, chlorobenzene, DCB and related degradation products.
Wetland sediments at various depths and in several areas of high and low influent concentrations, sediment cores and wetland waters were transported to the laboratory under refrigerated and anoxic conditions. The sediment samples were analyzed to obtain the fundamental characteristics, such as organic content, nutrition level, and basic bacterial activity.
Batch slurry reactors of sediments were used to address biodegradation rates under aerobic, anoxic and anaerobic conditions. Results of biodegradation under different environmental and nutritional conditions were analyzed and compared statistically. A soil column with continuous flow was setup to mimic the in-situ biodegradation of contaminants. The soil column was designed based on the results of the batch slurry reactor studies.
Biodegradation of Specific Site Contaminants under Aerobic
Conditions
Aerobic respirometry was used to determine sediment-based
bioremediation of site contaminants in oxygenated conditions. Exponential oxygen
exertion was observed in all sediments with acetone, phenol, benzene,
chlorobenzene, and 1,4-dichlorobenzene. Sediments showed exponential increases
with acetone at 60-100 hours of experimental run -time in the respirometer
reactor . Once initiated, exponential oxygen exertion with acetone occurred at
rates of 0.048 hr-1 to 0.16 hr-1. Sediments responded with shorter experimental
run times before oxygen exertion and with faster rates, as compared to acetone.
when phenol was utilized as a substrate. Exponential growth on phenol occurred
at 20 hours and was complete before 40 hours. Utilization rates for phenol
ranged from 0.1385 hr-1 to 0.287 hr-1, averaging 0.22 hr-1.
For benzene, exponential-growth, starting times ranged from 50 to 110 hours. Degradation rates of benzene in the sediments ranged from 0.06974 to 0.15 740 hr-1. Chlorobenzene responded with less experimental run time before exponential growth, and the results show initiation of exponential growth ranging from 30 hours to 70 hours. Kinetic rate data for chlorobenzene were also faster than benzene with a range from 0.08373 hr-1 to 0.21140 hr-1.
Sediments from SITE-03 responded to 1,4-dichlorobenzene after shorter incubation times when compared to SED-01 and SED-08. SED-03 and SED-03* responded exponentially at 60-80 hours, while SED-01 and SED-08 responded after 150-170 hours of incubation . Rates for 1,4-dichlorobenzene utilization were lower than other specific contaminant rates. 1,-1- dichlorobenzene rates ranged from 0.0119 4 hr-1 to 0.08612 hr-1
No net oxygen exertion was observed over a 7-day incubation period with TCE as substrate. Thus, intrinsic bioremediation did not appear to be feasible for TCE under aerobic conditions. Further focused investigation of TCE in aerobic systems indicated that TCE was inhibitory to the degradation of natural organic matter at TCE concentrations of 10-34 mg/L. The presence of TCE did not inhibit degradation of mixtures of easily-degraded compounds or mixtures of specific site contaminants, although subsequent degradation of natural organic matter was inhibited at 34 mg/L of TCE.
Biodegradation of Specific Site Contaminants Under Anaerobic
Conditions
Biological conversion of contaminant carbon to carbon dioxide is a
standard means to access biodegradability in the laboratory. Carbon dioxide
production is a widely used measurement of mineralization or the complete
oxidation of parent compounds. Under ideal conditions, mineralization is
proportional to the amount of contaminant present and can be used to establish a
mass balance for biodegradation. In this study, measurements of [14C]-CO2,
produced from utilizing [14C]-labeled organic contaminant by indigenous
microorganisms was used to measure respiratory processes.
For site sediments with addition of radiolabeled compounds (acetone, benzene, chlorobenzene and 1,4-dichlorobenzene), only acetone was mineralized to 14CO2, under anaerobic conditions. No C02-mineralization of benzene, chlorobenzene and 1,4dichlorobenzene was observed.
Mineralization of acetone is a direct evidence of biodegradation. Acetone is decomposed by bacteria for metabolism and energy with a fairly rapid rate. Ten days of acclimation period (i.e., no degradation of chemicals) was observed on methane production and 14CO2, production.
No CO2-mineralization was observed for benzene and chlorobenzene and they are believed to be recalcitrant under methanogenic conditions. 1,4-Dichlorobenzene was not mineralized or degraded in the studies using labeled and unlabeled compounds. Degradation of trichloroethylene (TCE) vvas observed by a rapid disappearance of unlabeled TCE. TCE (-10 mg/L) was degraded in 30 days under methanogenic conditions.
Based on the current observations, it can be concluded that if the site is contaminated with water-immisible hydrocarbons, vet microorganisms generally will reside in the aqueous phase. For effective biodegradation to occur, it is therefore essential that the contaminant substrate be "bioavailable" to the degrading microbial communities. Many microorganisms possess an ability to overcome partitioning effects and utilize water-insoluble substrates (i.e.. 1.4-dichlorobenzene,. In some cases, the production of extracellular, surface active agents are produced that may solubilize hydrocarbons into the aqueous phase (Miller, 1994). In other cases, hydrophobic cell walls may actually partition with hydrocarbons present in the soil or attach to water-hvdrophobe interface. The mechanisms by hydrocarbon transport into, and assimilation bv. microorganisms is not entirely understood (Bossert and Compeau,1995).
Moreover, the chemical structure of a contaminant has both direct and indirect impacts on how well the substrate will be metabolized, i.e., biodegraded. First, metabolic or physiological constraints including nutrient or metabolic limitation and bioavailability of the contaminant substrate by microorganisms will directly impact how readily substrate can be degraded. Second, type and size of chemical structure may directly affect biodegradation by altering the bioavailability of the contamination to the biodegrading microorganisms. Biodegradability of hydrocarbons in soils has been demonstrated to correlate to their water solubility, which are generally inversely proportional to their respective molecular weight. Other structural attributes, such as degree of unsaturation, can affect water solubility and ultimately uptake and availability to the degrading microorganisms (Bossert and Compeau,1995).
The effect of hydrocarbon contamination on microbial populations in soil therefore varies considerably, depending on the type, amount, and age of the contaminant, as well as the prevailing environment conditions. Unlike surface bodies of water or groundwater, which will diffuse the effects of contamination through dilution and migration, the contamination in soils will remain localized, potentially exerting pronounced effects on the immediate soil microcosms. However, because of physical matrix and chemistry of soil, most soils are actually good mitigates for toxic effects. By (ionic or covalent) binding, and/or sorption onto the soil organic materials which provide a solid, physical support as well to help protect and stabilize microorganisms and their cellular components, contamination quickly becomes immobilized and less bioavailable. Moreover, the solid soil structure aids in maintaining cell membrane integrity in the presence of contaminants exhibiting solvation effects (Bossert and Compeau,1995).
Sorption described the partitioning of contaminants between aqueous phase and the solid aquifer matrix is not directly examined in the laboratory. However, quantity of sorbed contaminant in each bioreactor can be determined by direct counting of radiolabeled material on sediment or recovered throughout solid-liquid extraction from sediment. Sorption processes as-we believed tend to reduce the dissolved contaminant concentrations and limits the migration of the aqueous phase plume, however, they do not result in a loss of contaminated mass from the aquifer.
Journal Articles:No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 1 publications for this subproject
Supplemental Keywords:biodegradation, fate and transport, and wetland sediments. , Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Water, Scientific Discipline, Waste, RFA, Remediation, Chemical Engineering, Hazardous Waste, Environmental Engineering, Fate & Transport, Environmental Chemistry, Contaminated Sediments, Hazardous, Ecology and Ecosystems, heavy metals, risk assessment, contaminant transport models, biodegradation, biotransformation, fate and transport, extraction of metals, soil and groundwater remediation, wetland sediment, chemical transport, aquifer fate and treatment, military base, technical outreach, chemical kinetics, contaminated sediment, remediation technologies, contaminant transport, anaerobic biotransformation, environmental technology, hazardous waste management, marine sediments, contaminated soil, bioremediation of soils, TCE, contaminated marine sediment, hazardous waste treatment, hydrology, sediment treatment, technology transfer, kinetics, BTEX
Progress and Final Reports:
Original Abstract
Main Center Abstract and Reports:
R825513 HSRC (1989) - South and Southwest HSRC
Subprojects under this Center:
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R825513C001 Sediment Resuspension and Contaminant Transport in an Estuary.
R825513C002 Contaminant Transport Across Cohesive Sediment Interfaces.
R825513C003 Mobilization and Fate of Inorganic Contaminant due to Resuspension of Cohesive Sediment.
R825513C004 Source Identification, Transformation, and Transport Processes of N-, O- and S- Containing Organic Chemicals in Wetland and Upland Sediments.
R825513C005 Mobility and Transport of Radium from Sediment and Waste Pits.
R825513C006 Anaerobic Biodegradation of 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene and Other Nitroaromatic Compounds by Clostridium Acetobutylicum.
R825513C007 Investigation on the Fate and Biotransformation of Hexachlorobutadiene and Chlorobenzenes in a Sediment-Water Estuarine System
R825513C008 An Investigation of Chemical Transport from Contaminated Sediments through Porous Containment Structures
R825513C009 Evaluation of Placement and Effectiveness of Sediment Caps
R825513C010 Coupled Biological and Physicochemical Bed-Sediment Processes
R825513C011 Pollutant Fluxes to Aquatic Systems via Coupled Biological and Physicochemical Bed-Sediment Processes
R825513C012 Controls on Metals Partitioning in Contaminated Sediments
R825513C013 Phytoremediation of TNT Contaminated Soil and Groundwaters
R825513C014 Sediment-Based Remediation of Hazardous Substances at a Contaminated Military Base
R825513C015 Effect of Natural Dynamic Changes on Pollutant-Sediment Interaction
R825513C016 Desorption of Nonpolar Organic Pollutants from Historically Contaminated Sediments and Dredged Materials
R825513C017 Modeling Air Emissions of Organic Compounds from Contaminated Sediments and Dredged Materials title change in last year to "Long-term Release of Pollutants from Contaminated Sediment Dredged Material"
R825513C018 Development of an Integrated Optic Interferometer for In-Situ Monitoring of Volatile Hydrocarbons
R825513C019 Bioremediation of Contaminated Sediments and Dredged Material
R825513C020 Bioremediation of Sediments Contaminated with Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons
R825513C021 Role of Particles in Mobilizing Hazardous Chemicals in Urban Runoff
R825513C022 Particle Transport and Deposit Morphology at the Sediment/Water Interface
R825513C023 Uptake of Metal Ions from Aqueous Solutions by Sediments
R825513C024 Bioavailability of Desorption Resistant Hydrocarbons in Sediment-Water Systems.
R825513C025 Interactive Roles of Microbial and Spartina Populations in Mercury Methylation Processes in Bioremediation of Contaminated Sediments in Salt-Marsh Systems
R825513C026 Evaluation of Physical-Chemical Methods for Rapid Assessment of the Bioavailability of Moderately Polar Compounds in Sediments
R825513C027 Freshwater Bioturbators in Riverine Sediments as Enhancers of Contaminant Release
R825513C028 Characterization of Laguna Madre Contaminated Sediments.
R825513C029 The Role of Competitive Adsorption of Suspended Sediments in Determining Partitioning and Colloidal Stability.
R825513C030 Remediation of TNT-Contaminated Soil by Cyanobacterial Mat.
R825513C031 Experimental and Detailed Mathematical Modeling of Diffusion of Contaminants in Fluids
R825513C033 Application of Biotechnology in Bioremediation of Contaminated Sediments
R825513C034 Characterization of PAH's Degrading Bacteria in Coastal Sediments
R825513C035 Dynamic Aspects of Metal Speciation in the Miami River Sediments in Relation to Particle Size Distribution of Chemical Heterogeneity