Grantee Research Project Results

Phytoremediation in Wetlands and CDFs

EPA Grant Number: R828773C003
Subproject: this is subproject number 003 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R828773
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: HSRC (2001) - South and Southwest HSRC
Center Director: Reible, Danny D.
Title: Phytoremediation in Wetlands and CDFs
Investigators: Pardue, J.
Current Investigators: Pardue, J. , Moe, William
Institution: Louisiana State University - Baton Rouge
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Project Period: October 1, 2001 through September 30, 2006 (Extended to September 30, 2007)
Project Amount: Refer to main center abstract for funding details.
RFA: Hazardous Substance Research Centers - HSRC (2001) Recipients Lists
Research Category: Hazardous Waste/Remediation , Land and Waste Management

Objective:

Hydrophobic chlorinated organics such as hexachlorobenzene are common sediment contaminants that pose a threat to sensitive receptors. These compounds are recalcitrant in sediments and bioaccumulate through the food chain. By contrast, rapid contaminant attenuation for certain chlorinated organics is observed in vegetated sediments (i.e., wetlands). In these sediments, enhanced biological processes (aerobic and anaerobic biodegradation and plant uptake) have been observed in the root zone that drives rapid natural recovery. Previous research has indicated that herbaceous wetland vegetation stimulates degradation of chlorinated organics primarily via rhizospheric biodegradation processes. It can be hypothesized that reductive dechlorinating populations are stimulated in the rhizosphere by formation of specific organic acids (i.e., propionate) during detrital processes. The presence of certain organic acids has been shown to stimulate reductive dehalogenating organisms by favorably controlling the ambient level of H2 in porewater. The formation of high concentrations of these organic acids in marshes with Phragmites vegetation has been observed, while not in other marsh vegetation types such as Typha. This microbial-vegetation interaction may represent the "mechanism" by which rapid natural attenuation occurs in these wetland systems. Based on these hypotheses, the objectives of the proposed study are to: define the biodegradation potential of chlorobenzenes by quantifying biogeochemical conditions in the rhizosphere. Key conditions include the specific detrital decomposition products (organic acids and hydrogen) in several contrasting wetland plant types. A second objective of the study will define other potential fate mechanisms: plant uptake and volatilization by studying the dynamics of plant uptake of chlorobenzenes in wetland sediments.

Approach:

Initial mechanistic studies will be conducted in greenhouse mesocosms using herbaceous wetland vegetation with known differences in detrital pathways (Phragmites and Typha). Studies will test the hypotheses above by assessing daughter product (lower chlorinated benzene) concentrations and bulk redox conditions in rhizosphere to infer whether reductive dechlorination reactions are occurring. Intensity and capacity measurements of terminal electron accepting processes will determine the potential for a range of geochemical conditions in the rhizosphere. Measurements of detrital decomposition products (organic acid and ambient H2 concentrations) will be linked with the population dynamics of reductive dechlorination organisms in the rhizosphere. To test the second hypothesis that rhizospheric biodegradation processes are the key fate process, additional experiments will be conducted in collaboration with faculty and students at Southern University. The rate and extent of wetland plant uptake of lower chlorinated benzenes from well-characterized organic wetland sediments will be assessed. with realistic contaminant loadings (known amounts of readily available and desorption-resistant ("aged") chlorobenzene fractions) Test soils will be prepared with contaminant aging techniques developed in our previous work with these compounds. Identification of chlorobenzene sorption/desorption properties on roots will also be performed. These studies represent an extension of a working relationship developed during a previous HSRC project and will provide Southern with capabilities to perform tracer plant uptake experiments, the basis for many phytoremediation treatability studies.

Expected Results:

The study will provide information on a common contaminant scenario in wetland sediments in the region. Understanding the potential for wetland bioremediation would impact a number of locations where natural recovery is a proposed solution. The expected results are that specific microbial-wetland vegetation interactions will be shown to exist, for example, the stimulation of chlorobenzene dechlorinating population in the rhizosphere of Phragmites. This information may spur development of new technologies for sediment remediation (a constructed wetland approach for confined disposal facilities, for example).

Publications and Presentations:

Publications have been submitted on this subproject: View all 7 publications for this subproject | View all 279 publications for this center

Journal Articles:

Journal Articles have been submitted on this subproject: View all 3 journal articles for this subproject | View all 63 journal articles for this center

Supplemental Keywords:

marshes, natural attenuation, wetlands., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Waste, Water, Hazardous, Analytical Chemistry, Contaminated Sediments, Microbiology, Hazardous Waste, Environmental Microbiology, Molecular Biology/Genetics, Bioremediation, Ecology and Ecosystems, bioavailability, chlorinated organics, Hexachlorobenzene, contaminated sediment, bioremediation of soils, microbial degradation, phytoremediation, biochemistry, wetland sediments, contaminated soil, natural recovery, biodegradation, wetland vegetation, degradation, contaminants in soil

Progress and Final Reports:

Main Center Abstract and Reports:

R828773 HSRC (2001) - 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).
R828773C001 Bioturbation and Bioavailability of Residual, Desorption-Resistant Contaminants
R828773C002 In-Situ Containment and Treatment of Contaminated Sediments: Engineering Cap Integrity and Reactivity
R828773C003 Phytoremediation in Wetlands and CDFs
R828773C004 Contaminant Release During Removal and Resuspension
R828773C005 HSRC Technology Transfer, Training, and Outreach

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The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.