Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Development of In-situ Biodegradation Technology
EPA Grant Number: R825549C019Subproject: this is subproject number 019 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R825549
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: The Consortium for Plant Biotechnology Research, Inc., Environmental Research and Technology Transfer Program
Center Director: Schumacher, Dorin
Title: Development of In-situ Biodegradation Technology
Investigators: Erickson, Larry E. , Fan, L. T.
Institution: Kansas State University
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: February 1, 1989 through February 1, 1992
Project Amount: Refer to main center abstract for funding details.
RFA: Hazardous Substance Research Centers - HSRC (1989) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Hazardous Waste/Remediation , Land and Waste Management
Objective:
The goal of this research was to conduct an investigation of in situ biodegradation through both experimentation and model-based simulation.Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
In situ bioremediation has many potential applications. However, a better understanding of the factors which influence the rate and extent of biodegradation in field applications is desirable. Laboratory experiments and model-based simulation were conducted to generate new knowledge. The heterogeneous structure of the soil is an important consideration in the formulation of models because diffusion within soil aggregates can limit the rate of bioremediation.
Mathematical models have been formulated to describe in situ biodegradation processes in the saturated zone. One of the models assumes that rates of transport of oxygen and organic contaminants in the micropores of soil aggregates are controlled by the rate of diffusion while the rate of transport to the surface of the aggregates in saturated soils is determined by the rate of convective flow through the macropores. Computer simulation has been conducted to investigate the effects of aggregate radius, partition coefficient for the contaminant, and initial contaminant concentration on the time and mechanism of bioremediation. Microcosm studies have been designed to investigate the effects of aggregate size on the rate and extent of biodegradation.
Modeling and simulation of in situ biodegradation processes in the saturated
zone were conducted, by Jianchu Wu and Sanjay Dhawan, under the principal
investigators' guidance. The work and results have been reported in Wu's and
Dhawan's M.S. theses and in several manuscripts based on these theses.
To
facilitate the simulation, a three-point backward finite difference method (TPB
method) has been developed for a system of convection-dispersion partial
differential equations (PDE's). The resultant finite difference equations are
solved with the tri-diagonal matrix method at each time step. For a system of
convection-dispersion PDE's with coupled nonlinear reaction terms, a two-step
expansion technique is derived to linearize the finite difference equations and
uncouple the PDE's. Consequently, each PDE can be solved independently with the
tri-diagonal matrix method.
A model for in situ neutralization, which is often the first stage of in situ biodegradation, has been developed. The process, featuring fast reaction and relatively slow adsorption-desorption, gives rise to a non-equilibrium model comprising a convection-dispersion PDE for base in the liquid phase, an ordinary differential equation (ODE) for base in the solid phase, and an ODE for acid in the solid phase. Dimensional analysis has been performed and numerical simulation has been conducted to investigate the effects of the model parameters on the concentration profiles, neutralization time, and extent of accumulation of base in the solid phase.
A model has also been developed for in situ biodegradation of contaminants adsorbed in a soil bed. The model equations consist of three convection-dispersion PDE's for substrate in the liquid phase, oxygen and biomass, and one ordinary differential equation for substrate in the solid phase. Dimensional analysis has been performed, and numerical simulation has been conducted with the TPB method. The results show that the rate of biodegradation may be limited not only by insufficient oxygen supply, but also by transport resistance to the substrate desorption. Moreover, the simulation of the operation involving the recycle of unreacted contaminants has been conducted, indicating that biodegradation takes place mainly in the upper zone of the bed.
An attempt was made to adopt microcosm techniques in the investigation of biodegradation of saturated contaminated soil. The progress of bioremediation was followed by measuring gas-phase conditions in the microcosm with a mass spectrometer. The work has been extended to include the vadose zone. Microcosm experiments have been conducted with various levels of soil moisture to study the effects of soil moisture, inorganic nutrients, and inoculation on the biodegradation of petroleum contaminated soil.
A contaminated aggregate bioremediation model has been developed and simulated to analyze the bioremediation of soil and water in the aggregates. The model equations consist of a system of three non-linear partial differential equations. Dimensional analysis of these equations has been performed to render them dimensionless. Sensitivity analysis conducted by numerically solving them has demonstrated the effects of aggregate radius, partition coefficient, and initial contaminant concentration on the time and mechanism of remediation. The rates of diffusion of substrate and oxygen, and the biodegradation-rate have been found to be the controlling mechanisms for the remediation in the aggregates.
A macropore flow model has been developed to account for bioremediation in the interstitial spaces among soil aggregates. This model has been combined with the contaminated aggregate bioremediation model. Numerical experiments have been conducted to evaluate the effects of initial contaminant concentration, aggregate size, and soil-water partition coefficient. Remediation time depends on the biodegradation kinetics and the rates of diffusion of substrate and oxygen in the aggregates.
A hydrochemical model comprising a set of coupled partial differential equations has been proposed for the bioremediation of subsurface clay layers where the groundwater flow is relatively slow and the extent of convection and that of dispersion are of the same order of magnitude. This model describes, both spatially and temporally, the contaminant fate, microorganism growth and oxygen consumption. The results of simulation indicate that the velocity of the groundwater flow affects significantly the rate of contaminant depletion; the higher the velocity, the greater the availability of oxygen and the faster the substrate consumption. When the velocity is low, an anaerobic zone is generated in the clay layer, thereby rendering the biodegradation rate oxygen limited and, in turn, prolonging the remediation time.
The bioremediation of soil contaminated by palmitate was investigated in columns with different depths of well-characterized, saturated soil and in a stirred reactor with soil slurry. The concentrations of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the gas phase and those of palmitate and microbial biomass in the saturated soil were measured as functions of time in general and also of depths of the soil column. Oxygen limitation was observed in the soil columns; the color of the lower parts of the deeper columns changed due apparently to anaerobic conditions. The measured concentrations of palmitate indicated that the rate of aerobic biodegradation was transport limited in the deeper soil columns. The simulated results of the soil column obtained from the one-dimensional model agree reasonably well with those obtained experimentally.
Bioremediation of hydrocarbon deposits in soil has been mathematically modeled as a multiphase system. The required time for remediation of soil containing a hydrocarbon phase has been estimated using computer simulation for in situ bioremediation and for pump-and-treat. The results indicate that transport processes often limit the rate of remediation, and that the rate is much faster for bioremediation than for pump-and-treat.
A review has been completed on the bioenergetics of methylotrophs. Because of the necessity to reduce the concentrations of contaminants to the lowest possible level, the rate of bioremediation is often limited by the availability of substrates, which provide carbon and energy. Further research should be conducted on the bioenergetics of biodegradation of organic compounds in soil.
The results have been presented at several professional meetings and presented to other interested parties. Reprints of papers have been distributed to classes as part of a bioremediation course.
Journal Articles on this Report : 6 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
Other subproject views: | All 26 publications | 6 publications in selected types | All 6 journal articles |
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Other center views: | All 904 publications | 230 publications in selected types | All 182 journal articles |
Type | Citation | ||
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Dhawan S, Fan LT, Erickson LE, Tuitemwong P. Modeling, analysis, and simulation of bioremediation of soil aggregates. Environmental Progress 1991;10(4):251-260. |
R825549C019 (Final) |
not available |
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Dhawan S, Erickson LE, Fan LT. Model development and simulation of bioremediation in soil beds with aggregates. Ground Water 1993;31(2):271-284. |
R825549C019 (Final) |
not available |
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Erickson LE, Mcdonald JP, Fan LT, Dhawan S, Tuitemwong P. Bioremediation - A challenging application of biochemical-engineering principles. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1992;665:404-411. |
R825549C019 (Final) |
not available |
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Wu JC, Fan LT, Erickson LE. 3-Point backward finite difference method for solving a system of mixed hyperbolic-parabolic partial differential equations. Computers & Chemical Engineering 1990;14(6):679-685. |
R825549C019 (Final) |
not available |
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Wu JC, Fan LT, Erickson LE. Modeling and simulation of bioremediation of contaminated soil. Environmental Progress 1990;9(1):47-56. |
R825549C019 (Final) |
not available |
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Wu JC, Fan LT, Erickson LE. Modeling and simulation of in situ neutralization and bioremediation processes. Ground Water Management 1990;1:279-293. |
R825549C019 (Final) |
not available |
Supplemental Keywords:
biodegradation, aggregates, diffusion, simulation., Scientific Discipline, Waste, Water, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Environmental Chemistry, Geochemistry, Contaminated Sediments, Analytical Chemistry, Fate & Transport, Ecology and Ecosystems, Bioremediation, fate and transport, degradation, microbiology, contaminant transport, aerobic degradation, microbial degradation, biodegradation, contaminated sediment, adsorption, chemical transport, bioremediation of soils, chemical kinetics, contaminants in soil, photodegradation, sorption experiments, phytoremediation, contaminant transport models, bacterial degradationRelevant Websites:
http://www.engg.ksu.edu/HSRC Exit
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractMain Center Abstract and Reports:
R825549 The Consortium for Plant Biotechnology Research, Inc., Environmental Research and Technology Transfer Program Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R825549C006 Fate of Trichloroethylene (TCE) in Plant/Soil Systems
R825549C007 Experimental Study of Stabilization/Solidification of Hazardous Wastes
R825549C008 Modeling Dissolved Oxygen, Nitrate and Pesticide Contamination in the Subsurface Environment
R825549C009 Vadose Zone Decontamination by Air Venting
R825549C010 Thermochemical Treatment of Hazardous Wastes
R825549C011 Development, Characterization and Evaluation of Adsorbent Regeneration Processes for Treament of Hazardous Waste
R825549C012 Computer Method to Estimate Safe Level Water Quality Concentrations for Organic Chemicals
R825549C013 Removal of Nitrogenous Pesticides from Rural Well-Water Supplies by Enzymatic Ozonation Process
R825549C014 The Characterization and Treatment of Hazardous Materials from Metal/Mineral Processing Wastes
R825549C015 Adsorption of Hazardous Substances onto Soil Constituents
R825549C016 Reclamation of Metal and Mining Contaminated Superfund Sites using Sewage Sludge/Fly Ash Amendment
R825549C017 Metal Recovery and Reuse Using an Integrated Vermiculite Ion Exchange - Acid Recovery System
R825549C018 Removal of Heavy Metals from Hazardous Wastes by Protein Complexation for their Ultimate Recovery and Reuse
R825549C019 Development of In-situ Biodegradation Technology
R825549C020 Migration and Biodegradation of Pentachlorophenol in Soil Environment
R825549C021 Deep-Rooted Poplar Trees as an Innovative Treatment Technology for Pesticide and Toxic Organics Removal from Soil and Groundwater
R825549C022 In-situ Soil and Aquifer Decontaminaiton using Hydrogen Peroxide and Fenton's Reagent
R825549C023 Simulation of Three-Dimensional Transport of Hazardous Chemicals in Heterogeneous Soil Cores Using X-ray Computed Tomography
R825549C024 The Response of Natural Groundwater Bacteria to Groundwater Contamination by Gasoline in a Karst Region
R825549C025 An Electrochemical Method for Acid Mine Drainage Remediation and Metals Recovery
R825549C026 Sulfide Size and Morphology Identificaiton for Remediation of Acid Producing Mine Wastes
R825549C027 Heavy Metals Removal from Dilute Aqueous Solutions using Biopolymers
R825549C028 Neutron Activation Analysis for Heavy Metal Contaminants in the Environment
R825549C029 Reducing Heavy Metal Availability to Perennial Grasses and Row-Crops Grown on Contaminated Soils and Mine Spoils
R825549C030 Alachlor and Atrazine Losses from Runoff and Erosion in the Blue River Basin
R825549C031 Biodetoxification of Mixed Solid and Hazardous Wastes by Staged Anaerobic Fermentation Conducted at Separate Redox and pH Environments
R825549C032 Time Dependent Movement of Dioxin and Related Compounds in Soil
R825549C033 Impact of Soil Microflora on Revegetation Efforts in Southeast Kansas
R825549C034 Modeling the use of Plants in Remediation of Soil and Groundwater Contaminated by Hazardous Organic Substances
R825549C035 Development of Electrochemical Processes for Improved Treatment of Lead Wastes
R825549C036 Innovative Treatment and Bank Stabilization of Metals-Contaminated Soils and Tailings along Whitewood Creek, South Dakota
R825549C037 Formation and Transformation of Pesticide Degradation Products Under Various Electron Acceptor Conditions
R825549C038 The Effect of Redox Conditions on Transformations of Carbon Tetrachloride
R825549C039 Remediation of Soil Contaminated with an Organic Phase
R825549C040 Intelligent Process Design and Control for the Minimization of Waste Production and Treatment of Hazardous Waste
R825549C041 Heavy Metals Removal from Contaminated Water Solutions
R825549C042 Metals Soil Pollution and Vegetative Remediation
R825549C043 Fate and Transport of Munitions Residues in Contaminated Soil
R825549C044 The Role of Metallic Iron in the Biotransformation of Chlorinated Xenobiotics
R825549C045 Use of Vegetation to Enhance Bioremediation of Surface Soils Contaminated with Pesticide Wastes
R825549C046 Fate and Transport of Heavy Metals and Radionuclides in Soil: The Impacts of Vegetation
R825549C047 Vegetative Interceptor Zones for Containment of Heavy Metal Pollutants
R825549C048 Acid-Producing Metalliferous Waste Reclamation by Material Reprocessing and Vegetative Stabilization
R825549C049 Laboratory and Field Evaluation of Upward Mobilization and Photodegradation of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-P-Dioxins and Furans in Soil
R825549C050 Evaluation of Biosparging Performance and Process Fundamentals for Site Remediation
R825549C051 Field Scale Bioremediation: Relationship of Parent Compound Disappearance to Humification, Mineralization, Leaching, Volatilization of Transformaiton Intermediates
R825549C052 Chelating Extraction of Heavy Metals from Contaminated Soils
R825549C053 Application of Anaerobic and Multiple-Electron-Acceptor Bioremediation to Chlorinated Aliphatic Subsurface Contamination
R825549C054 Application of PGNAA Remote Sensing Methods to Real-Time, Non-Intrusive Determination of Contaminant Profiles in Soils
R825549C055 Design and Development of an Innovative Industrial Scale Process to Economically Treat Waste Zinc Residues
R825549C056 Remediation of Soils Contaminated with Wood-Treatment Chemicals (PCP and Creosote)
R825549C057 Effects of Surfactants on the Bioavailability and Biodegradation of Contaminants in Soils
R825549C058 Contaminant Binding to the Humin Fraction of Soil Organic Matter
R825549C059 Identifying Ground-Water Threats from Improperly Abandoned Boreholes
R825549C060 Uptake of BTEX Compounds by Hybrid Poplar Trees in Hazardous Waste Remediation
R825549C061 Biofilm Barriers for Waste Containment
R825549C062 Plant Assisted Remediation of Soil and Groundwater Contaminated by Hazardous Organic Substances: Experimental and Modeling Studies
R825549C063 Extension of Laboratory Validated Treatment and Remediation Technologies to Field Problems in Aquifer Soil and Water Contamination by Organic Waste Chemicals
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.
Project Research Results
6 journal articles for this subproject
Main Center: R825549
904 publications for this center
182 journal articles for this center