Grantee Research Project Results
Rocky Mountain Regional Hazardous Substance Research Center for Remediation of Mine Waste Sites
EPA Grant Number: R829515Center: HSRC - Rocky Mountain Regional Hazardous Substance Research Center for Remediation of Mine Waste Sites
Center Director: Shackelford, Charles D.
Title: Rocky Mountain Regional Hazardous Substance Research Center for Remediation of Mine Waste Sites
Investigators: Shackelford, Charles D.
Institution: Colorado State University
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Project Period: October 1, 2001 through September 30, 2006
Project Amount: $5,261,000
RFA: Hazardous Substance Research Centers - HSRC (2001) Recipients Lists
Research Category: Hazardous Waste/Remediation , Land and Waste Management
Objective:
The goal of this project is to develop the capability to reductively dechlorinate high concentrations of TCE and other chlorinated solvents to ethylene through halorespiration. While TCE reductive dechlorination has been demonstrated under a variety of conditions, most laboratory and field projects have been conducted at TCE concentrations of 100 mg/L or less. However near NAPL sources, concentrations of chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons approach their solubilities (>1,000 mg/L for TCE and >150 mg/L for PCE). A consortium will be developed and characterized with the ability to reductively dechlorinate high concentrations of TCE to stoichiometric quantities of ethylene. By understanding the factors affecting reductive dechlorination kinetics, we will be better able to optimize the process. This project will prove useful for the remediation of chlorinated aliphatic compounds in the NAPL source zone.Objectives/Hypothesis:
The specific objectives of this project are to: (1) Develop a culture with the ability to reductively dechlorinate TCE to ethylene at very high concentrations (above 1,000 µM) and in the presence of DNAPL; (2) Characterize microbial growth and measure maximum substrate utilization rates and half velocity coefficients for successive dechlorinations of TCE to ethylene; (3) Characterize the microbial consortium by investigating molecular methods to evaluate the diversity of the mixed culture developed in the kinetic studies; (4) Provide kinetic information and cultures in support of the Project - "Development of the Push-Pull Test to Monitor the Bioaugmentation of Dehalogenating Cultures." The goal of this project is to develop the capability to reductively dechlorinate high concentrations of TCE and other chlorinated solvents to ethylene through halorespiration. While TCE reductive dechlorination has been demonstrated under a variety of conditions, most laboratory and field projects have been conducted at TCE concentrations of 100 mg/L or less. However near NAPL sources, concentrations of chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons approach their solubilities (>1,000 mg/L for TCE and >150 mg/L for PCE). A consortium will be developed and characterized with the ability to reductively dechlorinate high concentrations of TCE to stoichiometric quantities of ethylene. By understanding the factors affecting reductive dechlorination kinetics, we will be better able to optimize the process. This project will prove useful for the remediation of chlorinated aliphatic compounds in the NAPL source zone.
Objectives/Hypothesis:
The specific objectives of this project are to: (1) Develop a culture with the ability to reductively dechlorinate TCE to ethylene at very high concentrations (above 1,000 µM) and in the presence of DNAPL; (2) Characterize microbial growth and measure maximum substrate utilization rates and half velocity coefficients for successive dechlorinations of TCE to ethylene; (3) Characterize the microbial consortium by investigating molecular methods to evaluate the diversity of the mixed culture developed in the kinetic studies; (4) Provide kinetic information and cultures in support of the Project - "Development of the Push-Pull Test to Monitor the Bioaugmentation of Dehalogenating Cultures." The proposed Center will focus on the geochemical, biological, hydrological/mineralogical and engineering aspects of environmental problems associated with mining and mine wastes with the goal of developing new or improved methods or technologies that are cost effective and lead to clean ups that are protective of human health and the environment. A common theme among these environmental problems is contamination of all media (air, ground water, soil, sediments, and surface water) resulting from a host of metals, primarily As, Cd, Cu, Mn, MO, Pb, and Zn, and a wide variety of sources (e.g., acid drainage from adits and sulfide bearing waste piles, exposed ore zones, heap-leach spoils, mine waste piles and sediments, slag piles, fluvial tailings deposits, and tailings and waste rock piles).
Approach:
Project 1 will focus on understanding and quantifying the effects of natural organic matter (NOM) on the toxicity, bioavailability, transport and transformations of As and Se in aquatic systems. Project 2 will focus on surface water and sediment transport, with an emphasis on the fate and transport of metals in rivers from mining wastes, to develop a predictive scientific methodology for watershed rehabilitation strategies and Total Maximum Daily Loads. Project 3 will evaluate the effect of organic matter characteristic and type on organic products produced by microbial populations, on microbial population distributions, and metal speciation to improve performance of microbially active permeable reactive barriers. Project 4 will evaluate the effect of organic matter characteristic and type on organic products produced by microbial populations, on microbial population distributions, and metal speciation to characterize the recovery of a specific stream ecosystem from mining pollution.Rationale:
The types of contamination and the specific processes required to address mine waste problems are identified within the structure of five focus areas: (1) site characterization and contaminant transport/transformation; (2) surface water and sediment transport; (3) treatment processes; (4) technologies; and (5) ecological and human health toxicity. Each of these focus areas is an essential component of the remediation process, and will include basic and applied research. Mathematical and physical models will be used to better understand processes and to help extend the results of the basic research to field demonstrations and applications. Training, technology transfer and outreach programs will focus on the development of new technologies; these programs will provide educational information to allow communities to make informed decisions concerning environmental contamination; and they will provide technical assistance to communities and other stakeholders with an ultimate goal of redeveloping brownfields sites.Expected Results:
The results of projects 1,2 and 4 will directly support risk assessments related to environmental impacts of mine waste sites through an improved understanding of the bioavailability, transport, and ecological impacts, respectively, of metals emanating from such sites. Project 3 will improve our ability to remediate these impacts based on the cleanup goals established from such risk assessments. Research, technology transfer, and outreach objectives will be achieved through multi-disciplinary teams spanning multiple institutions, linkages to existing HSRC's, and a wide variety of information transfer media.
Relevant Web Sites:
Collateral grants address outreach activities related to Brownfields. This grant will also be the vehicle for future additional federal funds, in addition to those committed for core grants, for supporting research and outreach activities at the Center.
Collateral Grant: R829588
Journal Articles: 18 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
Other center views: | All 183 publications | 18 publications in selected types | All 18 journal articles |
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Type | Citation | ||
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Bednar AJ, Garbarino JR, Ranville JF, Wildeman TR. Effects of iron on arsenic speciation and redox chemistry in acid mine water. Journal of Geochemical Exploration 2005;85(2):55-62. |
R829515 (2005) |
Exit |
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Clark JL, Clements WH. The use of in situ and stream microcosm experiments to assess population- and community-level responses to metals. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 2006;25(9):2306-2312. |
R829515 (2005) R829515 (Final) |
Exit |
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Clements WH. Small-scale experiments support causal relationships between metal contamination and macroinvertebrate community responses. Ecological Applications 2004;14(3):954-967. |
R829515 (2003) R829515 (2004) R829515 (Final) R832441 (Final) |
Exit |
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Hemsi PS, Shackelford CD, Figueroa LA. Modeling the influence of decomposing organic solids on sulfate reduction rates for iron precipitation. Environmental Science & Technology 2005;39(9):3215-3225. |
R829515 (2004) R829515 (2005) R829515 (Final) |
Exit Exit Exit |
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Hemsi PS, Shackelford CD. An evaluation of the influence of aquifer heterogeneity on permeable reactive barrier design. Water Resources Research 2006;42(3):W03402, doi:10.1029/2005WR004629. |
R829515 (2004) R829515 (2005) R829515 (Final) |
Exit Exit |
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Hemsi P, Shackelford C, Figueroa L. Calibration of Reactive Transport Models for Remediation of Mine Drainage in Solid-Substrate Biocolumns. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING 2010;136(9):914-925 |
R829515 (Final) |
Exit |
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Hong H, Pruden A, Reardon KF. Comparison of CE-SSCP and DGGE for monitoring a complex microbial community remediating mine drainage. Journal of Microbiological Methods 2007;69(1):52-64. |
R829515 (Final) |
Exit Exit Exit |
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Kashian DR, Prusha BA, Clements WH. Influence of total organic carbon and UV-B radiation on zinc toxicity and bioaccumulation in aquatic communities. Environmental Science & Technology 2004;38(23):6371-6376. |
R829515 (2004) R829515 (2005) R829515 (Final) R829640 (2003) R829640 (Final) |
Exit Exit Exit |
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Logan MV, Reardon KF, Figueroa LA, McLain JET, Ahmann DM. Microbial community activities during establishment, performance, and decline of bench-scale passive treatment systems for mine drainage. Water Research 2005;39(18):4537-4551. |
R829515 (2004) R829515 (2005) R829515 (Final) |
Exit Exit Exit |
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Paschke MW, Valdecantos A, Redente EF. Manganese toxicity thresholds for restoration grass species. Environmental Pollution 2005;135(2):313-322. |
R829515 (2004) R829515 (2005) R829515 (Final) |
Exit Exit Exit |
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Paschke MW, Perry LG, Redente EF. Zinc toxicity thresholds for reclamation forb species. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 2006;170(1-4):317-330. |
R829515 (Final) |
Exit Exit Exit |
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Pruden A, Messner N, Pereyra L, Hanson RE, Hiibel SR, Reardon KF. The effect of inoculum on the performance of sulfate-reducing columns treating heavy metal contaminated water. Water Research 2007;41(4):904-914. |
R829515 (Final) |
Exit Exit Exit |
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Prusha BA, Clements WH. Landscape attributes, dissolved organic C, and metal bioaccumulation in aquatic macroinvertebrates (Arkansas River Basin, Colorado). Journal of the North American Benthological Society 2004;23(2):327-339. |
R829515 (2003) R829515 (2004) R829515 (Final) R829640 (2002) R829640 (2003) R829640 (Final) |
Exit |
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Redman AD, Macalady DL, Ahmann D. Natural organic matter affects arsenic speciation and sorption onto hematite. Environmental Science & Technology 2002;36(13):2889-2896. |
R829515 (2002) R829515 (Final) |
Exit Exit Exit |
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Ritter K, Aiken GR, Ranville JF, Bauer M, Macalady DL. Evidence for the aquatic binding of arsenate by natural organic matter--suspended Fe(III). Environmental Science & Technology 2006;40(17):5380-5387. |
R829515 (2005) |
Exit Exit Exit |
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Rojas R, Velleux M, Julien P, Johnson B. Grid scale effects on watershed soil erosion models. Journal of Hydrologic Engineering 2008;13(9):793-802. |
R829515 (2003) R829515 (2004) |
Exit Exit |
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Smith K, Rainville J, Lesher E, Diedrich D, McKnight D, Sofield R. Fractionation of Fulvic Acid by Iron and Aluminum Oxides-Influence on Copper Toxicity to Ceriodaphnia dubia. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2014;48(20):11934-11943. |
R829515 (Final) R829500 (Final) |
Exit Exit |
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Velleux ML, Julien PY, Rojas-Sanchez R, Clements WH, England Jr JF. Simulation of metals transport and toxicity at a mine-impacted watershed: California Gulch, Colorado. Environmental Science & Technology 2006;40(22):6996-7004. |
R829515 (Final) |
Exit Exit Exit |
Supplemental Keywords:
acid mine drainage, remediation, mine waste, risk assessment., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Toxics, Waste, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Bioavailability, Hydrology, National Recommended Water Quality, Remediation, Contaminant Candidate List, Fate & Transport, Monitoring/Modeling, Hazardous Waste, Geology, Hazardous, Environmental Engineering, fate and transport, risk assessment, contaminated sediments, mathematical model, fate and transport , contaminant transport, lead, acid mine drainage, contaminated sediment, mine tailings, cleanup, sediment transport, modeling, surface water, contaminated soil, total maximum daily loads, manganese, Zinc, Selenium, toxicity, mining, copper, environmental toxicant, risk assessments, cadmium, arsenic, metals, microbial populations, contaminant transport modelsProgress and Final Reports:
Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R829515C001 Redox Transformations, Complexation and Soil/Sediment
Interactions of Inorganic Forms of As and Se in Aquatic Environments: Effects
of Natural Organic Matter
R829515C002 Fate and Transport of Metals and Sediment in Surface Water
R829515C003 Metal Removal Capabilities of Passive Bioreactor Systems: Effects of Organic Matter and Microbial Population Dynamics
R829515C004 Evaluating Recovery of Stream Ecosystems from Mining Pollution:
Integrating Biochemical, Population, Community and Ecosystem Indicators
R829515C005 Rocky Mountain Regional Hazardous Substance Research Center
Training and Technology Transfer Program
R829515C006 Technical Outreach Services for Communities and Technical Assistance to Brownfields
R829515C007 Evaluation of Hydrologic Models for Alternative Covers at Mine Waste Sites
R829515C008 Microbial Reduction of Uranium in Mine Leachate by Fermentative and Iron-Reducing Bacteria
R829515C009 Development and Characterization of Microbial Inocula for High-Performance Passive Treatment of Acid Mine Drainage
R829515C010 Reactive Transport Modeling of Metal Removal From Anaerobic Biozones
R829515C011 Assessment of Electrokinetic Injection of Amendments for Remediation of Acid Mine Drainage
R829515C012 Metal Toxicity Thresholds for Important Reclamation Plant Species of the Rocky Mountains
R829515C013 An Improved Method for Establishing Water Quality Criteria for Mining Impacted Streams
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.