Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: An Innovative System for Bioremediation of Agricultural Chemicals for Environmental Sustainability
EPA Grant Number: SU833147Title: An Innovative System for Bioremediation of Agricultural Chemicals for Environmental Sustainability
Investigators: Kalita, P. , Haase, David A. , Lenkaitis, Andy C. , Davidson, Paul C. , Goodwin, Greg E. , Zwilling, Luke F. , Anderson, Stephen H. , Olsen, Amanda J. , Koch, Daniel J. , Byard, Greg J. , Appleford, J. Malia , Mitchell, Jacob
Institution: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
EPA Project Officer: Page, Angela
Phase: I
Project Period: October 1, 2006 through September 30, 2007
Project Amount: $10,000
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2006) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: P3 Challenge Area - Sustainable and Healthy Communities , Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , P3 Awards , Sustainable and Healthy Communities
Objective:
This research has been conducted based on the hypothesis that a properly designed, naturally available biofilter system can significantly reduce the amount of chemicals entering surface water sources. The hypothesis is based on preliminary results from Davidson (2005), which showed a woodchip biofilter to effectively reduce nitrogen, atrazine, and alachlor from groundwater when used as a layer within the soil.
The specific research objectives were:
- to evaluate the efficiency of a variety of biomaterials for bioremediation of agricultural chemicals;
- based on the results obtained from objective (1), to develop design criteria for an efficient system for bioremediation of agricultural chemicals;
- to provide recommendations for field application of the bioremediation technology.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
Agricultural chemicals (both inorganic and organic) in drainage discharge from watersheds have raised concerns about the quality of surface water resources. For example, hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico has been related to the nutrients discharging from agricultural watersheds in the Mississippi River Valley. Finding an efficient and cost effective solution to the nutrient problem is of utmost importance. Experiments were conducted during September 2006 – April 2007 at the University of Illinois to determine the efficiency of various biomaterials for removing agricultural chemicals from drainage discharge. Soil columns were used to investigate the chemical reduction in water when it passes through biological filters; beaker experiments were conducted to investigate if biological activities would enhance chemical reduction. The results from both the soil column and beaker experiments support the hypothesis that a properly designed, naturally available biofilter can significantly reduce the amount of chemicals leaving agricultural fields. It has been determined that hardwoods (in general), cocoa bean shells, and granular activated carbon materials perform exceptionally well for the reduction of nitrate, atrazine and alachlor. Granular activated carbon was expected to perform well, being a component of many conventional drinking water filtration systems. However, the discovery that biomaterials such as hardwood chips and cocoa bean shells can perform as well, or better than, granular activated carbon which could revolutionize water treatment technologies. From the soil column experiments, it was also determined that retention time does have a positive effect on the amount of nitrate that can be reduced by various filter media. Therefore, a material with a porosity that optimizes filtration rate and nitrate reduction will ultimately be the most useful material for this sort of application. Furthermore, the benefit of extended retention time could promote the implementation of conservation practices such as controlled drainage in tile-drained watersheds.
The beaker experiments proved that biological activity is at least partially responsible for nitrate reduction. The possibility of other factors (soil organic matter, moisture content, etc.) contributing to nitrate reduction cannot be ruled out at this point, but it is clear that there is some biological degradation occurring. This was discovered when the materials that were re-inoculated with indigenous soil bacteria showed a much greater reduction in nitrate than the materials that had been sterilized of all microorganisms.
Additionally, the beaker experiments confirmed the findings of Davidson (2005), showing that nitrate is significantly reduced in the presence of atrazine and alachlor. This finding could have serious implications for agricultural producers, considering that atrazine and alachlor could potentially render fertilizers useless if applied in a close time proximity of these pesticides.
Conclusions:
The qualitative benefits to society, economic prosperity, and environmental sustainability are significant and numerous if one carefully looks at the results of this research. Our research is important since it helps improve the sustainability of current farming practices without reducing much-needed agricultural production. The results show that naturally available, renewable resources, namely woodchips, are capable of reducing contaminants in subsurface drainage.
The outcomes of this research have obvious benefits and implications for society. Regardless of location, water quality is critical to the survival of all people on this planet. By reducing nitrogen, ammonia, alachlor, and atrazine concentrations, the health risks associated with ingesting these contaminants are reduced. Biofiltration also has great economic advantages. Providing agricultural producers with a tool to remove contaminants from discharge from their fields will reduce future regulatory cost. More importantly, the cost of the biofilter is relatively inexpensive and gives an alternative to much more expensive treatment systems that are currently being used.
The environmental benefits and implications of our findings are enormous. The biofilter is a naturally available resource that eliminates chemicals from water without introducing additional chemicals to the system. Furthermore, the biofilter is composed of biological material, typically waste products, which would need to be disposed of otherwise. The removal of agricultural chemicals from ground and surface water could help reduce excessive algal growth and oxygen depletion in surface waters. The increased oxygen levels and improved water quality would provide a much better habitat for aquatic life. Improved water quality would also improve the aesthetics of natural waters by reducing the odor and improving the appearance of the water due to less algae decay.
Proposed Phase II Objectives and Strategies:
Based on results obtained from the Phase I project, there has been a critical need to implement and evaluate the efficiency of biofilters in the real-world conditions. The overall objective of this Phase II research project is to design, implement, and evaluate a renewable, naturally available biofilter to minimize the transport of chemicals from agricultural fields into surface water sources.
The specific objectives of this project are:
- To implement a field-scale biofilter based on results from Phase I and evaluate its effectiveness.
- To continue evaluating the efficiency of materials for bioremediation of aqueous contaminants.
- To investigate how retention time affects bioremediation of aqueous contaminants.
- Based on results from objective (3), provide recommendations to implement biofilter technology to reduce contaminant discharge from agricultural areas as well as septic systems and wastewater treatment facilities.
These objectives fulfill the requirements of the Request for Applications. Agricultural production is a very large percentage of the midwestern United States economy. A cost effective design for minimizing the chemical leaching from agricultural fields would be preferred to any reduction in pesticide and nutrient application. In addition, this design will allow for sustainable agricultural production and technology, while being environmentally beneficial to surrounding areas. Recently, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) made a tentative decision to require National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for Surface Discharging Private Sewage Disposal Systems. In addition to implementing field scale biofilters, our Phase II research will determine whether this technology could be used to meet these NPDES regulations.
The hypothesis of Phase II research is that a hardwood biofilter media placed along the drain tile in a real-world field condition will significantly reduce the amount of chemicals leaching from agricultural fields. Results from P3 Phase I research showed that a woodchip biofilter can effectively reduce, and in most cases, eliminate nitrate, atrazine, and alachlor from groundwater. We saw that hardwoods as a group were able to reduce the nitrate levels better than softwoods.
We also hypothesize that additional testing in the lab will show that our biofilter can be adapted to clean discharge from septic systems and it could be used as an addition to secondary treatment in wastewater treatment facilities with low nitrogen loads. It was observed in Phase I research that ammonia levels were reduced through the biofilter media, which could potentially replace expensive nitrification towers at wastewater treatment plants.
We also propose to implement our bioremediation technology globally for evaluation. We have developed a strong partnership with a group of students and professors from the GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology in India, who would work with us side-by-side (facilitation will be conducted through electronic communication media) in understanding the concept, learning the technology, and implementing the design. This project will provide an opportunity for our American student team to work within a global environment. We can work together to produce a sustainable low-cost technology for millions of rural Indians. This technology will promote a prosperous and environmentally friendly community.
Supplemental Keywords:
Biofiltration, conservation, engineering, hydrology, nitrate, pesticides,, Scientific Discipline, Waste, TREATMENT/CONTROL, Environmental Chemistry, Treatment Technologies, Bioremediation, Environmental Engineering, biodegradation, drinking water, pesticides, biofilter, chemical transport, agricultural chemicals, atrazine, contaminated groundwaterThe 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.