Assessment of transport of two polyelectrolyte-stabilized zero-valent iron nanoparticles in porous media

This study investigated the breakthrough patterns of carboxymethyl cellulose- and polyacrylic acid-stabilized zero-valent iron (Fe(0)) nanoparticles (NZVI) from packed sand columns under a range of pore water velocities of 0.02, 0.2 and 1 cm min(-1) and NZVI influent concentrations of 0.1, 0.5 and 3 g L(-1). The NZVI effluent relative concentrations of both types of particles decreased with slower flow velocities and increasing particle concentrations. PAA-NZVI exhibited slower elution from the columns than CMC-NZVI under identical experimental conditions, and this is attributed to more rapid aggregation kinetics of PAA-NZVI. The elution patterns of PAA-NZVI showed a stronger trend of gradually increasing effluent concentrations with flushing of additional pore volumes, especially at low flushing velocities and higher influent particle concentrations and this phenomenon too can be attributed to increasing aggregate sizes with time which caused decreases in the values of the single collector efficiency and thus the deposition rate constant. A 7 nm increase in CMC-NZVI aggregate size over 60 min was observed using nanoparticle tracking analysis. The reduction in colloidal stability due to aggregation of CMC- and PAA-NZVI was verified using sedimentation tests, and it was found that PAA-NZVI were less stable than CMC-NZVI. There were also notable inherent differences in the two NZVI particles. The CMC-NZVI were monodisperse with a mean diameter of 5.7 ± 0.9 nm, whereas PAA-NZVI had a bimodal particle size distribution with a small sub-population of particles with mean size of 30 ± 21 nm and a more abundant population of 4.6 ± 0.8 nm diameter particles. Furthermore, PAA-NZVI had a lower surface potential. These characteristics are also responsible for the different elution patterns CMC- and PAA-NZVI.     

Multiphase flow and transport through fractured heterogeneous porous media

The migration of Dense, Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid (DNAPL) and dissolved phase contamination through a fractured heterogeneous porous medium has been investigated through the use of a multiphase compositional model. The sensitivity of the timescales of migration and the distribution of contaminant in the subsurface to the mean permeability, the variance of the permeability, and the degree of fracturing of the domain were examined. It was found that increasing the mean permeability of the domain allowed the DNAPL to penetrate deeper into the subsurface, while decreasing the mean permeability caused the DNAPL to pool at shallower depths. The presence of fractures within the system was found to control the infiltration only in the most fractured domain. Moment analysis of the nonwetting phase showed that large-scale movement had ceased after approximately 9 years (maximum duration of the source-on condition was approximately 4.5 years). This tended to be due to a redistribution of the DNAPL towards a residual configuration, as was evidenced by the gradual trending of average nonwetting phase saturations within the domain to a static value. The dissolved phase plume was found to migrate at essentially the same rate as the nonwetting phase, due to the reduced relative permeability of lenses containing DNAPL, and due to diffusive losses of mass to the matrix of fractured clay and silty-clay lenses. Some exceptions to this were found when the DNAPL could not overcome the displacement pressure of a lens, and could not by-pass the lens due to the lack of available driving force after the source had been shut off.     

Virus transport in physically and geochemically heterogeneous subsurface porous media

A two-dimensional model for virus transport in physically and geochemically heterogeneous subsurface porous media is presented. The model involves solution of the advection-dispersion equation, which additionally considers virus inactivation in the solution, as well as virus removal at the solid matrix surface due to attachment (deposition), release, and inactivation. Two surface inactivation models for the fate of attached inactive viruses and their subsequent role on virus attachment and release were considered. Geochemical heterogeneity, portrayed as patches of positively charged metal oxyhydroxide coatings on collector grain surfaces, and physical heterogeneity, portrayed as spatial variability of hydraulic conductivity, were incorporated in the model. Both layered and randomly (log-normally) distributed physical and geochemical heterogeneities were considered. The upstream weighted multiple cell balance method was employed to numerically solve the governing equations of groundwater flow and virus transport. Model predictions show that the presence of subsurface layered geochemical and physical heterogeneity results in preferential flow paths and thus significantly affect virus mobility. Random distributions of physical and geochemical heterogeneity have also notable influence on the virus transport behavior. While the solution inactivation rate was found to significantly influence the virus transport behavior, surface inactivation under realistic field conditions has probably a negligible influence on the overall virus transport. It was further demonstrated that large virus release rates result in extended periods of virus breakthrough over significant distances downstream from the injection sites. This behavior suggests that simpler models that account for virus adsorption through a retardation factor may yield a misleading assessment of virus transport in "hydrogeologically sensitive" subsurface environments.     

The influence of system complexity on bacterial transport in saturated porous media

A series of miscible-displacement column experiments were conducted under saturated flow conditions to systematically investigate the influence of physical and biological complexity on bacterial activity and fate in the presence and absence of a non-sorbing growth substrate, salicylate. Bacterial elution was monitored for three different systems; System I--a sterilized, inoculated, well-sorted sand, System II--a sterilized, inoculated, heterogeneous loamy sand (Hayhook), and System III--two different unsterilized loamy sands (Hayhook and Vinton) each with their associated indigenous microbial community. Results show that System I behaved ideally with respect to both cell and substrate transport, wherein: (1) growth occurred in response to substrate addition, (2) cell elution increased in response to the substrate pulse, and (3) breakthrough curves were reproducible for both substrate and cell elution. In contrast, System II showed ideal behavior with respect to substrate transport but showed variable behavior for cell transport. Further, there was no measurable growth in response to substrate addition and no increase in cell elution during the salicylate pulse. System III exhibited non-ideal behavior for both substrate and cell transport. Of particular interest is the fact that the indigenous communities of the two soils behaved differently. Specifically, for the Hayhook soil, an increased elution response was observed for the heterotrophic population while the salicylate-degrading community was preferentially retained in the column. In contrast for the Vinton soil, the substrate pulse did not elicit an elution response from either the heterotrophic or salicylate-degrading community from the culturable, indigenous Vinton microorganisms. For Systems II and III, the observed variability appears to be associated with the biological component of the system, since sterile controls were reproducible. This type of systematic study is critical for understanding cell and substrate transport behavior in complex, heterogeneous systems, and illustrates the potential uncertainty associated with measurements in such systems.     

几种印染助剂对壳聚糖稳定纳米铁去除酸性品红的影响

以氯化铁为铁源,硼氢化钠为还原剂,壳聚糖为稳定剂,采用液相还原法制备壳聚糖稳定纳米铁（CS-nZⅥ）;研究了印染废水中常见助剂NaNO₃、Na₂SO₄、NaH₂PO₄、K₂Cr₂O₇、EDTA二钠盐存在下,超声波辅助CS-nZⅥ对酸性品红（AF）降解的影响。结果表明,反应15 min,0.01 g CS-nZⅥ对25 mL、100 mg/L AF的去除率高达99.9%;各种助剂的存在使得纳米铁表面不同程度失活,阻碍反应的进行,使得AF的去除率下降。NaNO₃、K₂Cr₂O₇、EDTA二钠盐与纳米铁发生反应,与AF存在明显的竞争作用。重复利用实验表明,CS-nZⅥ重复利用7次仍具有一定的反应活性。此外,CS-nZⅥ对加标（50 mg/L）实际废水中AF的去除率达到99%以上,表明CS-nZⅥ是一种潜在的环境修复材料。     

Microwave-induced nanoscale zero-valent iron degradation of perchloroethylene and pentachlorophenol

Microwave (MW) is applied to enhance perchloroethylene (PCE) or pentachlorophenol (PCP) removal using zero-valent iron (ZVI; Fe⁰) as the dielectric medium. ZVI has a much higher dielectric loss factor (39.5) than other media; it is capable of absorbing MW radiation rapidly to speed up the release of electrons, leading to rises of the ZVI particle surface temperature. If the MW power is continued, excessive electricity will accumulated inside ZVI particles, resulting in sparks. The results show that during the initial 5 sec (700 W), the linear aliphatic PCE has a faster decomposing rate than the ringed PCP (82.0% vs. 4.8%) because less energy is required for decomposing the linear-chlorine bond (90 kcal mol^?1) than ring-chlorine bonds (95 kcal mol^?1). Later, the removal rate for either PCE or PCP remains the same when the exposure time is between 5 and 60 sec. Without MW irradiation, linear PCE molecules have larger surface area to contact ZVI, and hence they have better removal efficiencies than PCP molecules. Using Fe⁰ as a microwave dielectric medium to treat PCE or PCP is a new and worthwhile treatment technology; it is environmentally friendly, and its use will eliminate the secondary pollution.

Implications Nanoscale iron particles are characterized by high surface-area-to-volume ratios, high specific surface area, and high surface reactivity. With a much higher dielectric loss factor, it is capable of absorbing MW radiation rapidly to speed up the release of electrons, leading to rise in temperature. The time needed to achieve a satisfactory treatment is also reduced, leading to significant saving of energy consumption to make this method cost-effective and also environmentally friendly for the industry to pursuit sustainable development.     

纳米零价铁处理冶炼废水

多年的理论和机制研究发现,纳米零价铁（NZVI）作为还原剂及吸附剂,可处理水溶液中的多种重金属及类金属物质;而高效处理含高浓度重金属且成分复杂的冶炼废水是一项技术难题。本研究针对特定的冶炼废水（高浓度重金属及砷、高浓度氨氮、低pH、高含盐量）,研究了pH及NZVI投加量对砷、铜、锌、铅、镍的处理效果,并考察了连续流反应器中水力停留时间（HRT）及NZVI投加量对处理效果的影响。实验通过电感耦合等离子体发射光谱仪（ICP-OES）进行水样测试,扫描电子显微镜（SEM）、X射线衍射仪（XRD）进行固相表征。实验表明,通过NZVI处理,砷、铜、锌、铅、镍去除率均达99%以上,出水浓度均小于0.1 mg/L,达到废水排放标准（GB 8978-1996）。通过连续流反应器的应用发现,适当增大HRT、增加NZVI投加量,有利于更长时间保证出水水质的良好,延长NZVI消耗时间,提高废水处理量。结果显示,NZVI对复杂冶炼废水有极好的处理效果,在废水处理领域有着独特的优势,为后续研究及实际应用提供借鉴。     

纳米铁去除水中硝酸盐的动力学研究

实验中采用了液相还原法制备新型吸附剂纳米铁。在纳米铁低投放量的条件下,采用间歇实验,分别从初始硝酸盐浓度、溶液pH值和温度的不同外界条件下研究了纳米铁对硝酸盐的去除情况。实验结果表明,硝酸盐初始浓度对反应速率有影响,但对去除率影响不大;溶液pH值为2.0时纳米铁对硝酸盐的去除效果最好;随着温度的升高,纳米铁对硝酸盐的去除率有所增加。以t时刻已反应掉的硝酸盐浓度为切入点,提出拟二级动力学方程。进而确定不同温度下的反应速率常数k。实验中k在50℃时最大,为0.014 mg/（L·min）。反应活化能Ea为17.18 kJ/mol,该反应以质量传递为控制因素。溶液中性条件下硝酸盐氮的还原产物为氨氮。     

Kinetics of reductive denitrification by nanoscale zero-valent iron

Zero-valent iron powder (Fe0) has been determined to be potentially useful for the removal of nitrate in the water environment. This research is aimed at subjecting the kinetics of denitrification by nanoscale Fe0 to an analysis of factors affecting the chemical denitrification of nitrate. Nanoscale iron particles with a diameter in the range of 1-100 nm, which are characterized by the large BET specific surface area to mass ratio (31.4 m2/g), removed mostly 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/l of nitrate within a period of 30 min with little intermediates. Compared with microscale (75-150 microm) Fe0, end product is not ammonia but N2 gas. Kinetics analysis from batch studies revealed that the denitrification reaction with nanoscale Fe0 appeared to be a pseudo first-order with respect to substrate and the observed reaction rate constant (k(obs)) varied with iron content at a relatively low degree of application. The effects of mixing intensity (rpm) on the denitrification rate suggest that the denitrification appears to be coupled with oxidative dissolution of iron through a largely mass transport-limited surface reaction (<40 rpm).     

有机配体对纳米零价铁还原硝基苯的影响与机理

通过FeSO4·7H2O与NaBH4反应,采用液相还原法制备纳米级零价铁(NZVI),并用XRD,SEM对其性能进行表征。研究了纳米零价铁还原硝基苯(NB)的动力学规律及柠檬酸、草酸、柠檬酸钠、草酸钠、乙二胺四乙酸二钠(EDTA二钠盐)几种有机小分子对其还原效率的影响,并对其机理进行了初步探讨。结果表明,纳米零价铁去除硝基苯反应符合准一级动力学方程,并且当硝基苯浓度一定时,增加NZVI投加量,去除率会显著增大;当NZVI浓度一定时,硝基苯浓度越低,去除率越高;柠檬酸和EDTA二钠盐在较低浓度时抑制还原反应进行,而在3 mmol/L左右时,具有促进还原反应进行的作用,而草酸、柠檬酸钠和草酸钠则为抑制作用。     

Effects of pH and ionic strength on sulfamethoxazole and ciprofloxacin transport in saturated porous media

Many antibiotics regarded as emerging contaminants have been frequently detected in soils and groundwater; however, their transport behaviors in soils remain largely unknown. This study examined the transport of two antibiotics, sulfamethoxazole (SMZ) and ciprofloxacin (CIP), in saturated porous media. Laboratory columns packed with quartz sand was used to test the effects of solution pH and ionic strength (IS) on their retention and transport. The results showed that these two antibiotics behaved differently in the saturated sand columns. In general, SMZ manifested a much higher mobility than CIP for all experimental conditions tested. Almost all SMZ transported through the columns within one pore volume in deionized water (i.e., pH=5.6, IS=0), but no CIP was detected in the effluents under the same condition after extended column flushing. Perturbations in solution pH (5.6 and 9.5) and IS (0 and 0.1M) showed no effect on SMZ transport in the saturated columns. When pH increased to 9.5, however, ~93% of CIP was eluted from the sand columns. Increase of IS from 0 to 0.1M also slightly changed the distribution of adsorbed CIP within the sand column at pH 5.6, but still no CIP was detected in the effluents. A mathematical model based on advection-dispersion equation coupled with equilibrium and kinetic reactions successfully simulated the transport of the antibiotics in water-saturated porous media with R(2)=0.99.     

Microbial reduction of nitrate in the presence of nanoscale zero-valent iron

Microbial reduction of nitrate in the presence of nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) was evaluated to assess the feasibility of employing NZVI in the biological nitrate treatment. Nitrate was completely reduced within 3 d in a nanoscale Fe(0)-cell reactor, while only 50% of the nitrate was abiotically reduced over 7 d at 25 °C. The removal rate of nitrate in the integrated NZVI-cell system was unaffected by the presence of high amounts of sulfate. Efficient removal of nitrate by Fe(II)-supported anaerobic culture in 14 d indicated that Fe(II), which is produced during anaerobic iron corrosion in the Fe(0)-cell system, might act as an electron donor for nitrate. Unlike abiotic reduction, microbial reduction of nitrate was not significantly affected by low temperature conditions. This study demonstrated the potential applicability of employing NZVI iron as a source of electrons for biological nitrate reduction. Use of NZVI for microbial nitrate reduction can obviate the disadvantages associated with traditional biological denitrification, that relies on the use of organic substrates or explosive hydrogen gas, and maintain the advantages offered by nano-particle technology such as higher surface reactivity and functionality in suspensions.     

Effect of fullerol nanoparticles on the transport and release of copper ions in saturated porous media

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - While the application and discharge of carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) increased rapidly, the research on the environmental safety of CNMs is also...     

Influence of nanoscale zero-valent iron on hydraulic conductivity of a residual clayey soil and modeling of the filtration parameter

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Contaminated clay soils pose problems to public health and the environment in several parts of the world. Very little is known about the transport of...     

Illuminating reactive microbial transport in saturated porous media: demonstration of a visualization method and conceptual transport model

We demonstrate a method to study reactive microbial transport in saturated translucent porous media using the bacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens 5RL genetically engineered to carry a plasmid with bioluminescence genes inducible by salicylate. Induced bacteria were injected into a cryolite grain filled chamber saturated with a sterile non-growth-promoting (phosphorus limited) chemical mixture containing salicylate as an aromatic hydrocarbon analogue. The amount of light produced by the bacteria serves as an estimator of the relative efficiency of aerobic biodegradation since bioluminescence is dependent on both salicylate and oxygen but only consumes oxygen. Bioluminescence was captured with a digital camera and analyzed to study the evolving spatial pattern of the bulk oxygen consuming reactions. As fluid flow transported the bacteria through the chamber, bioluminescence was observed to initially increase until an oxygen depletion zone developed behind the advective front. Bacterial transport was modeled with the advection dispersion equation and oxygen concentration was modeled assuming bacterial consumption via Monod kinetics with consideration of additional effects of rate-limited mass transfer from residual gas bubbles. Consistent with previous measurements, bioluminescence was considered proportional to oxygen consumed. Using the observed bioluminescence, model parameters were fit that were consistent with literature values and produced results in good agreement with the experimental data. These findings demonstrate potential for using this method to investigate the complex spatial and temporal dynamics of reactive microbial transport in saturated porous media.     

Remediation of soil contaminated with pyrene using ground nanoscale zero-valent iron

The sites contaminated with recalcitrant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are serious environmental problems ubiquitously. Some PAHs have proven to be carcinogenic and hazardous. Therefore, the innovative PAH in situ remediation technologies have to be developed instantaneously. Recently, the nanoscale zero-valent iron (ZVI) particles have been successfully applied for dechlorination of organic pollutants in water, yet little research has investigated for the soil remediation so far. The objective in this work was to take advantage of nanoscale ZVI particles to remove PAHs in soil. The experimental factors such as reaction time, particle diameter and iron dosage and surface area were considered and optimized. From the results, both microscale and nanoscale ZVI were capable to remove the target compound. The higher removal efficiencies of nanoscale ZVI particles were obtained because the specific surface areas were about several dozens larger than that of commercially microscale ZVI particles. The optimal parameters were observed as 0.2 g iron/2 mL water in 60 min and 150 rpm by nanoscale ZVI. Additionally, the results proved that nanoscale ZVI particles are a promising technology for soil remediation and are encouraged in the near future environmental applications. Additionally, the empirical equation developed for pyrene removal efficiency provided the good explanation of reaction behavior. Ultimately, the calculated values by this equation were in a good agreement with the experimental data.     

A novel two-dimensional model for colloid transport in physically and geochemically heterogeneous porous media

A two-dimensional model for colloid transport in geochemically and physically heterogeneous porous media is presented. The model considers patchwise geochemical heterogeneity, which is suitable to describe the chemical variability of many surficial aquifers with ferric oxyhydroxide-coated porous matrix, as well as spatial variability of hydraulic conductivity, which results in heterogeneous flow field. The model is comprised of a transient fluid flow equation, a transient colloid transport equation, and an equation for the dynamics of colloid deposition and release. Numerical simulations were carried out with the model to investigate the colloid transport behavior in layered and randomly heterogeneous porous media. Results demonstrate that physical and geochemical heterogeneities markedly affect the colloid transport behavior. Layered physical or geochemical heterogeneity can result in distinct preferential flow paths of colloidal particles. Furthermore, the combined effect of layered physical and geochemical heterogeneity may result in enhanced or reduced preferential flow of colloids. Random distribution of physical heterogeneity (hydraulic conductivity) results in a random flow field and an irregularly distributed colloid concentration profile in the porous medium. Contrary to random physical heterogeneity, the effect of random patchwise geochemical heterogeneity on colloid transport behavior is not significant. It is mostly the mean value of geochemical heterogeneity rather than its distribution that governs the colloid transport behavior.     

纳米零价铁颗粒除磷反应机理

从溶液化学与固相表征两方面对纳米零价铁(NZVI)去除水中磷酸根(PO43-)的机理进行初步探究。分别研究不同初始pH值、溶解氧(DO)对NZVI除磷效果的影响,结果表明,酸性环境(pH为3.0~7.0)有利于NZVI除磷,且初始pH值越低,磷去除率越高;好氧环境较厌氧环境更利于磷的去除,DO>8.0 mg/L时对磷酸根的去除率是厌氧条件(DO2等7种不同去除材料中以Ca(OH)2的共沉淀作用去除率最大(99.9%),NZVI次之(87.2%),表明NZVI除磷机理中还存在共沉淀作用。采用多种固相表征手段对NZVI除磷前后进行分析:扫描电子显微镜(SEM)显示反应后出现不规则颗粒;X射线衍射(XRD)表明Fe3(PO4)2是主要反应产物;X射线光电子能谱(XPS)分析未发现磷被还原成低价态。研究表明,NZVI可有效去除水中磷酸根,主要去除机理包括:NZVI对磷酸根的吸附作用、NZVI在水中腐蚀产生的Fe2+离子对磷酸根的化学沉淀作用及铁氢氧化物与磷酸根的共沉淀作用。     

Nonideal transport of contaminants in heterogeneous porous media: 10. Impact of co-solutes on sorption by porous media with low organic-carbon contents

The impact of co-solutes on sorption of tetrachloroethene (PCE) by two porous media with low organic-carbon contents was examined by conducting batch experiments. The two media (Borden and Eustis) have similar physical properties, but significantly different organic-carbon (OC) contents. Sorption of PCE was nonlinear for both media, and well-described by the Freundlich equation. For the Borden aquifer material (OC = 0.03%), the isotherms measured with a suite of co-solutes present (1,2-dichlorobenzene, bromoform, carbon tetrachloride, and hexachloroethane) were identical to the isotherms measured for PCE alone. These results indicate that there was no measurable impact of the co-solutes on PCE sorption for this system. In contrast to the Borden results, there was a measurable reduction in sorption of PCE by the Eustis soil (OC = 0.38%) in the presence of the co-solutes. The organic-carbon fractions of both media contain hard-carbon components, which have been associated with the manifestation of nonideal sorption phenomena. The disparity in results observed for the two media may relate to relative differences in the magnitude and geochemical nature of these hard-carbon components.