Simulating bioremediation of uranium-contaminated aquifers; uncertainty assessment of model parameters

Bioremediation of trace metals and radionuclides in groundwater may require the manipulation of redox conditions via the injection of a carbon source. For example, after nitrate has been reduced, soluble U(VI) can be reduced simultaneously with other electron acceptors such as Fe(III) or sulfate to U(IV), which may precipitate as a solid (uraninite).To simulate the numerous biogeochemical processes that will occur during the bioremediation of trace-metal-contaminated aquifers, a time-dependent one-dimensional reactive transport model has been developed. The model consists of a set of coupled mass balance equations, accounting for advection, hydrodynamic dispersion, and a kinetic formulation of the biological or chemical transformations affecting an organic substrate, electron acceptors, corresponding reduced species, and trace metal contaminants of interest, uranium in this study. This set of equations is solved numerically, using a finite difference approximation. The redox conditions of the domain are characterized by estimating the pE, based on the concentration of the dominant terminal electron acceptor and its corresponding reduced species. This pE and the concentrations of relevant species are then used by a modified version of MINTEQA2, which calculates the speciation/sorption and precipitation/dissolution of the species of interest under equilibrium conditions. Kinetics of precipitation/dissolution processes are described as being proportional to the difference between the actual and calculated equilibrium concentration. A global uncertainty assessment, determined by Random Sampling High Dimensional Model Representation (RS-HDMR), was performed to attain a phenomenological understanding of the origins of output variability and to suggest input parameter refinements as well as to provide guidance for field experiments to improve the quality of the model predictions. By decomposing the model output variance into its different input contributions, RS-HDMR can identify the model inputs with the most influence on various model outputs, as well as their behavior pattern on the model output. Simulations are performed to illustrate the effect of biostimulation on the fate of uranium in a saturated aquifer, and to identify the key processes that need to be characterized with the highest accuracy prior to designing a uranium bioremediation scheme.     

Land and water systems: managing the hydrological risk

The paper suggests that the expansion of irrigated agriculture in the 20th century has de-coupled the water user from the inherent risk of exploiting both surface and groundwater resources. The apparent reliability of storage and conveyance infrastructure and the, relative cheapness and flexibility of groundwater exploitation offered by mechanised drilling and pumping have sheltered the end user from natural hydrological risk. The imperative for in-field irrigation efficiency has been effectively removed since the physical and economic management of the resource is determined by command area authorities or, in the case of some groundwater pumping, by the performance of power utilities, who have no direct interest in integrated resource conservation. As a result, the resource base has been degraded, and in some cases irreparable damage has occurred. It is argued that the rigidity of the resource management in many irrigation systems is not attuned to the inherent variability of natural systems upon which they depend. Further, the paper argues that irrigation management systems can work toward sustainability by spreading risk equitably, and transparently, amongst the resource regulators, managers and users. This has to involve a much more flexible approach to natural resource management that is conditioned not only by natural parameters, but also by the socio-economic settings. A range of examples highlights the variability and scale issues involved.     

Role of refugia in recovery from disturbances: Modern fragmented and disconnected river systems

Habitats or environmental factors that convey spatial and temporal resistance and/or resilience to biotic communities that have been impacted by biophysical disturbances may be called refugia. Most refugia in rivers are characterized by extensive coupling of the main channel with adjacent streamside forests, floodplain features, and groundwater. These habitats operate at different spatial scales, from localized particles, to channel units such as pools and riffles, to reaches and longer sections, and at the basin level. A spatial hierarchy of different physical components of a drainage network is proposed to provide a context for different refugia. Examples of refugia operating at different spatial scales, such as pools, large woody debris, floodplains, below dams, and catchment basins are discussed. We hope that the geomorphic context proposed for examining refugia habitats will assist in the conservation of pristine areas and attributes of river systems and also allow a better understanding of rehabilitation needs in rivers that have been extensively altered.     

Evaluating cumulative effects of disturbance on the hydrologic function of bogs,fens, and mires

Few quantitative studies have been done on the hydrology of fens, bogs, and mires. Consequently predicting the cumulative impacts of disturbances on their hydrologic functions is extremely difficult. For example, few data are available on the role of bogs and fens with respect to flood desynchronization and shoreline anchoring. However, recent studies suggest that very small amounts of groundwater discharge are sufficient to radically modify mire surface-water chemistry, and consequently, vegetation communities and their associated surface-water hydrology. Bogs and fens are, in a sense, hydrobiologic systems, and any evaluation of cumulative impacts will have to (1) consider the complicated and little understood interactions among wetland hydrology, water chemistry, and biota, and (2) place the effect of individual wetland impacts within the context of the cumulative impacts contributed to the watershed from other geomorphic areas and land uses.It is difficult to evaluate the potential cumulative impacts on wetland hydrology because geologic settings of wetlands are often complex and the methods used to measure wetland streamflow, groundwater flow, and evapotranspiration are inexact (Winter 1988). This is especially so for bogs, fens, and mires underlain by thick organic soils. These wetlands, found in the circumboreal areas of North America, Europe, and Asia, are major physiographic features in eastern North America, northern Europe, and Siberia (Kivenen and Pakarinen 1981, Gore 1983, Glaser and Janssens 1986). Their very scale makes it difficult to quantify the hydrologic function accurately. The hydrology of small bogs and fens found elsewhere is just as poorly understood because of conflicting conceptual models of pertinent hydrologic processes.This article (1) reviews our current understanding of the hydrologic function of bogs, fens, and mires at different scales and in different physiographic settings and (2) presents hypotheses on potential cumulative impacts on the hydrologic function that might occur with multiple disturbances.     

Geochemical stability of phosphorus solids below septic system infiltration beds

Review of 10 mature septic system plumes in Ontario, revealed that phosphorus (P) attenuation commonly occurred close to the infiltration pipes, resulting in discrete narrow intervals enriched in P by a factor of 2-4 (. MSc thesis, Dept. Earth Sci., University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ont.; Ground Water 36 (1995) 1000; J. Contam. Hydrol. 33 (1998) 405). Although these attenuation reactions appeared to be sustainable under present conditions, the potential for remobilization of this P mass, should geochemical conditions change, is unknown. To test the stability of these P solids, dynamic flow column tests were carried out using sediments from three of the previously studied sites (Cambridge, Langton and Muskoka) focusing on sediments from the 'High-P' and underlying (Below) zones. Tests were continued for 166-266 pore volumes (PVs), during which time varying degrees of water saturation were maintained. During saturated flow conditions, relatively high concentrations of PO4 were eluted from the Cambridge and Langton High-P zones (up to 4 and 9 mg/l P, respectively), accompanied by elevated concentrations of Fe (up to 1.4 mg/l) and Mn (up to 4 mg/l) and lower values of Eh (<150 mV). The Below zones from Cambridge and Langton, however, maintained lower concentrations of P (generally<2 mg/l), Fe (<0.2 mg/l) and Mn (<1 mg/l) and maintained higher Eh (>250 mV) during saturated flow conditions. During unsaturated flow, P and Fe declined dramatically in the High-P zones (P<1 mg/l, Fe<0.2 mg/l), whereas concentrations remained about the same during saturated and unsaturated flow in the Below zones. This behavior is at least partly attributed to the development of reducing conditions during saturated flow in the High-P zones, leading to reductive dissolution of Fe (III)-P solids present in the sediments. Reducing conditions did not develop in the Below zones apparently because of lower sediment organic carbon (OC) contents (0.03-0.04 wt.%) compared to the High-P zones (0.2-0.65 wt.%). At the Muskoka site, where the sediments were noncalcareous, low values of P (<0.2 mg/l) were maintained in both the High-P and Below columns and reducing conditions did not develop. Results indicate the possibility of remobilizing P accumulated below septic system infiltration beds should conditions become more reducing. This could occur if sewage loading patterns change, for example when a seasonal use, lakeshore cottage is converted to a permanent dwelling.     

南通市深层地下水中氨氮的影响因素研究

运用相关性分析、因子分析及多元线性回归模型对南通市2020—2021年15个监测井第Ⅲ承压层地下水的监测数据进行分析,研究深层地下水中氨氮的主要影响因素。结果表明,氨氮的主要来源是地下水沉积物中有机质的矿化及一部分工业开采引入的氮污染,地下水的还原性环境是氨氮赋存的主要成因;地下水中As、Fe及总硬度含量的同时增加也能反映氨氮含量的提高;硝态氮（NO-3-N）与NH3-N在深层地下水中是竞争关系,当地下水环境处于还原性时,更易于NH3-N的富集。降低深层地下水中氨氮的主要方法是减少有机污染物输入及还原性废水的入渗。     

典型产业集聚区地下水优先控制污染物筛选

为明确地下水污染高风险区环境管控目标,快速识别优先控制污染物,于2022年以典型产业集聚区为研究对象,利用污染源产排污状况和地下水基础环境状况调查结果,将污染评价和环境风险相结合,优选污染源超标率、地下水环境污染等级、生物毒性参数和环境迁移转化参数作为筛选因子,利用层次分析法和综合分析法,计算各污染指标综合得分,建立筛选地下水优先控制污染物的方法体系。筛选结果显示,该产业集聚区的优先控制污染物相关指标包括：硝酸盐、耗氧量、石油类、总硬度、亚硝酸盐、镍、锌、硫酸盐、甲苯、氨氮等。筛选结果与园区主导行业产排污特征和地下水质量现状相符,具有一定的可靠性,可为科学、精准管控高风险区地下水质量提供依据。     

Fe0-PRB修复地下水硝酸盐污染数值模拟

基于地下水对流-弥散作用,采用数值分析方法,构建了GMS地下水渗流和硝酸盐污染物迁移三维耦合模型.在污染物迁移过程中,不考虑吸附降解和考虑吸附降解两种工况下,分析了污染物在地下水中的迁移特征.结果表明:地下水和土壤存在天然净化污染物的能力,但不显著,必须采取有效措施控制污染.以零价铁作为PRB墙体介质,并用GMS软件模拟Fe0-PRB修复地下水中硝酸盐的效果.PRB存在时能显著控制污染物的污染范围并降低污染物浓度.PRB厚度为4m时,污染物经过550d开始透过PRB墙,PRB运行10a后,1、2、3号观测井的浓度分别1.712,0.011,0.018mg/L,PRB下游污染羽拖尾明显;PRB厚度为6m时,污染物经过850d开始透过PRB墙,PRB运行10a后,1、2、3号观测井的浓度分别0.52,0.004,0.005mg/L,与4mPRB相比浓度分别降低69.6%、63.6%和72.2%,PRB下游污染羽拖尾仍存在但不明显.污染物迁移数值模拟是评价PRB修复污染地下水效果及确定PRB参数的重要手段.     

Degradation of carbon tetrachloride by iron metal: Complexation effects on the oxide surface

Dehalogenation of chlorinated aliphatic contaminants at the surface of zero-valent iron metal (Fe⁰) is mediated by the thin film of iron (hydr)oxides found on Fe⁰ under environmental conditions. To evaluate the role this oxide film plays in the reduction of chlorinated methanes, carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) degradation by Fe⁰ was studied under the influence of various anions, ligands, and initial CCl₄ concentrations ([P]_o). Over the range of conditions examined in these batch experiments, the reaction kinetics could be characterized by surface-area-normalized rate constants that were pseudo-first order for CCl₄ disappearance (k_CCl4), and zero order for the appearance of dissolved Fe²⁺ (k_Fe²⁺). The rate of dechlorination exhibits saturation kinetics with respect to [P]_o, suggesting that CCl₄ is transformed at a limited number of reactive surface sites. Because oxidation of Fe⁰ by CCl₄ is the major corrosion reaction in these systems, k_Fe²⁺ also approaches a limiting value at high CCl₄ concentrations. The adsorption of borate strongly inhibited reduction of CCl₄, but a concomitant addition of chloride partially offset this effect by destabilizing the film. Redox active ligands (catechol and ascorbate), and those that are not redox active (EDTA and acetate), all decreased k_CCl4 (and k_Fe²⁺). Thus, it appears that the relatively strong complexation of these ligands at the oxide–electrolyte interface blocks the sites where weak interactions with the metal oxide lead to dehalogenation of chlorinated aliphatic compounds.     

企业生产活动对场地地下水环境质量的影响及分析

企业对所在场地地下水定期开展监测,能够及时发现异常,预防地下水污染。本文结合飞机制造企业生产活动及污染物排放特点,对场地地下水进行监测布点,并分析地下水可能的污染途径,发现良好的管理手段和环境特性能保证场地地下水环境质量,而企业生产活动直接影响着场地地下水环境质量。