Abstract
Chlorinated solvents are widespread subsurface contaminants that are often present as complex mixtures. Complete biodegradation of mixed chlorinated solvents remains challenging because the optimal redox conditions for biodegradation of different chlorinated solvents differ significantly. In this study, anaerobic and aerobic conditions were integrated by electrolysis coupled with groundwater circulation for biodegradation of a mixture of chloroform (CF, 8.25 mg/L), 1,2-dichloroethane (DCA, 7.01 mg/L), and trichloroethylene (TCE, 4.56 mg/L). A two-dimensional tank was filled with field sandy and silty-clayed sediments to simulate aquifer conditions, a pair of electrodes was installed between an injection well and abstraction well, and groundwater circulation transported cathodic H2 and anodic O2 to produce multiple redox conditions. Microbial community analysis demonstrated that the system constructed a habitat suitable for the co-existence of aerobic and anaerobic microbes. After 50 days of treatment, 93.1%, 100%, and 87.3% of CF, 1,2-DCA, and TCE were removed without observed intermediates, respectively. Combined with compound specific isotope analysis, the degradation of 1,2-DCA and CF was mainly attributed to aerobic oxidation and reductive dechlorination, respectively, and TCE was removed by both aerobic and anaerobic biodegradation. Our findings provide a new and efficient strategy for in situ bioremediation of groundwater contaminated by mixed chlorinated solvents.
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This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32061133002), the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (2018YFC1802504), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan) (CUGGC06).
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Conceptualization: Qizheng Cai and Man Tong. Methodology: Qizheng Cai. Validation: Qizheng Cai. Investigation: Qizheng Cai, Chongwen Shi, and Songhu Yuan. Writing-original draft: Qizheng Cai. Writing-review and editing: Man Tong.
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Cai, Q., Shi, C., Yuan, S. et al. Integrated anaerobic–aerobic biodegradation of mixed chlorinated solvents by electrolysis coupled with groundwater circulation in a simulated aquifer. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 31188–31201 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-24377-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-24377-8