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Stabilization of hydrophobic organic contaminants in sediments by natural zeolites: bioavailability-based assessment of efficacy using equilibrium passive sampling

  • Technological Innovation for Soil/Sediment Remediation
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Abstract

Purpose

As natural zeolites have been widely used as cost-effective adsorbents for plant nutrients and heavy metals in sediments, it is worthwhile to verify the potential of natural zeolites for mixed-contaminant stabilization including hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs). The effectiveness of natural zeolite amendment in sediment on reducing the bioaccumulation of sediment-associated HOCs in V. philippinaram (Cb) was assessed. Then, the role of sediment pore water freely dissolved HOCs (Cfree) in Cb prediction was further identified and modeled.

Materials and methods

In this study, a bioavailability-based assessment of the HOC-stabilization efficacy of natural zeolites in maricultural sediments was performed using equilibrium passive sampling. V. philippinaram was adopted as a biological indicator for HOC bioaccumulation. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was used as a passive sampler for monitoring the concentration of the Cfree. The assumption that Cfree is a central mediator driving the bioaccumulation process of HOCs from the bulk sediment to the exposed organisms was validated by correlating the reductions in Cb and Cfree of the sediments amended with natural zeolites. Subsequently, a model based on this assumption was built and verified for the bioavailability-based assessment of the stabilization efficacy of natural zeolite amendment on sediment-associated HOCs.

Results and discussion

The results showed the bioaccumulations of four kinds of HOCs (including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, pyrethroids, and organochlorine pesticides) in V. philippinaram were reduced by 7.3–38% after the natural zeolite amendment (10% dry weight in sediments), and the Cfree values measured with PDMS were reduced proportionally. It supported the assumption that Cfree is a central mediator driving the bioaccumulation process of HOCs. Kow of HOCs and two properties of sediment were found to be significantly correlated with the reductions of the Cfree values. Based on these findings, a model to predict the Cb values of PAHs and PBDEs in V. philippinaram was built. The model was then verified by a significant correlation between the predicted and measured values of Cb.

Conclusions

The potential of natural zeolites for the stabilization of mixed-contaminants in sediments, including HOCs, was proved as notable reductions of Cb and Cfree of HOCs in the sediments amended by natural zeolite were observed. The results also suggested PDMS is a promising tool for predicting the bioaccumulation of sediment-associated HOCs in V. philippinaram and further for assessing the stabilization efficacy of natural zeolites in maricultural sediments. Modifying natural zeolites to further improve the effectiveness of HOC stabilization is warranted.

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Acknowledgments

The present research was supported by Shanghai Science and Technology Commission Key Support Fund (18050502100), Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission Fund (D-8003-18-0043), Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center Fund (A1-2037-16-0001-12), Shanghai Ocean University Technology Development Fund (A2-0203-00-100223), and Shanghai Ocean University Doctoral Foundation (A2-0203-00-100352).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Marine Ecology and Environment, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China

    Yiqin Chen, Wenjian Yu, Qian Wang, Jie Yin, Jianwei Lin & Juan-Ying Li

  2. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong

    Ling Jin

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  1. Yiqin Chen
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Correspondence to Juan-Ying Li.

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Chen, Y., Yu, W., Jin, L. et al. Stabilization of hydrophobic organic contaminants in sediments by natural zeolites: bioavailability-based assessment of efficacy using equilibrium passive sampling. J Soils Sediments 19, 3898–3907 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-019-02381-9

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