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Sequencing Zerovalent Iron Treatment with Carbon Amendments to Remediate Agrichemical-Contaminated Soil

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Abstract

Agrichemical spills and discharges to soil can cause point-source contamination of surface and ground waters. When high contaminant concentrations inhibit natural attenuation in soils, chemical treatments can be used to promote degradation and allow application of treated soils to agricultural lands. This approach was used to remediate soil containing >650 mg atrazine, >170 mg metolachlor and >18,000 mg nitrate kg−1. Results indicated a decrease in metolachlor concentration to <1 mg kg−1 within 95 days of chemical treatment with zerovalent iron (Fe0, 5% w/w) and aluminum sulfate (Al2(SO4)3, 2% w/w) but after one year >150 mg atrazine and >7000 mg nitrate kg−1 remained. Laboratory experiments confirmed that subsequent additions of sucrose (table sugar) to the chemically pretreated soil promoted further reductions in atrazine and nitrate concentrations. Field-scale results showed that adding 5% (w/w) sucrose to windrowed and pretreated soil significantly reduced atrazine (<38 mg kg−1) and nitrate (<2,100 mg kg−1) concentrations and allowed for land application of the treated soil. These results provide evidence that zerovalent iron in combination with Al2(SO4)3 and sucrose can be used for on-site, field-scale treatment of pesticide- and nitrate-contaminated soil.

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Acknowledgements

Funding was provided by grants from the Nebraska Environmental Trust and EPA-EPSCoR. Additional support and on-site assistance was provided by Compliance Advisory Services and the Heartland Co-op, Hastings, NE and The Nebraska Agri-Business Association, Lincoln, NE. This paper is a contribution of University of Nebraska-Lincoln Agricultural Research Division Projects NEB-40-002 and 40-019.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 255 Keim Hall, Lincoln, NE, 68583-0915, USA

    Hardiljeet K. Boparai

  2. School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 362 Plant Sciences Hall, Lincoln, NE, 68583-0915, USA

    Patrick J. Shea

  3. School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 256 Keim Hall, Lincoln, NE, 68583-0915, USA

    Steve D. Comfort

  4. Department of Environmental, Agricultural and Occupational Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-7850, USA

    Patrick J. Shea

  5. Environmental Health and Safety, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 3630 East Campus Loop, Lincoln, NE, 68583-0824, USA

    Thomas A. Machacek

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  1. Hardiljeet K. Boparai
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Correspondence to Patrick J. Shea.

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Boparai, H.K., Shea, P.J., Comfort, S.D. et al. Sequencing Zerovalent Iron Treatment with Carbon Amendments to Remediate Agrichemical-Contaminated Soil. Water Air Soil Pollut 193, 189–196 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-008-9682-3

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