Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Role of Microbiological Processes in the Formation of Geochemical Barriers and Redox Zones under Conditions of Contamination of Soils and Aquifers with Metals Near MSW Disposal Sites

  • Published:
Water Resources Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This article analyzes the role of microbiological processes in the formation of geochemical barriers and redox zones in the contamination of soils and aquifers with metals. A significant contribution to environmental contamination is made by heavy metals in waste storage sites, as well as by their migration with the resulting leachate to the aeration zone and ground water. Special attention is paid to the characteristics of the behavior of heavy metals in changing redox conditions, as well as their transformation and entry into aquifers. Mechanisms of biological transformation of metals to reduce their toxic impact on the environment are considered. It is noted that the biological detoxification of the natural environment is a combination of processes of metabolism and bioconcentration as a result of complex formation, sorption, and biodegradation of the substance, depending on the biological activity of the environment and nature of contaminants. The bioremediation of contaminated areas and aquifers is one of the safest, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly technologies for the detoxification of contaminated sites of territories and aquifers.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 3.

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  1. Galitskaya, I.V., Putilina, V.S., and Yuganova, T.I., The role of organic matter in heavy metal migration at the storage sites of municipal solid wastes, Geoekologiya, 2005, no. 5, pp. 411–422.

  2. Galitskaya, I.V., Putilina, V.S., and Yuganova, T.I., The role of microorganisms in uranium behavior in the water-rock system, Geoekologiya, 2016, no. 4, pp. 320–334.

  3. Galitskaya, I.V., Putilina, V.S., and Yuganova, T.I., Formation of redox state zonality in aquifers affected by MSW storage sites and dumps, Geoekologiya, 2008, no. 5, pp. 401–410.

  4. Krainov, S.R., Ryzhenko, B.N., and Shvets, V.M., Geokhimiya podzemnykh vod. Teoreticheskie, prikladnye i ekologicheskie aspekty (Groundwater Geochemistry. Theoretical, Applied, and Environmental Aspects), Moscow, Nauka, 2004.

  5. Nikovskaya, G.N., Ul’berg, Z.P., and Koval’, L.A., Colloidal chemical processes in biotechnology of extracting heavy metals from soils, Kolloidn. Zh., 2001, vol. 63, no. 6, pp. 820–824.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Ogurtsova, L.V., Karavaiko, G.I., Avakyan, Z.A., and Korneevskii A.A., Activity of different microorganisms in withdrawal of elements from bauxite, Mikrobiologiya, 1989, vol. 58, no. 6, pp. 956–962.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Putilina, V.S., Galitskaya, I.V., and Yuganova, T.I., Vliyanie organicheskogo veshchestava na migratsiyu tyazhelykh metallov na uchastkakh skladirovaniya tverdykh bytovykh otkhodov: Analit. Obzor. Ser. Ekologiya (Effect of Organic Matter on Migration of Heavy Metals at the Disposal Sites of Municipal Solid Waste: Analytical Review), Ecology Series. Issue 76, Novosibirsk: GPNTB SO RAN, 2005.

  8. Abiriga, D., Jenkins, A., Alfsnes, K., Vestgarden, L.S., and Klempe, H., Characterisation of the bacterial microbiota of a landfill-contaminated confined aquifer undergoing intrinsic remediation, Sci. Total Environ., 2021, vol. 785, paper 147349.

  9. Anderson, R.T., Vrionis, H.A., Ortiz-Bernad, I., Resch, C.T., Long, P.E., Dayvault, R., Karp, K., Marutzky, S., Metzler, D.R., Peacock, A., White, D.C., Lowe, M., Lovley, D.R. Stimulating the in situ activity of Geobacter species to remove uranium from the groundwater of a uranium-contaminated aquifer. Applied Environ. Microbiol., 2003, vol. 69, no. 10, pp. 5884–5891.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Burkhardt, E.-M., Meißner, S., Merten, D., Büchel, G., and Küsel, K., Heavy metal retention and microbial activities in geochemical barriers formed in glacial sediments subjacent to a former uranium mining leaching heap, Chemie der Erde–Geochem., 2009, vol. 69, suppl. 2, pp. 21–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Calmano, W., Hong, J., and Förstner, U., Binding and mobilization of heavy metals in contaminated sediments affected by pH and redox potential, Water Sci. Technol., 1993, vol. 28, nos. 8–9, pp. 223–235.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Edwards, L., Kusel, K., Drake, H., and Kostka, J.E., Electron flow in acidic subsurface sediments contaminated with nitrate and uranium, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 2007, vol. 71, no. 3, pp. 643–654.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Flyhammar, P. Estimation of heavy metal transformations in municipal solid waste, Sci. Total Environ., 1997, vol. 198, no. 2, pp. 123–133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Gadd, G.M. and Griffiths, A.J., Microorganisms and heavy metal toxicity, Microb. Ecol., 1978, vol. 4, no. 4, pp. 303–317.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Hansel, C.M., Benner, S.G., Neiss, J., Dohnalkova, A., Kukkadapu, R.K., and Fendorf, S., Secondary mineralization pathways induced by dissimilatory iron reduction of ferrihydrite under advective flow, Geoch. Cosmochim Acta, 2003, vol. 67, no. 16, pp. 2977–2992.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Hyldegaard, B.H., Jakobsen, R., Weeth, E.B., Overheu, N.D., Gent, D.B., and Ottosen, L.M., Challenges in electrochemical remediation of chlorinated solvents in natural groundwater aquifer settings, J. Hazard. Mater., 2019, vol. 368, pp. 680–688.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Kjeldsen, P., Barlaz, M.A., Rooker, A.P., Baun, A., Ledin, A., and Christensen, T.H., Present and long-term composition of MSW landfill leachate: A Review, Crit. Rev. Environ. Sci. Technol., 2002, vol. 32, no. 4, pp. 297–336.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Knox, A.S., Brigmon, R.L., Kaplan, D.I., and Paller, M.H., Interactions among phosphate amendments, microbes and uranium mobility in contaminated sediments, Sci. Tot. Environ., 2008, vol. 395, nos. 2–3, pp. 63–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Kulshreshtha, A., Agrawal, R., Barar, M., and Saxena, S., A review on bioremediation of heavy metals in contaminated water, IOSR J. Environ. Sci., Toxicol. Food Technol., 2014, vol. 8, no. 7, pp. 44–50.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Lin, B., Braster, M., Röling, W.F., and van Breukelen, B.M., Iron-reducing microorganisms in a landfill leachate-polluted aquifer: complementing culture-independent information with enrichments and isolations, Geomicrobiol. J., 2007, vol. 24, nos. 3–4, pp. 283–294.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Lloyd, J.R. and Lovley, D.R., Microbial detoxification of metals and radionuclides. Curr. Opin. Biotechnol., 2001, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 248–253.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Lloyd, J.R., Lovley, D.R., and Macaskie, L.E., Biotechnological application of metal-reducing microorganisms, Adv. Appl. Microbiol., 2003, vol. 53, pp. 85–128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Logeshwaran, P., Megharaj, M., Chadalavada, S., Bowman, M., and Naidu, R., Petroleum hydrocarbons (PH) in groundwater aquifers: an overview of environmental fate, toxicity, microbial degradation and risk-based remediation approaches, Environ. Technol. Innovation, 2018, vol. 10, pp. 175–193.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Lovley, D.R., Anaerobes into heavy metal: Dissimilatory metal reduction in anoxic environments, Trends Ecol. Evol., 1993, vol. 8, no. 6, pp. 213–217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Lovley, D.R., Anaerobes to the rescue, Science, 2001, vol. 293, no. 5534, pp. 1444–1446.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Lovley, D.R., Bioremediation of organic and metal contaminants with dissimilatory metal reduction, J. Ind. Microbiol., 1995, vol. 14, pp. 85–93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Lovley, D.R., Dissimilatory metal reduction: From early life to bioremediation, ASM News, 2002, vol. 68, pp. 231–237.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Lovley, D.R., Extracellular electron transfer: wires, capacitors, iron lungs, and more, Geobiology, 2008, vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 225–231.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Lovley, D.R. and Anderson, R.T., Influence of dissimilatory metal reduction on fate of organic and metal contaminants in the subsurface, Hydrogeol. J., 2000, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 77–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Lovley, D.R., Fraga, J.L., Blunt-Harris, E.L., Hayes, L.A., Phillips, E.J.P., and Coates, J.D., Humic substances as a mediator for microbially catalysed metal reduction, Acta Hydrochim. Hydrobiol., 1998, vol. 26, no. 3, pp. 152–157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Lyngkilde, J. and Christensen, T.H., Redox zones of a landfill leachate contamination plume (Vejen, Denmark), J. Contam. Hydrol., 1992, vol. 10, pp. 273–289.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. O’Connor, D., Hou, D., Ok, Y.S., Song, Y., Sarmah, A.K., Li, X., and Tack, F.M., Sustainable in situ remediation of recalcitrant organic contaminants in groundwater with controlled release materials: a review, J. Controlled Release, 2018, vol. 283, pp. 200–213.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Picardal, F. and Cooper, D.G, Microbially mediated changes in the mobility of contaminant metals in soils and sediments, Heavy Metal Contamination of Soil: Problems and Remedies, Ahmad, I., Hayat, S., and Pichtel, J. (Eds.), Enfield, NH: Science Publishers, Inc., 2005, pp. 43–88.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Sitte, J., Akob, D.M., Kaufmann, C., Finster, K., Banerjee, D., et al., Microbial links between sulfate reduction and metal retention in uranium- and heavy metal-contaminated soil, Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 2010, vol. 76, no. 10, pp. 3143–3152.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Stewart, B.D., Neiss, J., and Fendorf, S., Quantifying constraints imposed by calcium and iron on bacterial reduction of Uranium (VI), J. Environ. Qual., 2007, vol. 36, no.2, pp. 363–372.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Tarekegn, M.M., Salilih, F.Z., and Ishetu, A.I., Microbes used as a tool for bioremediation of heavy metal from the environment, Cogent Food Agric., 2020, vol. 6, no. 1, paper 1783174.

  37. Vodyanitskii, Yu.N., Biochemical processes in soil and groundwater contaminated by leachates from municipal landfills (Mini review), Ann. Agrar. Sci., 2016, vol. 14, no. 3, pp. 249–256.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This article was prepared as part of the state assignment and research plan (state registration AAAA-A19-119101890052-5) and supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (project 20-05-00574).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sergeev Institute of Environmental Geoscience, Russian Academy of Sciences, 101000, Moscow, Russia

    V. S. Putilina & T. I. Yuganova

Authors
  1. V. S. Putilina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. T. I. Yuganova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to V. S. Putilina or T. I. Yuganova.

Ethics declarations

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

Additional information

Translated by D. Zabolotny

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Putilina, V.S., Yuganova, T.I. The Role of Microbiological Processes in the Formation of Geochemical Barriers and Redox Zones under Conditions of Contamination of Soils and Aquifers with Metals Near MSW Disposal Sites. Water Resour 49 (Suppl 2), S83–S93 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0097807822080103

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0097807822080103

Keywords:

Search

Navigation