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Coupling of bio-PRB and enclosed in-well aeration system for remediation of nitrobenzene and aniline in groundwater

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Abstract

A laboratory-scale bio-permeable reactive barrier (bio-PRB) was constructed and combined with enclosed in-well aeration system to treat nitrobenzene (NB) and aniline (AN) in groundwater. Batch-style experiments were first conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of NB and AN degradation, using suspension (free cells) of degrading consortium and immobilized consortium by a mixture of perlite and peat. The NB and AN were completely degraded in <3 days using immobilized consortium, while 3–5 days were required using free cells. The O2 supply efficiency of an enclosed in-well aeration system was assessed in a box filled with perlite and peat. Dissolved O2 (DO) concentrations increased to 8–12 mg L−1 in 12 h for sampling ports within 12 cm of the aeration well. A diffusion coefficient as 33.5 cm2 s−1 was obtained. The DO concentration was >4 mg L−1 when the aeration system was applied into the bio-PRB system. The NB and AN were effectively removed when the aeration system was functional in the bio-PRB. The removal efficiency decreased when the aeration system malfunctioned for 20 days, thus indicating that DO was an important factor for the degradation of NB and AN. The regain of NB and AN removal after the malfunction indicates the robustness of degradation consortium. No original organics and new formed by-products were observed in the effluent. The results indicate that NB and AN in groundwater can be completely mineralized in a bio-PRB equipped with enclosed in-well aeration system and filled with perlite and peat attached with degrading consortium.

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Acknowledgments

This research was sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundations of China (Nos. 41072170 and 41372236) and the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program, No. 2007AA06A410). We thank the reviewers whose valuable suggestions greatly improved this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, College of Environment and Resources, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China

    Na Liu, Feng Ding, Liu Wang, Peng Liu, Xiaolong Yu & Kang Ye

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  1. Na Liu
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  2. Feng Ding
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  3. Liu Wang
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  4. Peng Liu
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  5. Xiaolong Yu
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  6. Kang Ye
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Correspondence to Peng Liu.

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Responsible editor: Gerald Thouand

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Liu, N., Ding, F., Wang, L. et al. Coupling of bio-PRB and enclosed in-well aeration system for remediation of nitrobenzene and aniline in groundwater. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 9972–9983 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6206-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6206-3

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