Emerging Contaminants in Soils: Challenges and

Emerging Contaminants in Soils: Challenges and Opportunities from Quantification to

Remediation

Dr Christine Switzer Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering

University of Strathclyde

Introduction

Conc (TPH) = 31,000 mg/kg ± 14,000 mg/kg Conc (TPH) = 10 mg/kg ± 4 mg/kg

Switzer et al., 2014. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 268, pp. 51-60.

Pironi et al., 2011. Environmental Science & Technology, 45 (7), pp. 2987-2993.

Switzer et al., 2009. Environmental Science & Technology, 43 (15), pp. 5871–5877.

Pironi et al., 2009. Proceedings of the Combustion Institute 32 (2), pp. 1957-1964.

My background: contaminant transport and remediation in soils

Detection and Quantification

Co-elution and interference with BFR mixture

Br

Br OCH3

Br

Br

H3CO

Teuten et al (2005)

O

Br

Br

Br

Br

OCH3

Pena-Abaurrea et al (2009)

Biodegradation/biotransformation Applied: ~50,000mg/kg Recovered: ~30,000mg/kg

Fresh tar

Aged tar Recovery <50%

Release Mechanisms and Transport (1)

Release Mechanisms and Transport (2) http://www.ecochunk.com/tag/electronic-waste/

Release Mechanisms and Transport (2)

Release Mechanisms and Transport (3)

Release Mechanisms and Transport (3)

Metcalf & Eddy (2004) http://www.rockvillemd.gov

Blackburn Meadows WWTW (Google Maps)

Release Mechanisms and Transport (4) http://www.epd.gov.hk http://www.bono.it

http://oldweb.northampton.ac.uk

http://www.aboutmyplanet.com

Release Mechanisms and Transport (5)

Beneficial components: • Nitrogen • Phosphorus • Organic matter

Possible harmful components: • Pathogens • Heavy metals • Emerging contaminants

Land Application of Sludge

Release Mechanisms?

Release Mechanisms?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-24603346

Transport in soil

Du et al (2013)

Worch (1993) as cited in Cristale et al (2013)

Csa

Free diffusion in water

Conventional Remediation

Pankow and Cherry, 1997

Source Zone or Downgradient Intervention

Conventional Source Zone Remediation

http://www.ehponline.org

http://savronsolutions.com

Thermal Smouldering

Chemical oxidation http://groundsure.com

Conventional Downgradient Remediation Bioremediation

Pseudomonas (aerobic) Dehalococcoides (anaerobic)

Phytoremediation Permeable reactive barriers (PRBs)

http://pseudomonas.com http://web.utk.edu/~microlab/

http://clu-in.org http://clu-in.org

Monitored Natural Attenuation

Source

Remediation

http://www.rockvillemd.gov

Possible Intervention: Tertiary treatment and/or

sludge treatment

Remediation

P. ostreatus and other white rot fungi (M. Malgaretti)

Harms et al (2011): http://www.nature.com/nrmicro/journal/v9/n3/abs/nrmicro2519.html

Promising Early Results: • PAHs • PCDDs and PCDFs • Pesticides • Other POPs Singleton (2001)

http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_round_up/2406831/fuean_contaminated_soils.html

Remediation?

"Final tags". Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Final_tags.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Final_tags.jpg

Constructed Wetland: Enhanced sequestration or degradation?

Conclusions: Challenges & Opportunities Detection and quantification

Contaminant release, transport, and mass transfer

Remediation