Bioelectrochemical denitrification on biocathode buried in simulated aquifer saturated with nitrate-contaminated groundwater

Nitrate contamination in aquifers has posed human health under high risk because people still rely on groundwater withdrawn from aquifers as drinking water and running water sources. These days, bioelectrochemical technologies have shown a great number of benefits for nitrate remediation via autotro...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental science and pollution research international 2016-08, Vol.23 (15), p.15443-15451
Main Authors: Nguyen, Van Khanh, Park, Younghyun, Yu, Jaecheul, Lee, Taeho
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aquatic Pollution
Aquifers
Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution
Autotrophic Processes
Bacteria
Biodegradation, Environmental
Bioreactors
Denitrification
Drinking water
Drinking Water - standards
Earth and Environmental Science
Ecotoxicology
Electrochemical Techniques - methods
Electrochemistry
Electrodes
Environment
Environmental Chemistry
Environmental Health
Feasibility studies
Graphite
Groundwater
Groundwater - chemistry
Groundwater - microbiology
Groundwater pollution
Microbial activity
Microbiomes
Microorganisms
Models, Theoretical
Nitrate reduction
Nitrates
Nitrates - analysis
Oxidation-Reduction
Paracoccus
Paracoccus denitrificans - growth & development
Research Article
Sand
Thiobacillus
Thiobacillus - growth & development
Waste Water Technology
Water Management
Water Microbiology
Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
Water Pollution Control
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Summary:Nitrate contamination in aquifers has posed human health under high risk because people still rely on groundwater withdrawn from aquifers as drinking water and running water sources. These days, bioelectrochemical technologies have shown a great number of benefits for nitrate remediation via autotrophic denitrification in groundwater. This study tested the working possibility of a denitrifying biocathode when installed into a simulated aquifer. The reactors were filled with sand and synthetic groundwater at various ratios (10, 50, and 100 %) to clarify the effect of various biocathode states (not-buried, half-buried, and fully buried) on nitrate reduction rate and microbial communities. Decreases in specific nitrate reduction rates were found to be correlated with increases in sand/medium ratios. A specific nitrate reduction rate of 322.6 mg m −2  day −1 was obtained when the biocathode was fully buried in an aquifer. Microbial community analysis revealed slight differences in the microbial communities of biocathodes at various sand/medium ratios. Various coccus- and rod-shaped bacteria were found to contribute to bioelectrochemical denitrification including Thiobacillus spp. and Paracoccus spp. This study demonstrated that the denitrifying biocathode could work effectively in a saturated aquifer and confirmed the feasibility of in situ application of microbial electrochemical denitrification technology.
ISSN:0944-1344
1614-7499
DOI:10.1007/s11356-016-6709-y