Transport and retention of high concentrated nano-Fe/Cu particles through highly flow-rated packed sand column

In-depth understanding of transport behavior of sulfided nano zerovalent iron/reduced graphene oxide@guar gum slurry: Stability and mobility

Nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI), which has the advantages of small particle size, large specific surface area, and high reactivity, is often injected into contaminated aquifers in the form of slurry. However, the prone to passivation and agglomeration as well as poor stability and mobility of NZVI limit the further application of this technology in fields. Therefore, sulfided NZVI loaded on reduced graphene oxide (S-NZVI/rGO) and guar gum (GG) with shear-thinning properties as stabilizers were used to synthesize S-NZVI/rGO@GG slurries. SEM, TEM, and FT-IR confirmed that the dispersion and anti-passivation of NZVI were optimized in the coupled system. The stability and mobility of the slurry were improved by increasing the GG concentration, enhancing the pH, and decreasing the ionic strength and the presence of Ca2+ ions, respectively. A modified advection-dispersion equation (ADE) was used to simulate the transport experiments considering the strain and physicochemical deposition/release. Meanwhile, colloidal filtration theory (CFT) demonstrated that Brownian motion plays a dominant role in the migration of S-NZVI/rGO@GG slurry, and the maximum migration distance can be increased by appropriately increasing the injection rate. Extended-Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (XDLVO) theory showed that the excellent stability and migration of S-NZVI/rGO@GG slurry mainly came from the GG spatial forces. This study has important implications for the field injection of S-NZVI/rGO@GG slurry. According to the injection parameters, the injection range of S-NZVI/rGO@GG slurry is effectively controlled, which lays the foundation for the promotion of application in actual fields.

Transport and retention of functionalized graphene oxide nanoparticles in saturated/unsaturated porous media: Effects of flow velocity, ionic strength and initial particle concentration

The widespread use of nanomaterials has raised the threat of nanoparticles (NPs) infection of soils and groundwater resources. This research aims to investigate three parameters including flow velocity, ionic strength (IS), and initial particle concentration effects on transport behavior and retention mechanism of functionalization form of graphene oxide with polyvinylpyrrolidone (GO-PVP). The transport of GO-PVP was investigated in a laboratory-scale study through saturated/unsaturated (Saturation Degree = 0.91) sand columns. Experiments were conducted on flow velocity from 1.20 to 2.04 cm min-1, initial particle concentration from 10 to 50 mg L-1, and IS of 5-20 mM. The retention of GO-PVP was best described using the one-site kinetic attachment model in HYDRUS-1D, which accounted for the time and depth-dependent retention. According to breakthrough curves (BTCs), the lower transport related to the rate of mass recovery of GO-PVP was obtained by decreasing flow velocity and initial particle concentration and increasing IS through the sand columns. Increasing IS could improve the GO-PVP retention (based on katt and Smax) in saturated/unsaturated media; katt increases from 2.81 × 10-3 to 3.54 × 10-3 s-1 and Smax increases from 0.37 to 0.42 mg g-1 in saturated/unsaturated conditions, respectively. Our findings showed that the increasing retention of GO-PVP through the sand column under unsaturated condition could be recommended for the reduction of nanoparticles danger of ecosystem exposure.

CFD-DEM study on transport and retention behaviors of nZVI-clay colloids in porous media

Transportation process of nano scale zero valent iron (nZVI) in clay-rich soils is complicated and crucial for in-situ remediation of contaminated sites. A coupled computational fluid dynamic and discrete element method (CFD-DEM) was used to investigate the interplays of repulsive and attractive forces and the injection velocity of this process. The screened Coulomb's law was used to represent the electrostatic interaction, and surface energy density was introduced to represent the effects of the van der Waals interaction. A phase diagram was constructed to describe the interplay between injection velocity and repulsive force (in terms of charge of colloids). Under the boundary and initial conditions in this study, clogging formed at low repulsive force (colloidal charge = -1 ×10-15 C), where increment of injection velocity (from 0.002 m/s to 0.02 m/s) cannot prevent clogging, as in the case of bare nZVI transportation with limited mobility; On the other hand, excessive repulsive force (charge = -4 ×10-14 C) is detrimental to nZVI-clay transportation due to repulsion from the concentrated colloids in pore throats, a phenomenon as in the overuse of stabilizers and was defined as the "membrane repulsion effect" in this study. At moderate charge (-1 ×10-14 C), injection velocity increment induced clogging due to aggregates formed at the windward of cylinder and accumulated at the pore throats.

Overlooked encounter process that affects physical behaviors of stabilized nanoscale zero-valent iron during in situ groundwater remediation

Dynamic encountering between groundwater matrices and nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) injected for in situ subsurface remediation affects NZVI's mobility and has not been well recognized. Polyacrylic acid (PAA)-stabilized NZVI (NZVI-PAA) and Mg(OH)2-coated NZVI (NZVI@Mg(OH)2) were investigated as representative NZVIs stabilized by enhanced electrostatic repulsion and reduced magnetic attraction, respectively. Encounters with divalent cations and humic acid (HA) induced the drastic aggregation and sedimentation (presedimentation) of NZVI-PAA owing to Lewis acid-base interactions and heteroaggregation. In addition, encountered groundwater electrolytes could not effectively provide electrostatic repulsion for NZVI-PAA, resulting in breakthrough ripening dynamics. The presedimentation and ripening behaviors of NZVI-PAA were eliminated and unheeded after mixing the NZVI slurry with groundwater by sonication. In comparison, the encountering process barely impacted NZVI@Mg(OH)2, for which settling was hindered. Although the particle-collector attraction promoted NZVI@Mg(OH)2 adsorption on pristine and hybrid-coated sands, the Langmuirian blocking dynamics of the NZVI@Mg(OH)2 breakthrough demonstrated its high mobility after adsorption sites of sand surface were exhausted. Extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek analysis and transport modeling provided insights into overlooked effects of encountering on physical behaviors of different stabilized NZVIs, which should be considered during practical applications under diverse subsurface conditions.

One-Pot Synthesis of Lamellar Fe-Cu Bimetal-Decorated Reduced Graphene Oxide and Its Enhanced Removal of Cr(VI) from Water

Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is a typical heavy metal pollutant, making its removal from wastewater imperative. Although nanosized zero-valent iron (nZVI) and graphene-based materials are excellent remediation materials, they have drawbacks, such as agglomeration and being difficult to recycle. A facile synthesis method for decorating reduced graphene oxide (rGO) with ultrathin nZVI (within 10 nm) was explored in this study in order to develop an effective tool for Cr(VI) detoxication. Cu particles were doped in these composites for electron-transfer enhancement and were verified to improve the rate by 2.4~3.4 times. Batch experiments were conducted at different pHs, initial concentrations, ionic strengths, and humic acid (HA) concentrations. From these observations, it was found that the acid condition and appearance of Cu and rGO enhanced the treatment capacity. This procedure was fitted with a pseudo-second-order model, and the existence of NaCl and HA impeded it to some extent. Cr(VI) could be detoxified into Cr(III) and precipitated on the surface. Combining these analyses, a kinetics study, and the characterizations before and after the reaction, the removal mechanism of Cr(VI) was further discussed as a complex process involving adsorption, reduction, and precipitation. The maximum removal capacity of 156.25 mg g-1 occurred in the acid condition, providing a potential Cr(VI) remediation method.

Degradation of sulfamethazine in water by sulfite activated with zero-valent Fe-Cu bimetallic nanoparticles

In this work, zero-valent Fe-Cu bimetallic nanoparticles were synthesized using a facile method, and applied to activate sulfite for the degradation of sulfamethazine (SMT) from the aqueous solution. The key factors influencing SMT degradation were investigated, namely the theoretical loading of Cu, Fe-Cu catalyst dosage, sulfite concentration and initial solution pH. The experimental results showed that the Fe-Cu/sulfite system exhibited a much better performance in SMT degradation than the bare Fe⁰/sulfite system. The mechanism and possible degradation pathway of SMT in Fe-Cu/sulfite system were revealed. The reactive radicals that played a dominant role in the SMT degradation process were •OH and SO₄^•-, while the loading of Cu induced the synergistic effect between Fe and Cu. The redox cycle between Cu(I)/Cu(II) remarkably contributed to the conversion of Fe(III) to Fe(II), greatly enhancing the catalytic performance of Fe-Cu bimetal. In real groundwater applications, the Fe-Cu/sulfite system also exhibited satisfactory SMT degradation. The 30-day aging tests of Fe-Cu particles demonstrated that the aging of catalyst was not obviously affecting the removal of SMT. Furthermore, the reusability of catalyst was evidenced by the recycling experiments. This study provides a promising application of bimetal activated sulfite for enhanced contaminant degradation in groundwater.

Removal of nitrate from groundwater by nano-scale zero-valent iron injection pulses in continuous-flow packed soil columns

Injection of zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI) into aquifers has gained increasing attention of researchers for in-situ treatment of NO₃^--contaminated groundwater. nZVI has proved efficient in chemically reducing NO₃^- and, according to recent research efforts, in supporting biological denitrification under favoured conditions. Given the scarce research on nZVI pulsed injection in continuous-flow systems, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of nZVI pulses on the removal of NO₃^- from groundwater in packed soil columns and, more particularly, to elucidate whether or not biotic NO₃^- removal processes were promoted by nZVI. Three identical columns were filled with aquifer soil samples and fed with the same nitrate polluted groundwater but operated under different conditions: (A) with application of nZVI pulses and biocide spiked in groundwater, (B) without application of nZVI pulses and (C) with application of nZVI pulses. Results showed that the application of nZVI (at 30 mg/L and 78 mg/L doses) resulted in an immediate and sharp removal of NO₃^- (88-94%), accompanied by an increase in pH (from 7.0 to 9.0-10.0), a drop in redox potential (Eh) (from +420 mV to <100 mV) and a release of Fe(II) and Total Organic Carbon (TOC) in the effluent (to 200 mg/L and 150-200 mg/L, respectively). The released TOC came from the organic polymer used as stabilizer of the nZVI particles. Comparison against the sterilized control column revealed that, under the experimental conditions, no biological denitrification developed and that the removal of NO₃^- was due to chemical reduction by nZVI. The main by-product of the NO₃^- removal was NH₄⁺, which at the prevailing pH was partially converted to NH₃, which dissipated from the aqueous solution resulting in a net removal of total dissolved N. A mass balance of Fe permitted to quantify the percentage of injected nZVI trapped in the column (>98%) and the NO₃^- retention capacity of the nZVI particles (13.2-85.5 mg NO₃^-/g nZVI).

Effects of multiple injections on the transport of CMC-nZVI in saturated sand columns

The multiple injections of nanoscale zero valent iron (nZVI) slurry, an efficient method to remediate contaminated groundwater, requires an accurate assessment of the transport and risks of these particles in saturated porous medium. However, the influencing mechanism of nZVI transport under multiple injection conditions is not fully understood. In this experimental study, one-dimensional sand columns were used to evaluate the effects of injection concentrations, particle sizes and surface chemical corrosion on the transport of carboxymethyl cellulose modified nZVI (CMC-nZVI) under triple injection conditions, where the different volumes of NaCl solution were flushed through the columns between the injections. Based on the breakthrough curves and retention profiles under flushing 4 pore volumes of NaCl solution between the injections, the transport of CMC-nZVI particles was gradually enhanced attributable to the exclusion among these particles at injection concentration of 200 mg/L, but the opposite was observed due to large aggregation caused by strong magnetic force among particles at 500 mg/L. However, the magnitudes of enhancement or reduction on maximum C/C₀ under the above injection concentrations were related to the smallest particle size of D_h = 3.926 μm because of high particle number concentrations leading to intense competition on depositional sites at 200 mg/L and significant aggregation at 500 mg/L. Conversely, the transport of CMC-nZVI was reduced under flushing 76 pore volumes of NaCl solution between the injections because of pronounced corrosion of CMC-nZVI in water as evidenced by the XPS and XRD analyses of particles. This corrosion could cause the decrease in repulsion among particles due to the increase in surface negative zeta potential and the CMC desorption from nZVI. Accordingly, this study revealed that relative high injection concentrations and chemical corrosion in groundwater could restrain the mobility of nZVI under multiple injection conditions and the potential risks posed by CMC-nZVI are controllable.

Transport of nanoparticles in porous media and its effects on the co-existing pollutants

Nanomaterials are widely used in daily life owing to their superior characteristics. The release and transport of nanoparticles (NPs) in the environment is inevitable during their entire life cycle, posing a risk to the aquatic environment. Thus, considerable attention has been focused on the fate and behavior of NPs in porous media, as well as the co-transport of NPs with other pollutants. In this review, current knowledge about the retention and transport behavior of NPs in porous media is summarized. NP transport in porous media is dominated by various internal and external factors, including the characteristics of NPs, porous media, and water flow. Generally, NPs with high density, small particle size, and surface coating are easily transported in porous media with the characteristics of large size, smooth surface, and low water saturation. Meanwhile, high pH and velocity, low temperature, and natural organic matter-containing fluids are also conducive to NP transport. Aggregation, adsorption, straining, and blocking are the primary mechanisms by which NPs affect the transport of co-existing pollutants in porous media. Current research on NP transport has been performed predominantly using modal porous media (e.g., sand and glass beads); however, there is a large gap between simulated and natural porous media. Further studies should focus on the transport, fate, and interaction of NPs and coexistent pollutants in natural porous media, as well as the coupling mechanisms under actual environmental conditions.

Bibliometric analysis of zerovalent iron particles research for environmental remediation from 2000 to 2019

Zerovalent iron (ZVI) has been a major focus of research and has attracted great attention during the last 2 decades by international researchers because of its excellent pollutant removal performance and several other merits in environmental remediation. Based on Web of Science Core Collection data, we present a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of ZVI research from 2000 to 2019. We analyze 4472 publications assuming three stages of growth trend of annual publication totals. We find that "The Chemical Engineering Journal" has been the most productive journal; Noubactep C is identified as the most productive author; China has been the most active country in this field and the Chinese Academy of Science the most productive institution. The timeline of keywords shows seven distinct co-citation clusters. In addition, the top 38 keywords with strong citation bursts are also detected, suggesting that the innovation of green composite synthesis of ZVI and nanoscale ZVI and its efficient removal capacity might be the prevailing research directions in the future.

Porous media transport of iron nanoparticles for site remediation application: A review of lab scale column study, transport modelling and field-scale application

Injection of surface modified zero valent iron nanoparticles for in situ remediation of soil, contaminated with an array of pollutants has attracted great attention due to the high reactivity of zero valent iron towards a broad range of contaminants, its cost effectiveness, minimal physical disruption and low toxicity. The effectiveness of this technology relies on the stability and mobility of injected iron nanoparticles. Hence the development of a modelling tool capable of predicting nZVI transport is indispensable. This review provides state of the art knowledge on the mobility of iron nanoparticles in porous media, mechanisms involved in subsurface retention of nZVI based on continuum models and field scale application. Special attention is given to the identification of the influential parameters controlling the transport potential of iron nanoparticles and the available numerical models for the simulation of laboratory scale transport data.

Research on the characterization, reactivity, and transportability of porous silicon-coated nanoscale zero-valent iron

In practical conditions, the remediation efficiency is always very limited due to the rapid aggregation and deactivation of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI). Porous SiO2-coated technology can effectively suppress the agglomeration and oxidation of nZVI particle, resulting in the excellent dispersion and stability in water. A series of characterization results show that the porous SiO2-coated Fe0 (Fe0@p-SiO2) was a core-shell structure composite, with Fe0 as the core and the porous SiO2 as the shell. Moreover, the prepared composite material has a large specific surface area (244.04 m2/g). The experiments of nitrobenzene (NB) reduction and one-dimensional simulation column indicated that the different amounts of NaOH in the preparation process lead to the different structures, shapes, and particle sizes of prepared composite materials, which have significant effects on its activity and transportability. Under the conditions investigated, the optimum ratio of Fe0@p-SiO2 synthesis was nFe3+:n(Tetraethoxy silane, TEOS):nNaOH = 1:1.85:1.19, and the corresponding reduction efficiency of NB to aniline (AN) and maximum normalized outflow concentration (Cmax/C0) was 100% and 0.79, respectively. The SiO2-coated technology gives nZVI preparation greater control over the structure, shape, and particle size of modified nZVI composite, which has great potential in in situ remediation of groundwater contamination.

Nafcillin degradation by heterogeneous electro-Fenton process using Fe, Cu and Fe/Cu nanoparticles

Heterogeneous electro-Fenton (HEF) is as an alternative to the conventional electro-Fenton (EF) process. HEF uses a solid phase catalyst, whereas EF employs a solubilized one. This implies that in HEF, material can be recovered through a simple separation process such as filtration or magnetic separation in HEF. HEF also has the advantage of not requires a previous pH adjustment, which facilitates working in a higher pH range. In this work, Fe, Cu and Fe/Cu bimetallic nanoparticles (Fe/Cu NPs) were synthesized, characterized and used for the degradation of Nafcillin (NAF). The effect of the adsorption and the anodic oxidation (AO-H₂O₂) process was tested to assess their influence on HEF. NAF adsorption did not exceed 24% of antibiotic removal and the AO-H₂O₂ process eliminated the total NAF after 240 min of electrolysis. Through the HEF process, the antibiotic was completely removed using Fe/Cu NPs after 7.0 min of electrolysis, while these NPs, mineralization reached 41% after 240 min. In this case, NAF degradation occurs mainly due to the generation of hydroxyl radicals in the BDD electrode, and the Fenton reaction with Fe and Cu NPs. The main organic intermediates produced during the degradation of NAF by HEF were identified allowing the proposal of degradation pathway. Finally, the antibiotic was also completely eliminated from a wastewater from slaughterhouse after 15 min of treatment by HEF and using Fe/Cu bimetallic NPs.

Modification of zero valent iron nanoparticles by sodium alginate and bentonite: Enhanced transport, effective hexavalent chromium removal and reduced bacterial toxicity

The rapid aggregation/sedimentation and decreased transport of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) particles limit their application in groundwater remediation. To decrease the aggregation/sedimentation and increase the transport of nZVI, sodium alginate (a natural polysaccharide) and bentonite (one type of ubiquitous clay) were employed to modify nZVI. Different techniques were utilized to characterize the modified nZVI. We found that modification with either sodium alginate or bentonite could disperse nZVI and shifted their zeta potentials from positive to negative. Comparing with the bare nZVI, the sedimentation rates of modified nZVI either by sodium alginate or bentonite are greatly decreased and their transport are significantly increased. The transport of modified nZVI can be greatly increased by increasing flow rate. Furthermore, Cr(VI) can be efficiently removed by the modified nZVI (both sodium alginate and bentonite modified nZVI). Comparing with bare nZVI, the two types of modified nZVI contain lower toxicities to Escherichia coli. The results of this study indicate that both sodium alginate and bentonite can be employed as potential stabilizers to disperse nZVI and improve their application feasibility for in situ groundwater remediation.

Influence of nanoscale zero-valent iron on hydraulic conductivity of a residual clayey soil and modeling of the filtration parameter

Contaminated clay soils pose problems to public health and the environment in several parts of the world. Very little is known about the transport of decontaminating agents used in remediation process under natural, undisturbed conditions. Nanomaterials, especially those made of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI), have been most frequently used for remediation of contaminated soils because of their higher reactivity, lower toxicity, and lower cost than other metallic nanoparticles. Even though the nanoparticle size is smaller than soil pores, clogging may occur over time due to agglomeration of nanoparticles, which could reduce the soil's natural permeability and thereby cause filtration of the nanoparticles. The use of a stabilizer in the nanoparticles can modify the reactivity but improves their mobility in the soil system. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the hydraulic conductivity of residual clay soil under the injection of different types and concentrations of nZVI with and without surfactant stabilizer (NANOFER 25, NANOFER 25S, and NANOFER STAR in powder at 1 g/L, 4 g/L, 7 g/L, and 10 g/L concentrations), and to model transport of these nZVI suspensions in this soil system. Undisturbed cylindrical soil samples collected from the field were used, and hydraulic conductivity tests were performed using a column apparatus. The results showed that the presence of the stabilizer in the nZVI influenced the nanoparticles' mobility. The nZVI concentrations of 1 and 4 g/L did not affect the natural soil hydraulic conductivity. However, higher concentrations reduced the hydraulic conductivity value, which retarded the migration of nZVI as reflected in the value of filtration parameter.

Key factors affecting graphene oxide transport in saturated porous media

This study focuses on the transport in porous media of graphene oxide nanoparticles (GONP) under conditions similar to those applied in the generation of in-situ reactive zones for groundwater remediation (i.e. GO concentration of few tens of mg/l, stable suspension in alkaline solution). The experimental tests evaluated the influence on GO transport of three key factors, namely particle size (300-1200 nm), concentration (10-50 mg/L), and sand size (coarse to fine). Three sources of GONP were considered (two commercial and one synthesized in the laboratory). Particles were stably dispersed in water at pH 8.5 and showed a good mobility in the porous medium under all experimental conditions: after injection of 5 pore volumes and flushing, the highest recovery was around 90%, the lowest around 30% (only for largest particles in fine sand). The particle size was by far the most impacting parameter, with increasing mobility with decreasing size, even if sand size and particle concentration were also relevant. The source of GONP showed a minor impact on the mobility. The transport test data were successfully modeled using the advection-dispersion-deposition equations typically applied for spherical colloids. Experimental and modeling results suggested that GONP, under the explored conditions, are retained due to both blocking and straining, the latter being relevant only for large particles and/or fine sand. The findings of this study play a key role in the development of an in-situ groundwater remediation technology based on the injection of GONP for contaminant degradation or sorption. Despite their peculiar shape, GONP behavior in porous media is comparable with spherical colloids, which have been more studied by far. In particular, the possibility of modeling GONP transport using existing models ensures that they can be applied also for the design of field-scale injections of GONP, similarly to other particles already used in nanoremediation.

Role of surface functionalities of nanoplastics on their transport in seawater-saturated sea sand

The transport and retention of nanoplastics (NP, 200 nm nanopolystyrene) functionalized with surface carboxyl (NPC), sulfonic (NPS), low-density amino (negatively charged, NPA^-), and high-density amino (positively charged, NPA⁺) groups in seawater-saturated sand with/without humic acid were examined to explore the role of NP surface functionalities. The mass percentages of NP recovered from the effluent (M_eff) with a salinity of 35 practical salinity units (PSU) were ranked as follows: NPC (19.69%) > NPS (16.37%) > NPA⁺ (13.33%) > NPA^- (9.78%). The homoaggregation of NPS and NPA^- was observed in seawater. The transport of NPA^- exhibited a ripening phenomenon (i.e., a decrease in the transport rate with time) due to the high attraction of NP with previously deposited NP, whereas monodispersed NPA⁺ presented a low M_eff value because of the electrostatic attraction between NPA⁺ and negatively charged sand. Retention experiments showed that the majority of NPC, NPS and NPA⁺ accumulated in a monolayer on the sand surface, whereas NPA^- accumulated in multiple layers. Suwannee River humic acid (SRHA) could remarkably improve the transportability of NPC, NPS, and NPA^- by increasing steric repulsion. The strong attraction between NPA⁺ and the deposited NPA⁺ in the presence of SRHA triggered the weak ripening phenomenon. As seawater salinity decreased from 35 PSU to 3.5 PSU, the increase in electrostatic repulsion of NP-NP and NP-sand enhanced the transport of NPC, NPS, and NPA^-, and the ripening of NPA^- breakthrough curves disappeared. In deionized water, NPC, NPS, and NPA^- achieved complete column breakthrough because the electrostatic repulsion between NP and sand intensified. However, the M_eff values of NPA⁺ in 3.5 PSU seawater and deionized water presented limited increments of 15.49% and 23.67%, respectively. These results indicated that the fate of NP in sandy marine environments were strongly affected by NP surface functionalities, seawater salinity, and coexisting SRHA.

Effect of Flow Rate and Particle Concentration on the Transport and Deposition of Bare and Stabilized Zero-Valent Iron Nanoparticles in Sandy Soil

Efficient application of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) particles in remediation processes relies heavily on the ability to modify the surfaces of nZVI particles to enhance their stability and mobility in subsurface layers. We investigated the effect of sodium carboxy-methyl-cellulose (CMC) polymer stabilizer, pH, particle concentration, and flow rate on the transport of nZVI particles in sand columns. Breakthrough curves (BTCs) of nZVI particles indicated that the transport of nZVI particles was increased by the presence of CMC and by increasing the flow rate. The relative concentration (RC) of the eluted CMC–nZVI nanoparticles was larger at pH 9 as compared to RC at pH 7. This is mainly attributed to the increased nZVI particle stability at higher pH due to the increase in the electrostatic repulsion forces and the formation of larger energy barriers. nZVI particle deposition was larger at 0.1 cm min-1 flow due to the increased residence time, which increases the aggregation and settlement of particles. The amount of CMC–nZVI particles eluted from the sand columns was increased by 52% at the maximum flow rate of 1.0 cm min-1. Bare nZVI were mostly retained in the first millimeters of the soil column, and the amount eluted did not exceed 1.2% of the total amount added. Our results suggest that surface modification of nZVI particles was necessary to increase stability and enhance transport in sandy soil. Nevertheless, a proper flow rate, suitable for the intended remediation efforts, must be considered to minimize nZVI particle deposition and increase remediation efficiency.

The impact of nanoparticle aggregation on their size exclusion during transport in porous media: One- and three-dimensional modelling investigations

Greater particle mobility in subsurface environments due to larger size, known as size exclusion, has been responsible for colloid-facilitated transport of groundwater contaminants. Although size exclusion is not expected for primary engineered nanoparticles (NP), they can grow in size due to aggregation, thereby undergoing size exclusion. To investigate this hypothesis, an accurate population balance modelling approach and other colloid transport theories, have been incorporated into a three-dimensional transport model, MT3D-USGS. Results show that incorporating aggregation into the transport model improves the predictivity of current theoretical and empirical approaches to NP deposition in porous media. Considering an artificial size-variable acceleration factor in the model, NP breakthrough curves display an earlier arrival when aggregation is included than without. Disregarding the acceleration factor, aggregation enhances NP mobility at regions close to the injection point at a field scale and causes their retention at greater distances through alteration of their diffusivities, secondary interaction-energy minima, and settling behaviour. This results in a change of residual concentration profiles from exponential for non-aggregating dispersions to non-monotonic for aggregating dispersions. Overall, aggregation, hitherto believed to hinder the migration of NP in subsurface porous media, may under certain physicochemical conditions enhance their mobilities and deliver them to further distances.

Fe-colloid cotransport through saturated porous media under different hydrochemical and hydrodynamic conditions

To investigate the effect of different colloids on Fe migration in saturated porous media under different hydrochemical and hydrodynamic conditions, experiments were performed using colloidal silicon (inorganic) and colloidal humic acid (HA, organic), which are representative of the colloids in groundwater. Transport of Fe with and without colloid was investigated by column experiments using various porous media, colloid concentrations, ionic strengths (ISs), cation valences, and flow rates. The results show that colloidal silicon promotes and colloidal HA inhibits Fe transport, which is mainly because of their different bonding ratio, bonding modes with Fe and opposite surface charges between Fe-colloidal silicon and Fe-colloidal HA. Almost 100% of HA binds to Fe through the deprotonated functional groups, whereas only 13.3% of colloidal silicon binds to Fe, which is by electrostatic forces. Cotransport is also dependent on the hydrochemical and hydrodynamic conditions. For the Fe-colloidal silicon system, increasing the colloid concentration and flow rate, and decreasing the IS enhances Fe transport. Compared with colloidal silicon concentration = 10 mg/L, flow rate = 0.25 mL/min, and IS = 0.05 with CaCl₂, a higher colloidal silicon concentration (20 mg/L), a higher flow rate (0.50 mL/min), and a lower IS (<0.0005 M) increase Fe recovery by 1.69%, 94.49% and 38.92%, respectively. Fe migration is also different in different porous media. For the Fe-colloidal HA system, Fe recovery decreases by 81.46% as the colloidal HA concentration increases from 0 to 20 mg/L. The type of porous medium and flow rate conditions have the same effects on Fe-colloidal HA transport as for colloidal silicon, although the electrical conditions have the opposite effect. With increasing IS, Fe-colloidal HA transport is enhanced because of competitive adsorption of the cations and Fe to colloidal HA and the porous medium.

Engineering nanomaterials for water and wastewater treatment: review of classifications, properties and applications

Based on their characteristics and applicability, a new category of NMs is proposed for water and wastewater treatment.

Size-dependent transport and retention of micron-sized plastic spheres in natural sand saturated with seawater

A series of one-dimensional column experiments were conducted to investigate the transport and retention of micron-sized plastic spheres (MPs) with diameters of 0.1-2.0 μm in seawater-saturated sand. In seawater with salinity of 35 PSU (practical salinity units), the mass percentages recovered from the effluent (M_eff) of the larger MPs increased from 13.6% to 41.3%, as MP size decreased from 2.0 μm to 0.8 μm. This occurred because of the gradual reduction of physical straining effect of MPs in the pores between sands. The smaller MPs (0.6, 0.4, and 0.1 μm) showed the stronger inhibition of MPs mobility, with M_eff values of 11.5%, 11.9%, and 9.8%, respectively. This was due to the lower energy barriers (from 108 k_BT to 16 k_BT) between the smaller MPs and the sand surface, when compared with the larger MPs (from 296 k_BT to 161 k_BT). In particular, the aggregation of MPs (0.6 or 0.4 μm) triggered a progressive decrease in MP concentration in the effluent. Retention experiments showed that the vertical migration distance of most MP colloids was 0-4 cm at the inlet of column. For 0.6 or 0.4 μm MPs, the particles were concentrated over a 0-2 cm vertical distance. Moreover, the salinity (35-3.5 PSU) did not affect the transport of the larger MPs (2.0-0.8 μm). However, as seawater salinity decreased from 35 PSU to 17.5 or 3.5 PSU, the aggregation of the smaller MPs (0.6-0.1 μm) was dramatically inhibited or completely prevented. Meanwhile, ripening of the sand surface by the MPs (0.6 and 0.4 μm) no longer occurred. By contrast, all MPs in deionized water (0 PSU) achieved complete column breakthroughs because of the strong repulsive energy barrier (from 218 k_BT to 4192 k_BT) between the MPs and the sand surface. Consequently, we find that the transport and retention of MPs in sandy marine environment strongly relies on both the MP size and the salinity levels.

As(V) removal capacity of FeCu bimetallic nanoparticles in aqueous solutions: The influence of Cu content and morphologic changes in bimetallic nanoparticles

In this study, bimetallic nanoparticles (BMNPs) with different mass ratios of Cu and Fe were evaluated. The influence of the morphology on the removal of pollutants was explored through theoretical and experimental studies, which revealed the best structure for removing arsenate (As(V)) in aqueous systems. To evidence the surface characteristics and differences among BMNPs with different mass proportions of Fe and Cu, several characterization techniques were used. Microscopy techniques and molecular dynamics simulations were applied to determine the differences in morphology and structure. In addition, X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to determine the presence of various oxides. Finally, the magnetization response was evaluated, revealing differences among the materials. Our cumulative data show that BMNPs with low amounts of Cu (Fe_0.9Cu_0.1) had a non-uniform core-shell structure with agglomerate-type chains of magnetite, whereas a Janus-like structure was observed in BMNPs with high amounts of Cu (Fe_0.5Cu_0.5). However, a non-uniform core-shell structure (Fe_0.9Cu_0.1) facilitated electron transfer among Fe, Cu and As, which increased the adsorption rate (k), capacity (q_e) and intensity (n). The mechanism of As removal was also explored in a comparative study of the phase and morphology of BMNPs pre- and post-sorption.

Modified MODFLOW-based model for simulating the agglomeration and transport of polymer-modified Fe0 nanoparticles in saturated porous media

The solute transport model MODFLOW has become a standard tool in risk assessment and remediation design. However, particle transport models that take into account both particle agglomeration and deposition phenomena are far less developed. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility of adapting the standard code MODFLOW/MT3D to simulate the agglomeration and transport of three different types of polymer-modified nanoscale zerovalent iron (NZVI) in one-dimensional (1-D) and two-dimensional (2-D) saturated porous media. A first-order decay of the particle population was used to account for the agglomeration of particles. An iterative technique was used to optimize the model parameters. The model provided good matches to 1-D NZVI-breakthrough data sets, with R ² values ranging from 0.96 to 0.99, and mass recovery differences between the experimental results and simulations ranged from 0.1 to 1.8 %. Similarly, simulations of NZVI transport in the heterogeneous 2-D model demonstrated that the model can be applied to more complicated heterogeneous domains. However, the fits were less good, with the R ² values in the 2-D modeling cases ranging from 0.75 to 0.95, while the mass recovery differences ranged from 0.7 to 6.5 %. Nevertheless, the predicted NZVI concentration contours during transport were in good agreement with the 2-D experimental observations. The model provides insights into NZVI transport in porous media by mathematically decoupling agglomeration, attachment, and detachment, and it illustrates the importance of each phenomenon in various situations. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.

Continuum-based models and concepts for the transport of nanoparticles in saturated porous media: A state-of-the-science review

Environmental applications of nanoparticles (NP) increasingly result in widespread NP distribution within porous media where they are subject to various concurrent transport mechanisms including irreversible deposition, attachment/detachment (equilibrium or kinetic), agglomeration, physical straining, site-blocking, ripening, and size exclusion. Fundamental research in NP transport is typically conducted at small scale, and theoretical mechanistic modeling of particle transport in porous media faces challenges when considering the simultaneous effects of transport mechanisms. Continuum modeling approaches, in contrast, are scalable across various scales ranging from column experiments to aquifer. They have also been able to successfully describe the simultaneous occurrence of various transport mechanisms of NP in porous media such as blocking/straining or agglomeration/deposition/detachment. However, the diversity of model equations developed by different authors and the lack of effective approaches for their validation present obstacles to the successful robust application of these models for describing or predicting NP transport phenomena. This review aims to describe consistently all the important NP transport mechanisms along with their representative mathematical continuum models as found in the current scientific literature. Detailed characterizations of each transport phenomenon in regards to their manifestation in the column experiment outcomes, i.e., breakthrough curve (BTC) and residual concentration profile (RCP), are presented to facilitate future interpretations of BTCs and RCPs. The review highlights two NP transport mechanisms, agglomeration and size exclusion, which are potentially of great importance in controlling the fate and transport of NP in the subsurface media yet have been widely neglected in many existing modeling studies. A critical limitation of the continuum modeling approach is the number of parameters used upon application to larger scales and when a series of transport mechanisms are involved. We investigate the use of simplifying assumptions, such as the equilibrium assumption, in modeling the attachment/detachment mechanisms within a continuum modelling framework. While acknowledging criticisms about the use of this assumption for NP deposition on a mechanistic (process) basis, we found that its use as a description of dynamic deposition behavior in a continuum model yields broadly similar results to those arising from a kinetic model. Furthermore, we show that in two dimensional (2-D) continuum models the modeling efficiency based on the Akaike information criterion (AIC) is enhanced for equilibrium vs kinetic with no significant reduction in model performance. This is because fewer parameters are needed for the equilibrium model compared to the kinetic model. Two major transport regimes are identified in the transport of NP within porous media. The first regime is characterized by higher particle-surface attachment affinity than particle-particle attachment affinity, and operative transport mechanisms of physicochemical filtration, blocking, and physical retention. The second regime is characterized by the domination of particle-particle attachment tendency over particle-surface affinity. In this regime although physicochemical filtration as well as straining may still be operative, ripening is predominant together with agglomeration and further subsequent retention. In both regimes careful assessment of NP fate and transport is necessary since certain combinations of concurrent transport phenomena leading to large migration distances are possible in either case.

Complex conductivity response to silver nanoparticles in partially saturated sand columns

The increase in the use of nanoscale materials in consumer products has resulted in a growing concern of their potential hazard to ecosystems and public health from their accidental or intentional introduction to the environment. Key environmental, health, and safety research needs include knowledge and methods for their detection, characterization, fate, and transport. Specifically, techniques available for the direct detection and quantification of their fate and transport in the environment are limited. Their small size, high surface area to volume ratio, interfacial, and electrical properties make metallic nanoparticles, such as silver nanoparticles, good targets for detection using electrical geophysical techniques. Here we measured the complex conductivity response to silver nanoparticles in sand columns under varying moisture conditions (0-30%), nanoparticle concentrations (0-10 mg/g), lithology (presence of clay), pore water salinity (0.0275 and 0.1000 S/m), and particle size (35, 90-210 and 1500-2500 nm). Based on the Cole-Cole relaxation models we obtained the chargeability and the time constant. We demonstrate that complex conductivity can detect silver nanoparticles in porous media with the response enhanced by higher concentrations of silver nanoparticles, moisture content, ionic strength, clay content and particle diameter. Quantification of the volumetric silver nanoparticles content in the porous media can also be obtained from complex conductivity parameters based on the strong power law relationships.

Fate and impact of zero-valent copper nanoparticles on geographically-distinct soils

The fate of engineered zero-valent copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) in soils collected from geographically-distinct regions of the continental United States and incubated under controlled conditions was investigated with respect to NP affinity for soil surfaces and changes in speciation, as well as their impact on bacterial communities. Soil geochemical properties had a great influence on Cu NP migration and transformation. Translocation of Cu NPs was low in soils enriched in organic matter and high in clay and sandy soils. X-ray absorption spectroscopic analysis showed that the highest rates for transformation to Cu ions and adsorption complexes was in acidic soils. Although there was some change in overall bacterial community richness at the level of order in experimental soil, the level of perturbation was evident in side-by-side comparisons of orders using a 50% microbial community change value (MCC₅₀). This assessment revealed that generally, Sphingomonas, known for its importance for remediation, and Rhizobiales, symbiotic partners with certain plants appeared susceptible to Cu NPs and their transformation products. The ecological importance of organisms from these orders and its greater vulnerability to Cu NPs suggests need for future targeted studies.

Analytic solutions for colloid transport with time- and depth-dependent retention in porous media

Elucidating and quantifying the transport of industrial nanoparticles (e.g. silver, carbon nanotubes, and graphene oxide) and other colloid-size particles such as viruses and bacteria is important to safeguard and manage the quality of the subsurface environment. Analytic solutions were derived for aqueous and solid phase colloid concentrations in a porous medium where colloids were subject to advective transport and reversible time and/or depth-dependent retention. Time-dependent blocking and ripening retention were described using a Langmuir-type equation with a rate coefficient that respectively decreased and increased linearly with the retained concentration. Depth-dependent retention was described using a rate coefficient that is a power-law function of distance. The stream tube modeling concept was employed to extend these analytic solutions to transport scenarios with two different partitioning processes (i.e., two types of retention sites). The sensitivity of concentrations was illustrated for the various time- and/or depth-dependent retention model parameters. The developed analytical models were subsequently used to describe breakthrough curves and, in some cases, retention profiles from several published column studies that employed nanoparticle or pathogenic microorganisms. Simulations results provided valuable insights on causes for many observed complexities associated with colloid transport and retention, including: increasing or decreasing effluent concentrations with continued colloid application, delayed breakthrough, low concentration tailing, and retention profiles that are hyper-exponential, exponential, linear, or non-monotonic with distance.

Influence of permeability on nanoscale zero-valent iron particle transport in saturated homogeneous and heterogeneous porous media

Nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) particles can be used for in situ groundwater remediation. The spatial particle distribution plays a very important role in successful and efficient remediation, especially in heterogeneous systems. Initial sand permeability (k 0) influences on spatial particle distributions were investigated and quantified in homogeneous and heterogeneous systems within the presented study. Four homogeneously filled column experiments and a heterogeneously filled tank experiment, using different median sand grain diameters (d 50), were performed to determine if NZVI particles were transported into finer sand where contaminants could be trapped. More NZVI particle retention, less particle transport, and faster decrease in k were observed in the column studies using finer sands than in those using coarser sands, reflecting a function of k 0. In heterogeneous media, NZVI particles were initially transported and deposited in coarse sand areas. Increasing the retained NZVI mass (decreasing k in particle deposition areas) caused NZVI particles to also be transported into finer sand areas, forming an area with a relatively homogeneous particle distribution and converged k values despite the different grain sizes present. The deposited-particle surface area contribution to the increasing of the matrix surface area (θ) was one to two orders of magnitude higher for finer than coarser sand. The dependency of θ on d 50 presumably affects simulated k changes and NZVI distributions in numerical simulations of NZVI injections into heterogeneous aquifers. The results implied that NZVI can in principle also penetrate finer layers.

Effect of injection velocity and particle concentration on transport of nanoscale zero-valent iron and hydraulic conductivity in saturated porous media

Successful groundwater remediation by injecting nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) particles requires efficient particle transportation and distribution in the subsurface. This study focused on the influence of injection velocity and particle concentration on the spatial NZVI particle distribution, the deposition processes and on quantifying the induced decrease in hydraulic conductivity (K) as a result of particle retention by lab tests and numerical simulations. Horizontal column tests of 2m length were performed with initial Darcy injection velocities (q0) of 0.5, 1.5, and 4.1m/h and elemental iron input concentrations (Fe(0)in) of 0.6, 10, and 17g/L. Concentrations of Fe(0) in the sand were determined by magnetic susceptibility scans, which provide detailed Fe(0) distribution profiles along the column. NZVI particles were transported farther at higher injection velocity and higher input concentrations. K decreased by one order of magnitude during injection in all experiments, with a stronger decrease after reaching Fe(0) concentrations of about 14-18g/kg(sand). To simulate the observed nanoparticle transport behavior the existing finite-element code OGS has been successfully extended and parameterized for the investigated experiments using blocking, ripening, and straining as governing deposition processes. Considering parameter relationships deduced from single simulations for each experiment (e.g. deposition rate constants as a function of flow velocity) one mean parameter set has been generated reproducing the observations in an adequate way for most cases of the investigated realistic injection conditions. An assessment of the deposition processes related to clogging effects showed that the percentage of retention due to straining and ripening increased during experimental run time resulting in an ongoing reduction of K. Clogging is mainly evoked by straining which dominates particle deposition at higher flow velocities, while blocking and ripening play a significant role for attachment, mainly at lower injection velocities. Since the injection of fluids at real sites leads to descending flow velocities with increasing radial distance from the injection point, the simulation of particle transport requires accounting for all deposition processes mentioned above. Thus, the derived mean parameter set can be used as a basis for quantitative and predictive simulations of particle distributions and clogging effects at both lab and field scale. Since decreases in K can change the flow system, which may have positive as well as negative implications for the in situ remediation technology at a contaminated site, a reliable simulation is thus of great importance for NZVI injection and prediction.

Transport and retention of xanthan gum-stabilized microscale zero-valent iron particles in saturated porous media

Microscale zero valent iron (mZVI) is a promising material for in-situ contaminated groundwater remediation. However, its usefulness has been usually inhibited by mZVI particles' low mobility in saturated porous media for sedimentation and deposition. In our study, laboratory experiments, including sedimentation studies, rheological measurements and transport tests, were conducted to investigate the feasibility of xanthan gum (XG) being used as a coating agent for mZVI particle stabilization. In addition, the effects of XG concentration, flow rate, grain diameter and water chemistry on XG-coated mZVI (XG-mZVI) particle mobility were explored by analyzing its breakthrough curves and retention profiles. It was demonstrated that XG worked efficiently to enhance the suspension stability and mobility of mZVI particles through the porous media as a shear thinning fluid, especially at a higher concentration level (3 g/L). The results of the column study showed that the mobility of XG-mZVI particles increased with an increasing flow rate and larger grain diameter. At the highest flow rate (2.30 × 10(-3) m/s) within the coarsest porous media (0.8-1.2 mm), 86.52% of the XG-mZVI flowed through the column. At the lowest flow rate (0.97 × 10(-4) m/s) within the finest porous media (0.3-0.6 mm), the retention was dramatically strengthened, with only 48.22% of the particles flowing through the column. The XG-mZVI particles appeared to be easily trapped at the beginning of the column especially at a low flow rate. In terms of two representative water chemistry parameters (ion strength and pH value), no significant influence on XG-mZVI particle mobility was observed. The experimental results suggested that straining was the primary mechanism of XG-mZVI retention under saturated condition. Given the above results, the specific site-related conditions should be taken into consideration for the design of a successful delivery system to achieve a compromise between maximizing the radius of influence of the injection and minimizing the injection pressure.

Magnetic resonance imaging reveals detailed spatial and temporal distribution of iron-based nanoparticles transported through water-saturated porous media

The application of engineered nanoparticles (ENP) such as iron-based ENP in environmental systems or in the human body inevitably raises the question of their mobility. This also includes aspects of product optimization and assessment of their environmental fate. Therefore, the key aim was to investigate the mobility of iron-based ENP in water-saturated porous media. Laboratory-scale transport experiments were conducted using columns packed with quartz sand as model solid phase. Different superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) were selected to study the influence of primary particle size (d(P)=20 nm and 80 nm) and surface functionalization (plain, -COOH and -NH2 groups) on particle mobility. In particular, the influence of natural organic matter (NOM) on the transport and retention behaviour of SPION was investigated. In our approach, a combination of conventional breakthrough curve (BTC) analysis and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to non-invasively and non-destructively visualize the SPION inside the column was applied. Particle surface properties (surface functionalization and resulting zeta potential) had a major influence while their primary particle size turned out to be less relevant. In particular, the mobility of SPION was significantly increased in the presence of NOM due to the sorption of NOM onto the particle surface resulting in a more negative zeta potential. MRI provided detailed spatially resolved information complementary to the quantitative BTC results. The approach can be transferred to other porous systems and contributes to a better understanding of particle transport in environmental porous media and porous media in technical applications.

Pressure-controlled injection of guar gum stabilized microscale zerovalent iron for groundwater remediation

The paper reports a pilot injection test of microsized zerovalent iron (mZVI) dispersed in a guar gum shear thinning solution. The test was performed in the framework of the EU research project AQUAREHAB in a site in Belgium contaminated by chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons (CAHs). The field application was aimed to overcome those critical aspects which hinder mZVI field injection, mainly due to the colloidal instability of ZVI-based suspensions. The iron slurry properties (iron particles size and concentration, polymeric stabilizer type and concentration, slurry viscosity) were designed in the laboratory based on several tests (reactivity tests towards contaminants, sedimentation tests and rheological measurements). The particles were delivered into the aquifer through an injection well specifically designed for controlled-pressure delivery (approximately 10 bars). The well characteristics and the critical pressure of the aquifer (i.e. the injection pressure above which fracturing occurs) were assessed via two innovative injection step rate tests, one performed with water and the other one with guar gum. Based on laboratory and field preliminary tests, a flow regime at the threshold between permeation and preferential flow was selected for mZVI delivery, as a compromise between the desired homogeneous distribution of the mZVI around the injection point (ensured by permeation flow) and the fast and effective injection of the slurry (guaranteed by high discharge rates and injection pressure, resulting in the generation of preferential flow paths). A monitoring setup was designed and installed for the real-time monitoring of relevant parameters during injection, and for a fast determination of the spatial mZVI distribution after injection via non-invasive magnetic susceptibility measurements.

Simultaneous removal of cadmium and nitrate in aqueous media by nanoscale zerovalent iron (nZVI) and Au doped nZVI particles

Nanoscale zerovalent iron (nZVI) has demonstrated high efficacy for treating nitrate or cadmium (Cd) contamination, but its efficiency for simultaneous removal of nitrate and Cd has not been investigated. This study evaluated the reactivity of nZVI to the co-contaminants and by-product formation, employed different catalysts to reduce nitrite yield from nitrate, and examined the transformation of nZVI after reaction. Nitrate reduction resulted in high solution pH, negatively charged surface of nZVI, formation of Fe3O4 (a stable transformation of nZVI), and no release of ionic iron. Increased pH and negative charge contributed to significant increase in Cd(II) removal capacity (from 40 mg/g to 188 mg/g) with nitrate present. In addition, nitrate reduction by nZVI could be catalyzed by Cd(II): while 30% of nitrate was reduced by nZVI within 2 h in the absence of Cd(II), complete nitrate reduction was observed in the presence of 40 mg-Cd/L due to the formation of Cd islands (Cd(0) and CdO) on the nZVI particles. While nitrate was reduced mostly to ammonium when Cd(II) was not present or at Cd(II) concentrations ≥ 40 mg/L, up to 20% of the initial nitrate was reduced to nitrite at Cd(II) concentrations < 40 mg/L. Among nZVI particles doped with 1 wt. % Cu, Ag, or Au, nZVI deposited with 1 wt. % Au reduced nitrite yield to less than 3% of the initial nitrate, while maintaining a high Cd(II) removal capacity.

Guar gum solutions for improved delivery of iron particles in porous media (part 1): porous medium rheology and guar gum-induced clogging

The present work is the first part of a comprehensive study on the use of guar gum to improve delivery of microscale zero-valent iron particles in contaminated aquifers. Guar gum solutions exhibit peculiar shear thinning properties, with high viscosity in static conditions and lower viscosity in dynamic conditions: this is beneficial both for the storage of MZVI dispersions, and also for the injection in porous media. In the present paper, the processes associated with guar gum injection in porous media are studied performing single-step and multi-step filtration tests in sand-packed columns. The experimental results of single-step tests performed by injecting guar gum solutions prepared at several concentrations and applying different dissolution procedures evidenced that the presence of residual undissolved polymeric particles in the guar gum solution may have a relevant negative impact on the permeability of the porous medium, resulting in evident clogging. The most effective preparation procedure which minimizes the presence of residual particles is dissolution in warm water (60°C) followed by centrifugation (procedure T60C). The multi-step tests (i.e. injection of guar gum at constant concentration with a step increase of flow velocity), performed at three polymer concentrations (1.5, 3 and 4g/l) provided information on the rheological properties of guar gum solutions when flowing through a porous medium at variable discharge rates, which mimic the injection in radial geometry. An experimental protocol was defined for the rheological characterization of the fluids in porous media, and empirical relationships were derived for the quantification of rheological properties and clogging with variable injection rate. These relationships will be implemented in the second companion paper (Part II) in a radial transport model for the simulation of large-scale injection of MZVI-guar gum slurries.

Guar gum solutions for improved delivery of iron particles in porous media (part 2): iron transport tests and modeling in radial geometry

In the present work column transport tests were performed in order to study the mobility of guar-gum suspensions of microscale zero-valent iron particles (MZVI) in porous media. The results were analyzed with the purpose of implementing a radial model for the design of full scale interventions. The transport tests were performed using several concentrations of shear thinning guar gum solutions as stabilizer (1.5, 3 and 4g/l) and applying different flow rates (Darcy velocity in the range 1·10(-4) to 2·10(-3)m/s), representative of different distances from the injection point in the radial domain. Empirical relationships, expressing the dependence of the deposition and release parameters on the flow velocity, were derived by inverse fitting of the column transport tests using a modified version of E-MNM1D (Tosco and Sethi, 2010) and the user interface MNMs (www.polito.it/groundwater/software). They were used to develop a comprehensive transport model of MZVI suspensions in radial coordinates, called E-MNM1R, which takes into account the non Newtonian (shear thinning) rheological properties of the dispersant fluid and the porous medium clogging associated with filtration and sedimentation in the porous medium of both MZVI and guar gum residual undissolved particles. The radial model was run in forward mode to simulate the injection of MZVI dispersed in guar gum in conditions similar to those applied in the column transport tests. In a second stage, we demonstrated how the model can be used as a valid tool for the design and the optimization of a full scale intervention. The simulation results indicated that several concurrent aspects are to be taken into account for the design of a successful delivery of MZVI/guar gum slurries via permeation injection, and a compromise is necessary between maximizing the radius of influence of the injection and minimizing the injection pressure, to guarantee a sufficiently homogeneous distribution of the particles around the injection point and to prevent preferential flow paths.

Field assessment of guar gum stabilized microscale zerovalent iron particles for in-situ remediation of 1,1,1-trichloroethane

A pilot injection test with guar gum stabilized microscale zerovalent iron (mZVI) particles was performed at test site V (Belgium) where different chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons (CAHs) were present as pollutants in the subsurface. One hundred kilograms of 56μm-diameter mZVI (~70gL(-1)) was suspended in 1.5m(3) of guar gum (~7gL(-1)) solution and injected into the test area. In order to deliver the guar gum stabilized mZVI slurry, one direct push bottom-up injection (Geoprobe) was performed with injections at 5 depths between 10.5 and 8.5m bgs. The direct push technique was preferred above others (e.g. injection at low flow rate via screened wells) because of the limited hydraulic conductivity of the aquifer, and to the large size of the mZVI particles. A final heterogeneous distribution of the mZVI in the porous medium was observed explicable by preferential flow paths created during the high pressure injection. The maximum observed delivery distance was 2.5m. A significant decrease in 1,1,1-TCA concentrations was observed in close vicinity of spots where the highest concentration of mZVI was observed. Carbon stable isotope analysis (CSIA) yielded information on the success of the abiotic degradation of 1,1,1-TCA and indicated a heterogeneous spatio-temporal pattern of degradation. Finally, the obtained results show that mZVI slurries stabilized by guar gum can be prepared at pilot scale and directly injected into low permeable aquifers, indicating a significant removal of 1,1,1-TCA.

Modeling microorganism transport and survival in the subsurface

An understanding of microbial transport and survival in the subsurface is needed for public health, environmental applications, and industrial processes. Much research has therefore been directed to quantify mechanisms influencing microbial fate, and the results demonstrate a complex coupling among many physical, chemical, and biological factors. Mathematical models can be used to help understand and predict the complexities of microbial transport and survival in the subsurface under given assumptions and conditions. This review highlights existing model formulations that can be used for this purpose. In particular, we discuss models based on the advection-dispersion equation, with terms for kinetic retention to solid-water and/or air-water interfaces; blocking and ripening; release that is dependent on the resident time, diffusion, and transients in solution chemistry, water velocity, and water saturation; and microbial decay (first-order and Weibull) and growth (logistic and Monod) that is dependent on temperature, nutrient concentration, and/or microbial concentration. We highlight a two-region model to account for microbe migration in the vicinity of a solid phase and use it to simulate the coupled transport and survival of species under a variety of environmentally relevant scenarios. This review identifies challenges and limitations of models to describe and predict microbial transport and survival. In particular, many model parameters have to be optimized to simulate a diversity of observed transport, retention, and survival behavior at the laboratory scale. Improved theory and models are needed to predict the fate of microorganisms in natural subsurface systems that are highly dynamic and heterogeneous.

Straining of polyelectrolyte-stabilized nanoscale zero valent iron particles during transport through granular porous media

In this study, the relevance of straining of nano-sized particles of zero valent iron coated with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC-NZVI) during transport in model subsurface porous media is assessed. Although deposition of polyelectrolyte stabilized-NZVI on granular subsurface media due to physicochemical attachment processes has been reported previously, there is limited knowledge on the significance of the collector (sand) diameter on the deposition and spatial distribution of the retention of such nanoparticles. Experiments were conducted to assess the transport of CMC-NZVI in columns packed with four different-sized sands of mean diameter of 775 μm, 510 μm, 250 μm and 150 μm and at three different particle concentrations of 0.085 g L(-1), 0.35 g L(-1) and 1.70 g L(-1). CMC-NZVI effluent concentrations decreased with smaller sand diameters. High CMC-NZVI particle retention near the inlet, particularly for the finer sands was observed, even with a low ionic strength of 0.1 mM for the electrolyte medium. These observations are consistent with particle retention in porous media due to straining and/or wedging. Two colloid transport models, one considering particle retention by physicochemical deposition and detachment of those deposited particles, and the other considering particle retention by straining along with particle deposition and detachment, were fitted to the experimental data. The model accounting for straining shows a better fit, especially to the CMC-NZVI retention data along the length of the column. The straining rate coefficients decreased with larger sand diameters. This study demonstrates that CMC-NZVI particles, despite of their small size (hydrodynamic diameters of 167-185 nm and transmission electron microscopy imaged diameters of approximately 85 nm), may be removed by straining during transport, especially through fine granular subsurface media. The tailing effect, observed in the particle breakthrough curves, is attributed to detachment of deposited particles.