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Yu L, Hua Z, Liu X, Chen L, Zhang Y, Ma Y, Dong Y, Xue H. The addition of iron-carbon enhances the removal of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in constructed wetlands. Environ Pollut 2023; 327:121534. [PMID: 37001598 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 03/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Hazardous perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), particularly perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), have become ubiquitous environmental persistent organic contaminants, posing serious threats to environmental health, which has led to the development of PFAA treatment methods. Wetland construction in combination with iron-carbon (CW-I), a low-maintenance and high-efficiency technology, may be capable of removing PFAAs through physico-biochemical processes. In this study, we aim to investigate the removal efficiency of PFAAs by CW-I as well as the critical functions of all components within the wetlands. Pairwise comparisons of iron-carbon and control groups revealed that iron-carbon significantly enhanced 15.9% for PFOA and 17.9% for PFOS absorption through phytouptake and substrate adsorption, with respective removal efficiencies of 71.8% ± 1.03% and 85.8% ± 1.56%. The generated iron ions stimulated plant growth and further enhanced phytouptake of PFAAs, with PFAAs accumulated primarily in root tissues with limited translocation. Observations of batch adsorption suggest that chemical and electrostatic interactions are involved in the iron-carbon adsorption process, with film and intraparticle diffusions being the rate-limiting events. Fourier transform infrared spectrometer and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that PFAA adsorption by substrates occurs at the molecular level, as well as the occurrence of hydrophobic force effects and ligand exchanges during the iron-carbon adsorption process. Additionally, iron-carbon significantly altered the genera, phyla, and community structure of microorganisms, and some microorganisms and their extracellular polymers may possess ability to bind PFAAs. The information provided in this study contributes to our understanding of the PFAA removal processes in CW-I and enriched the classical cases of PFAA removal by CWs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Yu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China
| | - Zulin Hua
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China
| | - Xiaodong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China.
| | - Luying Chen
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China
| | - Yuan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China
| | - Yixin Ma
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China
| | - Yueyang Dong
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China
| | - Hongqin Xue
- School of Civil Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China
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Arslan M, Gamal El-Din M. Removal of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) by wetlands: Prospects on plants, microbes and the interplay. Sci Total Environ 2021; 800:149570. [PMID: 34399352 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) represent a large family of synthetic organofluorine aliphatic compounds. They have been extensively produced since 1940s due to enormous applications as a surface-active agent, and water and oil repellent characteristics. PFASs are made to be non-biodegradable, therefore, many of them have been found in the environment albeit strict regulations have been in place since 2002. PFASs are extremely toxic compounds that can impart harm in both fauna and flora. Recent investigations have shown that wetlands might be useful for their removal from the environment as a passive and nature-based solution. To this end, understanding the role of plants, microbes, and their combined plant-microbe interplay is crucial because it could help design a sophisticated passive treatment wetland system. This review focuses on how these components (plants, microbe, substrate) can influence PFASs removal in wetlands under natural and controlled conditions. The information on underlying removal mechanisms is mostly retrieved from laboratory-based studies; however, pilot- and field-scale data are also presented to provide insights on their real-time performance. Briefly, a traditional wetland system works on the principles of phytouptake, bioaccumulation, and sorption, which are mainly due to the fact that PFASs are synthetic compounds that have very low reactivity in the environment. Nevertheless, recent investigations have also shown that Feammox process in wetlands can mineralize the PFASs; thus, opens new opportunities for PFASs degradation in terms of effective plant-microbe interplay in the wetlands. The choice of plants and bacterial species is however crucial, and the system efficiency relies on species-specific, sediment-specific and pollutant-specific principles. More research is encouraged to identify genetic elements and molecular mechanisms that can help us harness effective plant-microbe interplay in wetlands for the successful removal of PFASs from the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Arslan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Mohamed Gamal El-Din
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada.
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Pullagurala VLR, Rawat S, Adisa IO, Hernandez-Viezcas JA, Peralta-Videa JR, Gardea-Torresdey JL. Plant uptake and translocation of contaminants of emerging concern in soil. Sci Total Environ 2018; 636:1585-1596. [PMID: 29913619 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.04.375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Revised: 04/26/2018] [Accepted: 04/27/2018] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The advent of industrialization has led to the discovery of a wide range of chemicals designed for multiple uses including plant protection. However, after use, most of the chemicals and their derivatives end up in soil and water, interacting with living organisms. Plants, which are primary producers, are intentionally or unintentionally exposed to several chemicals, serving as a vehicle for the transfer of products into the food chain. Although the exposure of pesticides towards plants has been witnessed over a long time in agricultural production, other chemicals have attracted attention very recently. In this review, we carried out a comprehensive overview of the plant uptake capacity of various contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) in soil, such as pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, perfluorinated compounds, pharmaceutical and personal care products, and engineered nanomaterials. The uptake pathways and overall impacts of these chemicals are highlighted. According to the literature, bioaccumulation of CEC in the root part is higher than in aerial parts. Furthermore, various factors such as plant species, pollutant type, and microbial interactions influence the overall uptake. Lastly, environmental factors such as soil erosion and temperature can also affect the CEC bioavailability towards plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venkata L Reddy Pullagurala
- Environmental Science and Engineering PhD Program, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West Univ. Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA; University of California Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (UC CEIN), The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West Univ. Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA
| | - Swati Rawat
- Environmental Science and Engineering PhD Program, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West Univ. Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA; University of California Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (UC CEIN), The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West Univ. Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA
| | - Ishaq O Adisa
- Environmental Science and Engineering PhD Program, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West Univ. Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA; The Center for Nanotechnology and Agricultural Pathogen Suppression (CeNAPS), The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West Univ. Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA
| | - Jose A Hernandez-Viezcas
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West Univ. Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA; University of California Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (UC CEIN), The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West Univ. Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA
| | - Jose R Peralta-Videa
- Environmental Science and Engineering PhD Program, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West Univ. Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West Univ. Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA; University of California Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (UC CEIN), The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West Univ. Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA
| | - Jorge L Gardea-Torresdey
- Environmental Science and Engineering PhD Program, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West Univ. Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West Univ. Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA; University of California Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (UC CEIN), The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West Univ. Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA; The Center for Nanotechnology and Agricultural Pathogen Suppression (CeNAPS), The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West Univ. Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA.
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