STIMULATION OF MICROBIAL UREA HYDROLYSIS IN GROUNDWATER TO ENHANCE CALCITE PRECIPITATION
Sequential addition of molasses and urea was tested as a means of stimulating microbial urea hydrolysis in the Eastern Snake River Plain Aquifer in Idaho. Ureolysis is an integral component of a novel remediation approach for divalent trace metal and radionuclide contaminants in groundwater and associated geomedia, where the contaminants are immobilized by coprecipitation in calcite. The generation of carbonate alkalinity from ureolysis promotes calcite precipitation. In calcite-saturated aquifers, this represents a potential long-term contaminant sequestration mechanism. In a single well experiment, dilute molasses was injected three times over two weeks to promote overall microbial growth, followed by one urea injection. With molasses addition, total cell numbers in the groundwater increased one to two orders of magnitude. Estimated ureolysis rates in recovered groundwater samples increased from <0.1 nmol L-1 hr-1 to >25 nmol L-1 hr-1. A quantitative PCR assay for the bacterial ureC gene indicated that urease gene numbers increased up to 170 times above pre-injection levels. Following urea injection, calcite precipitates were recovered. Estimated values for an in situ first order ureolysis rate constant ranged from 0.016 to 0.057 day-1. The results are promising with respect to the potential to manipulate in situ biogeochemical processes to promote contaminant sequestration.
- Research Organization:
- Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE - SC
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-AC07-99ID-13727
- OSTI ID:
- 932245
- Report Number(s):
- INL/JOU-07-13381; TRN: US200812%%677
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 42, Issue 8
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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