Establishing Vadose Zone Slow‐Release Carbon Sources for Enhanced Bioremediation Using Silica Suspension
Abstract
Core Ideas Nutrient‐laden silica suspension increases viscosity over time and gels at the end. Aqueous colloidal silica suspension can be readily injected into the subsurface. Silica gelation enables setting up slow‐release nutrient sources in the vadose zone. Gelled silica suspensions act as long‐term nutrients for enhanced bioremediation. Delivery of C sources (nutrients) to the vadose zone and establishing a slow‐release C source in this unsaturated zone are essential for promoting long‐term, enhanced contaminant bioremediation at sites with deep vadose zones, such as the Hanford Site in the southeast of the state of Washington. Conventional solution‐based injection and infiltration approaches face challenges in achieving delivery goals. Aqueous colloidal silica suspension has characteristics that can potentially be used for nutrient delivery and slow‐release source setup. This research was conducted to (i) demonstrate delayed gelation of colloidal silica suspensions with the presence of nutrients; (ii) prove that gelation takes place in sediment and the gel slowly releases nutrients; and (iii) show that silica suspensions are injectable for vadose zone emplacement. Results demonstrated that nutrient‐laden colloidal silica suspensions have low initial viscosity and then increase in viscosity with time until reaching gelation, allowing for a slow release of nutrients into the environment. Higher saltmore »
- Authors:
-
- Energy and Environment Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Lab. Richland WA 99352
- Institute of Process Engineering Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100190 China
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1787376
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1511145; OSTI ID: 1787381
- Report Number(s):
- PNNL-SA-129486
Journal ID: ISSN 1539-1663
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- Resource Type:
- Published Article
- Journal Name:
- Vadose Zone Journal
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Name: Vadose Zone Journal Journal Volume: 17 Journal Issue: 1; Journal ID: ISSN 1539-1663
- Publisher:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Citation Formats
Zhong, Lirong, Lee, Brady, and Yang, Shuo. Establishing Vadose Zone Slow‐Release Carbon Sources for Enhanced Bioremediation Using Silica Suspension. United States: N. p., 2018.
Web. doi:10.2136/vzj2017.09.0175.
Zhong, Lirong, Lee, Brady, & Yang, Shuo. Establishing Vadose Zone Slow‐Release Carbon Sources for Enhanced Bioremediation Using Silica Suspension. United States. https://doi.org/10.2136/vzj2017.09.0175
Zhong, Lirong, Lee, Brady, and Yang, Shuo. Thu .
"Establishing Vadose Zone Slow‐Release Carbon Sources for Enhanced Bioremediation Using Silica Suspension". United States. https://doi.org/10.2136/vzj2017.09.0175.
@article{osti_1787376,
title = {Establishing Vadose Zone Slow‐Release Carbon Sources for Enhanced Bioremediation Using Silica Suspension},
author = {Zhong, Lirong and Lee, Brady and Yang, Shuo},
abstractNote = {Core Ideas Nutrient‐laden silica suspension increases viscosity over time and gels at the end. Aqueous colloidal silica suspension can be readily injected into the subsurface. Silica gelation enables setting up slow‐release nutrient sources in the vadose zone. Gelled silica suspensions act as long‐term nutrients for enhanced bioremediation. Delivery of C sources (nutrients) to the vadose zone and establishing a slow‐release C source in this unsaturated zone are essential for promoting long‐term, enhanced contaminant bioremediation at sites with deep vadose zones, such as the Hanford Site in the southeast of the state of Washington. Conventional solution‐based injection and infiltration approaches face challenges in achieving delivery goals. Aqueous colloidal silica suspension has characteristics that can potentially be used for nutrient delivery and slow‐release source setup. This research was conducted to (i) demonstrate delayed gelation of colloidal silica suspensions with the presence of nutrients; (ii) prove that gelation takes place in sediment and the gel slowly releases nutrients; and (iii) show that silica suspensions are injectable for vadose zone emplacement. Results demonstrated that nutrient‐laden colloidal silica suspensions have low initial viscosity and then increase in viscosity with time until reaching gelation, allowing for a slow release of nutrients into the environment. Higher salt and silica concentrations increased the rate of viscosity climbing and the rate of gelation, whereas higher silica concentrations resulted in stronger gels. Nutrients were slowly released from gels in both batch and column experimental settings. The rheological and injection behavior of the silica suspensions revealed the injectability of these fluids. This study demonstrated that colloidal silica suspension could be used as a carrier to distribute nutrients to the vadose zone and to establish slow‐release nutrient sources.},
doi = {10.2136/vzj2017.09.0175},
journal = {Vadose Zone Journal},
number = 1,
volume = 17,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Apr 12 00:00:00 EDT 2018},
month = {Thu Apr 12 00:00:00 EDT 2018}
}
https://doi.org/10.2136/vzj2017.09.0175
Web of Science
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