Abstract ▼ AI-Helper

Subsurface biobarrier technology has potential applications to contain contaminated groundwater and/or to degrade toxic pollutants in groundwater. Most biobarrier studies were conducted under aerobic condition, however there were several obstacles to make aerobic condition. Thus, In this study, we e...

Subsurface biobarrier technology has potential applications to contain contaminated groundwater and/or to degrade toxic pollutants in groundwater. Most biobarrier studies were conducted under aerobic condition, however there were several obstacles to make aerobic condition. Thus, In this study, we examined biobarrier formation under denitrifying condition by using nitrate as an electron acceptor. Experiments were performed with a sand column inoculated with activated sludge from the nearby WWTP. The substrate medium was pumped to the sand column in an upflow mode. During the low substrate loading rate period, the extent of reduction rate in hydraulic conductivity was found similar throughout the column, and permeability became relatively stable after couple of days. However, during the high substrate loading rate period, the column demonstrated a gradient of permeability reduction, with the greatest reduction in sections nearest the column inlet. Rapid growth of microorganisms near the column inlet resulted in the unbalanced reduction of hydraulic conductivity throughout the sand column. As a result, at this denitrifying condition the thickness of biobarrier could be controlled by adjusting the medium conditions of microbial growth.