Chloroform, a probable human carcinogen, is mainly produced anthropogenically for industrial use and may be released to the environment from a large number of sources related to its manufacture and use, including pulp and paper mills, hazardous waste sites, and sanitary landfills. Remediation of chloroform through conventional technologies has been met with limited success due to the conditions required and the formation of hazardous substances such as dichloromethane. The objective of this study was to investigate chloroform reduction in multicontaminated fine‐textured soil using zero‐valent iron (Fe0) in anaerobic microcosms. Four amended matrices were tested: simple matrix control (glass beads), soil matrix control (glass beads + soil), Fe0 in a simple matrix (glass beads + Fe0), and Fe0 in a soil matrix (soil + Fe0). Headspace chloroform and its transformation products dichloromethane, chloromethane, and methane were measured over 230 days and during short intervals in the initial 3 days. Chloroform (~0.3 mM initial mass) persisted in both control microcosms but was completely transformed in microcosms containing soil + Fe0 by 12 h and glass beads + Fe0 by 48 h. Reductive dechlorination of chloroform occurred with simultaneous production of dichloromethane (~0.11 to 0.14 mM mass) and chloromethane (~0.02 to 0.13 mM mass). Little methane (~0.07 to 0.26 μM mass) production as an end product of chloroform reduction was observed in microcosms amended with Fe0. Produced dichloromethane and chloroform almost disappeared by 230 days. The results showed a complete chloroform transformation pathway that has good potential for the remediation of chlorinated compounds in fine‐textured soil. The role of soil clay minerals in redox reactions can be further investigated to improve the reductive dechlorination of chlorinated compounds in contaminated environments.
Soil contamination is a major concern across the globe because it poses a severe threat to human and environmental health. Organisms that come into direct or indirect contact with contaminated soil or its associated groundwater may be negatively impacted. Soil contamination is also a problem because it reduces the quality and productivity of natural and agricultural ecosystems. Although soil contamination can be caused by natural processes and events, most contamination is the result of anthropogenic activities. Sites may be contaminated with a variety of contaminants, which are grouped into two categories: inorganic and organic. Inorganic contaminants include trace elements and radionuclides, whereas organic contaminants include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), petroleum hydrocarbons, and pesticides. Trace elements and PAHS are the most abundant and widespread contaminants. When sites are found to be contaminated, a wide variety of remediation strategies exists to address the problem. This article discusses some of the more common technologies used to treat contaminated soils.
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