Oxidation of Cr(III) and reduction of Cr(VI) can occur simultaneously in aerobic soils, but the mechanisms involved are not well-understood, especially how electron shuttling by redox-active organic acids is involved. A and B soil horizons from three topohydrosequences from the Coastal Plain and Piedmont physiographic provinces of Maryland were chosen to investigate oxidation-reduction transformations of Cr under field moist conditions. Reduction of added Cr(VI) to Cr(III) was observed in all 18 samples, and 11 demonstrated enhanced reduction with added anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AQDS) acting as an electron shuttle in 24 h quick tests under aerobic conditions. Oxidation of Cr(III) to Cr(VI) was observed in 12 samples, with 7 demonstrating diminished oxidation with AQDS added. Cr(VI) was undetectable after 11 d of incubation when lactic acid was added as a reductant for Cr(VI) to the Watchung soil A horizon. This reduction occurred in the presence of AQDS and a high salt background to suppress microbial growth, suggesting abiotic reduction was the dominant pathway. The results of this study demonstrate that in field-moist, aerobic soils, the electron shuttle, AQDS, enhanced Cr(VI) reduction and inhibited Cr(III) oxidation. This suggests redox-active organic C amendments and electron shuttles can be important in enhancing rates and extent of Cr(VI) reduction, while inhibiting Cr(III) oxidation in the in situ remediation of Cr(VI)-contaminated soils.
Pharmaceutical and personal care product compounds (PPCPs) comprise a large and diverse group of chemical compounds, including prescription and over‐the‐counter drugs and cleaning agents. Although PPCPs in the effluent and biosolids of water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs) are currently not regulated, public interest has led the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago to monitor for 11 PPCPs in the influent, effluent, and biosolids at its seven WRRFs. In 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a final rule establishing that 19 specific ingredients, including triclosan and triclocarban, were no longer generally recognized as safe and effective, which prohibits companies from marketing soaps as antibacterial if they contain one or more of these ingredients. It was presumed that since the proposed rulemaking in 2013, manufacturers began to remove these active ingredients from their products. Annual monitoring of 11 PPCPs from 2012 to 2017 demonstrated a 71% decrease in triclosan and 72% decrease in triclocarban in per capita influent loading into seven WRRFs. There was a 70% decrease in triclosan and 80% decrease in triclocarban concentrations in biosolids. These declines suggest the FDA rule for the reduction in use of these compounds was effective and resulted in manufacturers removing these ingredients from their products. Practitioner points Reduction in triclosan and triclocarban per capita influent loading observed from 2012 to 2017. Reduction in triclosan and triclocarban biosolids loading observed from 2012 to 2017. 2016 FDA rulemaking on antimicrobial soaps was effective in removing triclosan and triclocarban from these products. Positive impact on quality of biosolids land applied to farmland.
The former US Steel Corporation's South Works site in Chicago, IL, is a 230-ha bare brownfield consisting of steel mill slag fill materials that will need to be reclaimed to support and sustain vegetation. We conducted a case study to evaluate the suitability of biosolids and dredged sediments for capping the steel mill slag to establish good quality turfgrass vegetation. Eight study plots were established on a 0.4-ha parcel that received biosolids and dredged sediment blends of 0, 25, 50, or 100% biosolids (v/v). Turfgrass was successfully established and was thicker and greener in biosolids-amended sediments than in unamended sediments. Concentrations of N, P, K, and micronutrients in turfgrass tissues increased with increasing biosolids. Soil organic carbon, N, P, and micronutrients increased with increasing biosolids. Cadmium, Cu, Ni, and Zn concentrations in biosolids-amended sediments also increased with increasing biosolids but were far below phytotoxicity limits for turfgrass. Lead and Cr concentrations in biosolids-amended plots were comparable to concentrations in unamended sediments. Groundwater monitoring lysimeters and wells below the study site and near Lake Michigan were not affected by nutrients leaching from the amendments. Overall, the results from this case study demonstrated that blends of biosolids and dredged sediments could be successfully used for capping steel mill slag brownfield sites to establish good quality turfgrass vegetation.
Wastewater treatment generates solids requiring subsequent processing. Costs and contaminant concerns (e.g., per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances [PFAS]) are challenging widely used landfilling and land application practices. These circumstances are partly driving the re‐emergence of pyrolysis and gasification technologies along with beneficial reuse prospects of the char solid residual. Previously, technologies experienced operational challenges leading to revised configurations, such as directly coupling a thermal oxidizer to the reactor to destroy tar forming compounds. This paper provides an overview of pyrolysis and gasification technologies, characteristics of the char product, air emission considerations, and potential fate of PFAS and other pollutants through the systems. Results from a survey of viable suppliers illustrate differences in commercially available options. Additional research is required to validate performance over the long‐term operation and confirm contaminant fate, which will help determine whether resurging interest in pyrolysis and gasification warrants widespread adoption. Practitioner Points Pyrolysis and gasification systems are re‐emerging in the wastewater industry. Direct coupling of thermal oxidizers and other modifications offered by contemporary systems aim to overcome past failures. Process conditions when coupled with a thermal oxidizer will likely destroy most organic contaminants, including PFAS, but requires additional research. Three full‐scale facilities recently operated, several in construction or design that will provide operating experience for widespread technology adoption consideration.
Chromium is a naturally occurring transition metal and a soil contaminant in the Cr(VI) oxidation state, but reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) mitigates its toxicity. Tartaric acid reduces Cr(VI) via a termolecular complex with isopropyl alcohol and Cr(VI), but its efficacy in soils has not been demonstrated. Five Mid-Atlantic soils from Maryland, U.S. were examined for their potential to enhance the reduction of Cr(VI). A control treatment (no soil +12 mM tartaric acid + 0.29 M isopropyl alcohol) reduced 0.37 mM Cr(VI) (19%) in 99 h. Reduction was enhanced to 1.97 mM (99%) with addition of a Russett Ap soil horizon (fine-loamy, mixed, semiactive, mesic Typic Hapludult). With a half-life of 18.7 h, the rate of reduction of Cr(VI) with the Russett soil sample was 20 times faster than with no soil (371 h). Soil Mn was solubilized in this reaction and plays a role in the enhanced reduction of Cr(VI). Mn(III/IV)(hydr)oxide-coated quartz sand reduced 1.24 mM (62%) Cr(VI), with all of the Mn(III,IV)(hydr)oxides solubilized. The addition of isopropyl alcohol and tartaric acid to soils enhances the reduction of Cr(VI), and this reduction is further enhanced by the catalytic behavior of Mn(II) from easily reducible Mn(III,IV)(hydr)oxides in soil.
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