Coupled Thermally-Enhanced Bioremediation and Renewable Energy Storage System: Conceptual Framework and Modeling Investigation

Abstract

This paper presents a novel method to couple an environmental bioremediation system with a subsurface renewable energy storage system. This method involves treating unsaturated contaminated soil using in-situ thermally enhanced bioremediation; the thermal system is powered by renewable energy. After remediation goals are achieved, the thermal system can then be used to store renewable energy in the form of heat in the subsurface for later use. This method can be used for enhanced treatment of environmental pollutants for which temperature is considered a limiting factor. For instance, this system can be used at a wide variety of petroleum-related sites that are likely contaminated with hydrocarbons such as oil refineries and facilities with above-and underground storage tanks. In this paper, a case-study example was analyzed using a previously developed numerical model of heat transfer in unsaturated soil. Results demonstrate that coupling energy storage and thermally-enhanced bioremediation systems offer an efficient and sustainable way to achieve desired temperature-moisture distribution in soil that will ultimately enhance the microbial activity.

Groundwater Contamination, Subsurface Processes, and Remediation Methods: Overview of the Special Issue of Water on Groundwater Contamination and Remediation

“…The call for papers for this special issue invited papers addressing passive methods, such as monitored natural attenuation, and ex-situ methods, such as pump-and-treat, but the response focused entirely on in-situ methods, such as bioremediation or chemical oxidation. In particular, two studies present novel approaches to predict and enhance the performance of remediation techniques: Beretta et al [7] present a support tool for identifying remediation options for hexavalent chromium, while Moradi et al [14] offer an original cross-pollination between bioremediation and energy storage, both of which depend on subsurface temperature. These papers show, once again, the value of creativity in science.…”

“…In parallel, Hu et al [11] discuss the potential impacts from emerging contaminants related to oil shale development. Three studies explore the central role of biology in groundwater remediation, reflecting our new understanding of subsurface processes through the interdisciplinary lens of biogeochemistry: Ning et al [12] study the spatial pattern of bacterial communities at a petroleum-contaminated site; Plymale et al [8] study bacterial communities at a nuclear waste-contaminated site; and Moradi et al [14] contribute a model describing thermally-enhanced bioremediation. Taken together, these studies demonstrate that our ability to remediate groundwater depends on knowing the contaminants, understanding the fluid mechanics, and interpreting processes in the context of hydrology, geochemistry, and microbiology.…”

Simulating the Spatial Extent of Thermally Enhanced Reaction Zones for Low Temperature Thermal Treatment

“…Numerical models can also be modified to include more environmental processes (e.g., mass partitioning and reactions) than analytical solutions. Moradi et al (2018) simulated the temperature distribution in a renewable energy storage system in the unsaturated zone and suggested that the microorganism activity can be enhanced by elevated temperature. Beyer et al (2016) provided a few benchmark simulations of thermally enhanced dissolution and biodegradation in a non‐aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) source zone due to the installation of geothermal wells.…”

Remediation Potential of Borehole Thermal Energy Storage for Chlorinated Hydrocarbon Plumes: Numerical Modeling in a Variably-Saturated Aquifer

“…Among the various combination concepts, in-situ treatment of the contaminated subsurface by thermally enhanced bioremediation has received the most attention. Several studies using experimental (Ni et al, 2015a;Ni et al, 2015b), field (Pellegrini et al, 2019) and modeling (Moradi et al, 2018;Roohidehkordi and Krol, 2021) approaches have demonstrated a good potential of combining UTES and biodegradation. Nevertheless, another potential remediation strategy, which is the enhanced volatilization of contaminants from groundwater and subsequent release to the atmosphere, has received relatively little attention in combination with UTES.…”