Spectral Induced Polarization (SIP) signatures of clayey soils containing toluene

In this work, we explore the use of biochar as a remediation agent, and the sensitivity of the spectral‐induced polarization method as a remediation monitoring aid. Biochar amended columns were fully saturated with industrial wastewater (olive oil mill waste) with very high concentration of phenols (∼2485 mg/L) and other substances. The biochar‐amended columns achieved very high removal rates of phenols compared to the control (sand only). Geophysical monitoring over the duration of the experiment (10 days) showed changes in the spectral‐induced polarization signal (imaginary conductivity) consistent with phenol removal as confirmed by geochemical monitoring. This experiment confirmed the utility of biochar as a remediation agent. Furthermore, spectral‐induced polarization can serve as long‐term, high resolution, monitoring aid in organic contaminant degradation processes.

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Preliminary assessment on the application of biochar and spectral‐induced polarization for wastewater treatment

Kirmizakis

Kalderis

Ntarlagiannis

et al. 2019

“…wetting) ones have shown to either increase (Vanhala ; Kemna, Binley and Slater ; Deceuster and Kaufmann ) or dampen the IP effect (Ustra et al . ; Personna et al . ).…”

Section: Microbially Mediated Processes and Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hydrocarbon-impacted porous media appear to have a complex, but clearly measurable, IP signature that provides information on the hydrocarbon contaminant and on the biogeochemical processes associated with the hydrocarbon degradation (Davis et al 2006;Schmutz et al 2010Schmutz et al , 2012Ustra et al 2012;Heenan et al 2013;Personna et al 2013b;Kessouri et al 2016;Fernandez et al 2018;Kimak et al 2019). One of the main reasons for the complex behaviour of the signature lies with the nature and the properties of hydrocarbons.…”

Section: Hydrocarbon Degradationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…non-wetting) hydrocarbons tend to increase the IP signature of the subsurface (Revil, Schmutz and Batzle 2011;Flores-Orozco et al 2015;Johansson, Fiandaca and Dahlin 2015), while polar (i.e. wetting) ones have shown to either increase (Vanhala 1997;Kemna, Binley and Slater 2004;Deceuster and Kaufmann 2012) or dampen the IP effect (Ustra et al 2012;Personna et al 2013b). In addition, environmental conditions (e.g.…”

Section: Hydrocarbon Degradationmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Induced polarization applied to biogeophysics: recent advances and future prospects

Kessouri

Furman

Huisman

et al. 2019

This paper provides an update on the fast‐evolving field of the induced polarization method applied to biogeophysics. It emphasizes recent advances in the understanding of the induced polarization signals stemming from biological materials and their activity, points out new developments and applications, and identifies existing knowledge gaps. The focus of this review is on the application of induced polarization to study living organisms: soil microorganisms and plants (both roots and stems). We first discuss observed links between the induced polarization signal and microbial cell structure, activity and biofilm formation. We provide an up‐to‐date conceptual model of the electrical behaviour of the microbial cells and biofilms under the influence of an external electrical field. We also review the latest biogeophysical studies, including work on hydrocarbon biodegradation, contaminant sequestration, soil strengthening and peatland characterization. We then elaborate on the induced polarization signature of the plant‐root zone, relying on a conceptual model for the generation of biogeophysical signals from a plant‐root cell. First laboratory experiments show that single roots and root system are highly polarizable. They also present encouraging results for imaging root systems embedded in a medium, and gaining information on the mass density distribution, the structure or the physiological characteristics of root systems. In addition, we highlight the application of induced polarization to characterize wood and tree structures through tomography of the stem. Finally, we discuss up‐ and down‐scaling between laboratory and field studies, as well as joint interpretation of induced polarization and other environmental data. We emphasize the need for intermediate‐scale studies and the benefits of using induced polarization as a time‐lapse monitoring method. We conclude with the promising integration of induced polarization in interdisciplinary mechanistic models to better understand and quantify subsurface biogeochemical processes.

“…Geophysical tools, particularly induced polarization (IP) method, are suitable to detect hydrocarbon contamination (Towle et al ; Olhoeft ; Vanhala ; Sogade et al ; Flores Orozco et al ) and to study the effects of biodegradation processes (Sauck ; Abdel Aal et al ; Abdel Aal, Slater, and Atekwana ; Williams et al ; Atekwana and Atekwana ; Heenan et al ; Mewafy et al ; Abdel Aal and Atekwana ). Indeed, the saturation and physicochemical properties of hydrocarbons are factors that affect the IP signature of contaminated soils (Cassiani et al ; Ustra et al ). Oil wettability is rather important: quadrature conductivity seems to be competitively controlled by (i) the insulating nature of the oil phase and (ii) the surface area (interphase) between the oil phase and the water phase, especially for very non‐wetting oil (Schmutz et al ; Schmutz, Blondel, and Revil ; Revil, Schmutz, and Batzle ; Abdel Aal and Atekwana ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Suitable real‐time monitoring of the aerobic biodegradation of toluene in contaminated sand by spectral induced polarization measurements and CO₂ analyses

Noël

Gourry

Deparis

et al. 2015

Hydrocarbons commonly contaminate aquifers and, in certain cases, can be successfully treated through biodegradation. Biodegradation is an effective technique for cleaning up pollution by enhancing pollutant-degrading bacteria in situ. However, in situ sampling for monitoring processes occurring into the ground during the treatment is expensive and invasive. In this article, an alternative method was tested. Spectral Induced Polarization (SIP) was combined with gas analyses, CO 2 concentration and its carbon isotopic ratio, to monitor toluene aerobic biodegradation in laboratory columns. Microbial activity was characterized by an evolution of the SIP response in correlation with a CO 2 production with the same carbon isotope signature as toluene. The spectral induced polarization response followed the variations of bacterial activity and displayed a phase shift up to 15 mrad. These results support the feasibility of using geophysical measurements, supported by CO 2