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Transport of ferrihydrite nanoparticles in saturated porous media: Role of ionic strength and flow rate.
Environ. Sci. Technol. 46, 4008-4015 (2012)
The use of nanoscale ferrihydrite particles, which are known to effectively enhance microbial degradation of a wide range of contaminants, represents a promising technology for in situ remediation of contaminated aquifers. Thanks to their small size, ferrihydrite nanoparticles can be dispersed in water and directly injected into the subsurface to create reactive zones where contaminant biodegradation is promoted. Field applications would require a detailed knowledge of ferrihydrite transport mechanisms in the subsurface, but such studies are lacking in the literature. The present study is intended to fill this gap, focusing in particular on the influence of flow rate and ionic strength on particle mobility. Column tests were performed under constant or transient ionic strength, including injection of ferrihydrite colloidal dispersions, followed by flushing with particle-free electrolyte solutions. Particle mobility was greatly affected by the salt concentration, and particle retention was almost irreversible under typical salt content in groundwater. Experimental results indicate that, for usual ionic strength in European aquifers (2 to 5 mM), under natural flow condition ferrihydrite nanoparticles are likely to be transported for 5 to 30 m. For higher ionic strength, corresponding to contaminated aquifers, (e.g., 10 mM) the travel distance decreases to few meters. A simple relationship is proposed for the estimation of travel distance with changing flow rate and ionic strength. For future applications to aquifer remediation, ionic strength and injection rate can be used as tuning parameters to control ferrihydrite mobility in the subsurface and therefore the radius of influence during field injections.
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Publication type
Article: Journal article
Document type
Scientific Article
Keywords
SECONDARY ENERGY MINIMUM; PHYSICOCHEMICAL FILTRATION; MICROBIAL REDUCTION; COLLOID TRANSPORT; IRON REDUCTION; DEPOSITION; AGGREGATION; SUBSURFACE; PARTICLES; FATE
Language
Publication Year
2012
HGF-reported in Year
2012
ISSN (print) / ISBN
0013-936X
e-ISSN
1520-5851
Quellenangaben
Volume: 46,
Issue: 7,
Pages: 4008-4015
Publisher
ACS
Publishing Place
Washington, DC
Reviewing status
Peer reviewed
Institute(s)
Institute of Groundwater Ecology (IGOE)
POF-Topic(s)
20403 - Sustainable Water Management
Research field(s)
Environmental Sciences
PSP Element(s)
G-504300-004
PubMed ID
22356610
WOS ID
WOS:000302850400055
Scopus ID
84859350799
Erfassungsdatum
2012-04-19