Back to Search
Start Over
Ammonium removal from groundwater using a zeolite permeable reactive barrier: a pilot-scale demonstration.
- Source :
-
Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research [Water Sci Technol] 2014; Vol. 70 (9), pp. 1540-7. - Publication Year :
- 2014
-
Abstract
- In situ remediation of ammonium-contaminated groundwater is possible through a zeolite permeable reactive barrier (PRB); however, zeolite's finite sorption capacity limits the long-term field application of PRBs. In this paper, a pilot-scale PRB was designed to achieve sustainable use of zeolite in removing ammonium (NH(4)(+)-N) through sequential nitrification, adsorption, and denitrification. An oxygen-releasing compound was added to ensure aerobic conditions in the upper layers of the PRB where NH(4)(+)-N was microbially oxidized to nitrate. Any remaining NH(4)(+)-N was removed abiotically in the zeolite layer. Under lower redox conditions, nitrate formed during nitrification was removed by denitrifying bacteria colonizing the zeolite. During the long-term operation (328 days), more than 90% of NH(4)(+)-N was consistently removed, and approximately 40% of the influent NH(4)(+)-N was oxidized to nitrate. As much as 60% of the nitrate formed in the PRB was reduced in the zeolite layer after 300 days of operation. Removal of NH(4)(+)-N from groundwater using a zeolite PRB through bacterial nitrification and abiotic adsorption is a promising approach. The zeolite PRB has the advantage of achieving sustainable use of zeolite and immediate NH(4)(+)-N removal.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0273-1223
- Volume :
- 70
- Issue :
- 9
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 25401319
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2014.411