Effects of nano-sized zero-valent iron on DDT degradation and residual toxicity in soil: a column experiment

Background and aimsNanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) application is a promising technology for degradation of chlorinated contaminants in soil. Plants also play an important role in soil remediation and nZVI should not adversely affect plants growing on treated soils. Large amounts of DDT are still found in certain soils and means to remediate these soils are limited. Our aims were to investigate the effect of nZVI on DDT degradation and evaluate possible negative effects of nZVI on plants.MethodsColumns with spiked (20 mg DDT kg−1) soil were percolated with nZVI (1 g nZVI L−1) and leached with five pore volumes of water to assess leaching of nZVI and residual toxicity of leachates and soil to plants using seed germination and plant growth tests (barley, flax).ResultsAddition of nZVI led to degradation of 45 % of the added DDT. Percolation with water significantly oxidized and transported iron through the columns. The first leachates had negative effects on plant development, but after leaching with 4 pore volumes, neither soil nor leachates affected plant negatively.ConclusionsnZVI is efficient for degradation of DDT and adverse effects of nZVI on plants seem ephemeral and are alleviated after oxidation mediated by percolating water.

[1]  Barbara Karn,et al.  Nanotechnology and in Situ Remediation: A Review of the Benefits and Potential Risks , 2009, Environmental health perspectives.

[2]  Shungui Zhou,et al.  Enhanced reductive dechlorination of DDT in an anaerobic system of dissimilatory iron-reducing bacteria and iron oxide. , 2010, Environmental pollution.

[3]  A. Perosa,et al.  Liquid phase hydrodechlorination of dieldrin and DDT over Pd/C and Raney-Ni , 2005 .

[4]  Thomas E. Mallouk,et al.  Delivery Vehicles for Zerovalent Metal Nanoparticles in Soil and Groundwater , 2004 .

[5]  E. Zeng,et al.  Occurrence, source diagnosis, and biological effect assessment of DDT and its metabolites in various environmental compartments of the Pearl River Delta, South China: a review. , 2009, Environmental pollution.

[6]  G. Sayles,et al.  DDT, DDD, and DDE Dechlorination by Zero-Valent Iron , 1997 .

[7]  Lu Lv,et al.  Nitrate reduction using nanosized zero-valent iron supported by polystyrene resins: role of surface functional groups. , 2011, Water research.

[8]  Dongye Zhao,et al.  Field assessment of carboxymethyl cellulose stabilized iron nanoparticles for in situ destruction of chlorinated solvents in source zones. , 2010, Water research.

[9]  Bernd Nowack,et al.  Application of nanoscale zero valent iron (NZVI) for groundwater remediation in Europe , 2012, Environmental Science and Pollution Research.

[10]  E. Smolders,et al.  Phytotoxic doses of boron in contrasting soils depend on soil water content , 2011, Plant and Soil.

[11]  R. Edwards.  Automatic determination of boron (0.10–10.0 mg l–1) in raw and waste waters , 1980 .

[12]  M. Otto,et al.  Nanotechnology for Site Remediation , 2008 .

[13]  Hsing-Lung Lien,et al.  Treatment of chlorinated organic contaminants with nanoscale bimetallic particles , 1998 .

[14]  D. Lovley,et al.  Availability of Ferric Iron for Microbial Reduction in Bottom Sediments of the Freshwater Tidal Potomac River , 1986, Applied and environmental microbiology.

[15]  Xuming Zheng,et al.  Removal of atrazine by nanoscale zero valent iron supported on organobentonite. , 2011, The Science of the total environment.

[16]  Tanapon Phenrat,et al.  Partial oxidation ("aging") and surface modification decrease the toxicity of nanosized zerovalent iron. , 2009, Environmental science & technology.

[17]  R. Boussahel,et al.  DEGRADATION OF OBSOLETE DDT BY FENTON OXIDATION WITH ZERO-VALENT IRON , 2007 .

[18]  Sung-Chul Kim,et al.  Accelerated Metolachlor Degradation in Soil by Zerovalent Iron and Compost Amendments , 2010, Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology.

[19]  G. Christian.  Analytical Chemistry 6th Edition , 2003 .

[20]  D. Sholl,et al.  TCE dechlorination rates, pathways, and efficiency of nanoscale iron particles with different properties. , 2005, Environmental science & technology.

[21]  Rajandrea Sethi,et al.  A Comparison Between Field Applications of Nano-, Micro-, and Millimetric Zero-Valent Iron for the Remediation of Contaminated Aquifers , 2011 .

[22]  E. Joner,et al.  Impact of Fe and Ag nanoparticles on seed germination and differences in bioavailability during exposure in aqueous suspension and soil , 2012, Environmental toxicology.

[23]  Wei-xian Zhang,et al.  Synthesizing Nanoscale Iron Particles for Rapid and Complete Dechlorination of TCE and PCBs , 1997 .

[24]  Sucai Yang,et al.  Application of zerovalent iron (Fe(0)) to enhance degradation of HCHs and DDX in soil from a former organochlorine pesticides manufacturing plant. , 2010, Chemosphere.

[25]  L. Butterwick,et al.  Safety assessment of boron in aquatic and terrestrial environments. , 1989, Ecotoxicology and environmental safety.

[26]  Kelvin B. Gregory,et al.  Impact of nanoscale zero valent iron on geochemistry and microbial populations in trichloroethylene contaminated aquifer materials. , 2010, Environmental science & technology.

[27]  Khara D Grieger,et al.  Environmental benefits and risks of zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI) for in situ remediation: risk mitigation or trade-off? , 2010, Journal of contaminant hydrology.

[28]  H. Boparai,et al.  Remediation of Atrazine-contaminated Soil and Water by Nano Zerovalent Iron , 2008 .

[29]  D. Tillitt,et al.  Persistence of organochlorine chemical residues in fish from the Tombigbee River (Alabama, USA): Continuing risk to wildlife from a former DDT manufacturing facility. , 2009, Environmental pollution.

[30]  S. Comfort,et al.  Enhancing metolachlor destruction rates with aluminum and iron salts during zerovalent iron treatment. , 2003, Journal of environmental quality.

[31]  H. Lien,et al.  Nanoscale Pd/Fe bimetallic particles: Catalytic effects of palladium on hydrodechlorination , 2007 .

[32]  E. Joner,et al.  Ecotoxicological effects on earthworms of fresh and aged nano-sized zero-valent iron (nZVI) in soil. , 2012, Chemosphere.

[33]  R. Naidu,et al.  Desorption of DDT from a Contaminated Soil using Cosolvent and Surfactant Washing in Batch Experiments , 2004 .

[34]  R. Maynard,et al.  The dictionary of substances and their effects , 2000, Occupational and environmental medicine.

[35]  J M Tiedje,et al.  Reductive dechlorination of DDE to DDMU in marine sediment microcosms. , 1998, Science.

[36]  L. Castillo,et al.  Organochlorine pesticides in the soils and atmosphere of Costa Rica. , 2007, Environmental science & technology.

[37]  Xing-lun Yang,et al.  Dicofol application resulted in high DDTs residue in cotton fields from northern Jiangsu province, China. , 2008, Journal of hazardous materials.

[38]  C. Melino,et al.  [Organochlorine pesticides]. , 1988, La Clinica terapeutica.

[39]  Patricia Rosales,et al.  Comparison between the , 2010 .

[40]  G. Marrosu,et al.  Thermal analysis and kinetic study of decomposition processes of some pesticides , 1992 .

[41]  A. Majcherczyk,et al.  Effects of zero-valent iron (Fe0) and temperature on the transformation of DDT and its metabolites in lake sediment. , 2006, Chemosphere.

[42]  M. Wong,et al.  A review on the usage of POP pesticides in China, with emphasis on DDT loadings in human milk. , 2005, Chemosphere.

[43]  S. Comfort,et al.  Accelerated remediation of pesticide-contaminated soil with zerovalent iron. , 2004, Environmental pollution.

[44]  Landong Li,et al.  Effect of pH on DDT degradation in aqueous solution using bimetallic Ni/Fe nanoparticles , 2009 .

[45]  Chitsan Lin,et al.  Photocatalytic oxidation of toxic organohalides with TiO2/UV: the effects of humic substances and organic mixtures. , 2007, Chemosphere.

[46]  D. Elliott,et al.  Field assessment of nanoscale bimetallic particles for groundwater treatment. , 2001, Environmental science & technology.

[47]  Wei-xian Zhang,et al.  Subcolloidal Fe/Ag particles for reductive dehalogenation of chlorinated benzenes , 2000 .

[48]  Bruno Dufour,et al.  Surface Modifications Enhance Nanoiron Transport and NAPL Targeting in Saturated Porous Media , 2007 .

[49]  R K Hitch,et al.  Unusual persistence of DDT in some Western USA soils , 1992, Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology.