Engineering of managed aquifer recharge systems to optimize biotransformation of trace organic chemicals

Hübner, Uwe; Wurzbacher, Christian; Helbling, Damian E.; Drewes, Jörg E.

doi:10.1016/j.coesh.2022.100343

Cited by 14 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 74 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The attenuation of the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole was independent of redox condition and is hypothesized to link to anabolic processes under these experimental conditions (Figure ). Bioreactors that maintained both nitrate- and sulfate-reducing regions exhibited effective removal of both trimethoprim and atenolol (Figure ), providing further support for the concept that the presence of multiple redox conditions may increase the overall removal effectiveness of a broader suite of contaminants of concern. ,, Although the microbiological mechanisms are at present elusive, we encourage future work to integrate nitrogen-, sulfur-, and carbon-focused metagenomic analyses, metabolic inhibitors, or gene knockouts to more explicitly pinpoint contributing microbial clades and enzymes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 67%

“…Bioreactors that maintained both nitrate-and sulfate-reducing regions exhibited effective removal of both trimethoprim and atenolol (Figure 4), providing further support for the concept that the presence of multiple redox conditions may increase the overall removal effectiveness of a broader suite of contaminants of concern. 56,69,70 Although the microbiological mechanisms are at present elusive, we encourage future work to integrate nitrogen-, sulfur-, and carbon-focused metagenomic analyses, metabolic inhibitors, or gene knockouts to more explicitly pinpoint contributing microbial clades and enzymes. Saturated lignocellulose, woodchip-based bioreactors could be successful as a unit process within a larger nature-based water treatment train.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Pharmaceutical Attenuation Differs within Woodchip-Based Lignocellulose Bioreactors across Nitrate- and Sulfate-Reducing Conditions

et al. 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Lignocellulosic bioreactors use solid-phase substrates such as woodchips to sustain microbial respiration and have been applied to treat agricultural runoff, stormwater, and other impaired waters. Here, we query how respiration of different soluble electron acceptors impacts the degradation of environmentally relevant pharmaceuticals associated with treated municipal wastewater discharge. Laboratory-scale columns containing a mixture of woodchips and alfalfa were manipulated across nitrate- and sulfate-reducing conditions using residence time and influent composition. Under steady-state conditions, bioreactors dominated by nitrate reduction harbored a distinct phylogenetic profile containing the genera Denitratisoma and increases in the denitrification gene nirS. In contrast, bioreactors where sulfate reduction dominated exhibited increased relative abundance of fermenters (e.g., Obscuribacteriales) and putative sulfate reducers (e.g., Desulfobulbus). Atenolol attenuation and biotransformation to carboxy-metoprolol accelerated under nitrate-reducing conditions; in contrast, trimethoprim attenuation and biotransformation to desmethyl trimethoprim was nearly an order of magnitude faster under sulfate-reducing conditions. Modest sulfamethoxazole attenuation occurred under all tested conditions. Denitrification-associated rate constants for atenolol were comparable to those reported in constructed wetlands and aquifer recharge, suggesting commonality in biotransformation mechanisms. Collectively, results suggest that manipulation of biogeochemical gradients during nature-based treatment can be applied to attenuate nitrate and trace quantities of pharmaceuticals.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 67%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pharmaceutical Attenuation Differs within Woodchip-Based Lignocellulose Bioreactors across Nitrate- and Sulfate-Reducing Conditions

et al. 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Because LBF and RBF are constrained by geology and hydrology, managed aquifer recharge (MAR) systems are engineered systems that pump source water into adjacent constructed infiltration/recharge basins and provide similar water-quality benefits . MAR performance can be enhanced through preozonation to improve biostability and post-treatment for the removal of iron and manganese, because these ions can be mobilized during subsurface passage. , Manipulating redox conditions and manipulating substrate availability are additional tools; field-scale studies in Berlin, Germany, and Colorado, United States, demonstrated that sequential MAR systems employing both oxic and carbon-limited conditions enhanced the biotransformation of several KUECs compared to a conventional MAR system. , These primary treatment processes allow countries like The Netherlands and Germany to forego secondary disinfection due to resultant biostability and to produce high-quality drinking water despite treating impaired source waters (e.g., the Rhine River and Elbe River) that receive municipal and industrial wastewater discharges …”

Section: Reducing Uncertainties In Drinking Water Using the “Minus Ap...mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Minus Approach Can Redefine the Standard of Practice of Drinking Water Treatment

Reid

Igou

Zhao

et al. 2023

Environ. Sci. Technol.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Chlorine-based disinfection for drinking water treatment (DWT) was one of the 20th century’s great public health achievements, as it substantially reduced the risk of acute microbial waterborne disease. However, today’s chlorinated drinking water is not unambiguously safe; trace levels of regulated and unregulated disinfection byproducts (DBPs), and other known, unknown, and emerging contaminants (KUECs), present chronic risks that make them essential removal targets. Because conventional chemical-based DWT processes do little to remove DBPs or KUECs, alternative approaches are needed to minimize risks by removing DBP precursors and KUECs that are ubiquitous in water supplies. We present the “Minus Approach” as a toolbox of practices and technologies to mitigate KUECs and DBPs without compromising microbiological safety. The Minus Approach reduces problem-causing chemical addition treatment (i.e., the conventional “Plus Approach”) by producing biologically stable water containing pathogens at levels having negligible human health risk and substantially lower concentrations of KUECs and DBPs. Aside from ozonation, the Minus Approach avoids primary chemical-based coagulants, disinfectants, and advanced oxidation processes. The Minus Approach focuses on bank filtration, biofiltration, adsorption, and membranes to biologically and physically remove DBP precursors, KUECs, and pathogens; consequently, water purveyors can use ultraviolet light at key locations in conjunction with smaller dosages of secondary chemical disinfectants to minimize microbial regrowth in distribution systems. We describe how the Minus Approach contrasts with the conventional Plus Approach, integrates with artificial intelligence, and can ultimately improve the sustainability performance of water treatment. Finally, we consider barriers to adoption of the Minus Approach.

show abstract

“…10−15 Anaerobic microorganisms employ different enzymes and metabolic strategies than the aerobes that dominate carbon processing during wastewater treatment (e.g., activated sludge) and may promote biotransformation of trace organic contaminants that are more slowly biotransformed under aerobic or nitrate-reducing conditions. 8,16 This article is licensed under CC-BY 4 Despite the potential for better performance with respect to trace organic contaminant removal, subsurface flow treatment systems have not typically been designed to reach anaerobic conditions due to a lack of labile organic carbon in the water. The addition of labile organic carbon to drive conditions to a lower redox potential is also usually avoided due to concerns about clogging and the formation of undesirable byproducts [e.g., sulfide, Fe(II)].…”

Section: ■ Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the past few decades, subsurface flow treatment systems, such as constructed wetlands, riverbank filtration, and managed aquifer recharge systems have increasingly been applied as a means of removing trace organic contaminants from treated wastewater and river water. − Although many contaminants are removed in these systems under aerobic conditions, removal of certain recalcitrant compounds, like sulfamethoxazole and carbamazepine, has only been observed to an appreciable degree under more reducing conditions in riverbank filtration systems and anaerobic membrane bioreactors. − Anaerobic microorganisms employ different enzymes and metabolic strategies than the aerobes that dominate carbon processing during wastewater treatment (e.g., activated sludge) and may promote biotransformation of trace organic contaminants that are more slowly biotransformed under aerobic or nitrate-reducing conditions. , …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Persistent Trace Organic Contaminants Are Transformed Rapidly under Sulfate- and Fe(III)-Reducing Conditions in a Nature-Based Subsurface Water Treatment System

Stiegler,

Cecchetti,

Scholes

et al. 2023

Environ. Sci. Technol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Subsurface treatment systems, such as constructed wetlands, riverbank filtration systems, and managed aquifer recharge systems, offer a low-cost means of removing trace organic contaminants from treated municipal wastewater. To assess the processes through which trace organic contaminants are removed in subsurface treatment systems, pharmaceuticals and several major metabolites were measured in porewater, sediment, and plants within a horizontal levee (i.e., a subsurface flow wetland that receives treated municipal wastewater). Concentrations of trace organic contaminants in each wetland compartment rapidly declined along the flow path. Mass balance calculations, analysis of transformation products, microcosm experiments, and onedimensional transport modeling demonstrated that more than 60% of the contaminant removal could be attributed to transformation. Monitoring of the system with and without nitrate in the wetland inflow indicated that relatively biodegradable trace organic contaminants, such as acyclovir and metoprolol, were rapidly transformed under both operating conditions. Trace organic contaminants that are normally persistent in biological treatment systems (e.g., sulfamethoxazole and carbamazepine) were removed only when Fe(III)-and sulfate-reducing conditions were observed. Minor structural modifications to trace organic contaminants (e.g., hydroxylation) altered the pathways and extents of trace organic contaminant transformation under different redox conditions. These findings indicate that subsurface treatment systems can be designed to remove both labile and persistent trace organic contaminants via transformation if they are designed and operated in a manner that results in sulfate-and Fe(III)-reducing conditions.

show abstract

Engineering of managed aquifer recharge systems to optimize biotransformation of trace organic chemicals

Cited by 14 publications

References 74 publications

Pharmaceutical Attenuation Differs within Woodchip-Based Lignocellulose Bioreactors across Nitrate- and Sulfate-Reducing Conditions

Pharmaceutical Attenuation Differs within Woodchip-Based Lignocellulose Bioreactors across Nitrate- and Sulfate-Reducing Conditions

The Minus Approach Can Redefine the Standard of Practice of Drinking Water Treatment

Persistent Trace Organic Contaminants Are Transformed Rapidly under Sulfate- and Fe(III)-Reducing Conditions in a Nature-Based Subsurface Water Treatment System

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About