The impact of zero-valent iron nanoparticles on a river water bacterial community.

Zero-valent iron (ZVI) nanoparticles are of interest because of their many potential biomedical and environmental applications. However, these particles have recently been reported to be cytotoxic to bacterial cells. The overall objective of this study was to determine the impact of 100mg/L ZVI nanoparticles on the diversity and structure of an indigenous river water bacterial community. Response during exposure for 36 days was determined by denaturing gel gradient electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis of bacterial 16S rRNA genes, amplified from extracted DNA, and viable and total cell abundances were determined by plate counting and fluorescent microscopy of DAPI-stained cells. Changes in river water chemistry were also monitored. Addition of ZVI nanoparticles led to a rapid decrease in oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) (+196 to -281 mV) and dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration (8.2-0.6 mg/L), both of which stabilized during the experiment. Interestingly, both viable and total bacterial cell abundances increased and pH decreased, characteristic of an active microbial community. Total community structure was visualized using rank-abundance plots fitted with linear regression models. The slopes of the regression models were used as a descriptive statistic of changes in evenness over time. Importantly, despite bacterial growth, addition of ZVI nanoparticles did not influence bacterial community structure.

Inhibition of biological TCE and sulphate reduction in the presence of iron nanoparticles.

Iron (Fe) nanoparticles are increasingly being employed for the remediation of Chlorinated Aliphatic Hydrocarbon (CAH) contaminated sites. However, these particles have recently been reported to be cytotoxic to bacterial cells, and may therefore have a negative impact on exposed microbial communities. The overall objective of this study was to investigate the impact of Fe nanoparticles on the biodegradation of CAHs by an indigenous dechlorinating bacterial community. Also, to determine the most appropriate combination and/or application of bimetallic (Ni/Fe) nanoparticles and dechlorinating bacteria for the remediation of CAH contaminated sites. Addition of Fe nanoparticles to groundwater collected from a CAH contaminated site in Derby, UK, led to a decrease in the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) and an increase in pH. The biological degradation rate of TCE was observed to progressively decrease in the presence of increasing Fe nanoparticle concentrations; which ranged from 0.01 to 0.1 gL(-1), and cease completely at concentrations of 0.3 gL(-1) or above. Concentrations greater than 0.3 gL(-1) led to a decline in viable bacterial counts and the inhibition of biological sulphate reduction. The most appropriate means of combining bimetallic (Ni/Fe) nanoparticles and indigenous dechlorinating bacteria was to employ a two step process: initially stimulating the biodegradation of TCE using acetate, followed by the addition of bimetallic nanoparticles to degrade the remaining cis-1,2-DCE and VC.

Optimization of nano-scale nickel/iron particles for the reduction of high concentration chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbon solutions.

The use of nano-scale particles as a means of environmental remediation still provides a comparatively novel approach for the treatment of contaminated waters. The current study compares the reactivity of micro-scale Fe, nano-scale Fe and nano-scale Ni/Fe (nickel/iron) particles specifically for dechlorination of solutions containing 350 mg L(-1) of TCE (concentration measured at a contaminated site in Derbyshire, UK). The results indicated that employing 1 g L(-1) of reactive material for dechlorination in the monometallic form (both micro- and nano-scale) exhibited very little reduction capability compared with the bimetallic Ni/Fe nano-scale particles, containing 28.9% Ni (in molar), which achieved complete dechlorination of the TCE in solution within 576 h. Experiments were also performed to determine the optimum bimetallic composition of the Ni/Fe particles for TCE reduction. This revealed that 3.2% Ni was the optimum Ni/Fe molar ratio for both maximum dehalogenation performance and minimum release of Ni into solution. Using particles of the most effective bimetallic composition, experiments were carried out to determine the concentration required for optimal TCE reduction. Over the range of nano-scale particle concentrations tested (0.1-9 g L(-1)), reduction rates of TCE increased with greater TCE:nano-scale particle ratios. However, a concentration range of 1-3 g L(-1) was selected as the most appropriate for site remediation, since more concentrated solutions demonstrated only small increases in rates of reaction. Finally, in order to test the long term performance and reactivity of the 3.2% Ni/Fe bimetallic nano-scale particles, weekly spikes of 350 mg L(-1) TCE were injected into a 3 g L(-1) nano-scale particle batch reactor. Results showed that the bimetallic nano-scale particles had the ability to reduce 1750 mg L(-1) TCE and remained active for at least 13 weeks.

Kinetic studies of synthetic metaschoepite under acidic conditions in batch and flow experiments.

The weathering and corrosion of depleted uranium (DU) forms a complex series of oxidation reactions, ultimately resulting in metaschoepite, UO3.2H2O. The present work focused on studying the dissolution rate of synthetic UO3. 2H2O using batch and flow-through reactors. Under acidic conditions (pH = 4.4-5.4), atmospheric CO2, room temperature, and 0.1 mionic strength,the log solubility product, log Ksp = 5.26 at equilibrium and a pH-dependent rate law Ro = (0.30 +/- 0.15)[H+]0.83+/-0.1 were established. For consistency, these results were incorporated into the computer program PHREEQC 2.6, and the experimental conditions were simulated. There is generally good agreement between the experimental results and the modeled results. Batch experiments revealed a fast dissolution rate of UO3.2H20 in the first hour, followed by fluctuations in uranium concentration before equilibrium was attained after 3000 h.