Removing selenate from groundwater with a vegetable oil-based biobarrier

Abstract

Vegetable oil-based permeable reactive biobarriers (PRBs) were evaluated as a method for remediating groundwater containing unacceptable amounts of selenate. PRBs formed by packing laboratory columns with sand coated with soybean oil were used. In an initial 24-week study a simulated groundwater containing 10 mg L(-1) selenate-Se was supplied to three soil columns and the selenate and selenite content of the effluent waters monitored. Two of the soil columns were effective at removing selenate and, during the final 21 weeks of the study, effluents from these columns contained almost no selenate or selenite. Almost all (95%) of the selenate removed was recovered as immobilized selenium sequestered in the solid matrix of the column. For unknown reasons, the third column failed to reduce selenate. A second study looked at the ability of PRBs to remove selenate when nitrate was present. As was done in the first study, three columns were evaluated but this time the water supplied to the columns contained 20 mg L(-1 )nitrate-N and 10 mg L(-1) selenate-Se. Nitrate quickly disappeared from the effluents of these columns and during the final 23 weeks of the study, the nitrate content of the effluent water averaged less than 0.03 microg ml(-1) nitrate-N. Selenate was also removed by these columns but at a slower rate than observed with nitrate. In the final 6 weeks of the study, about 95% of the selenate applied to the columns was removed. In situ PRBs containing soybean oil might be used to remediate groundwater contaminated with both selenate and nitrate.