Enhanced Natural Attenuation of Groundwater Cr(VI) Pollution Using Electron Donors: Yeast Extract vs. Polyhydroxybutyrate

Marina Tumolo, Angela Volpe, Natalia Leone, Pietro Cotugno, Domenico De Paola, Daniela Losacco, Vito Locaputo, Maria Concetta de Pinto, Vito Felice Uricchio and Valeria Ancona
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Marina Tumolo: Water Research Institute, Italian National Research Council (IRSA-CNR), 70132 Bari, BA, Italy
Angela Volpe: Water Research Institute, Italian National Research Council (IRSA-CNR), 70132 Bari, BA, Italy
Natalia Leone: Water Research Institute, Italian National Research Council (IRSA-CNR), 70132 Bari, BA, Italy
Pietro Cotugno: Department of Chemistry, University of Bari, 70126 Bari, BA, Italy
Domenico De Paola: Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, Italian National Research Council (IBBR-CNR), 70126 Bari, BA, Italy
Daniela Losacco: Water Research Institute, Italian National Research Council (IRSA-CNR), 70132 Bari, BA, Italy
Vito Locaputo: Water Research Institute, Italian National Research Council (IRSA-CNR), 70132 Bari, BA, Italy
Maria Concetta de Pinto: Department of Biology, University of Bari, 70126 Bari, BA, Italy
Vito Felice Uricchio: Water Research Institute, Italian National Research Council (IRSA-CNR), 70132 Bari, BA, Italy
Valeria Ancona: Water Research Institute, Italian National Research Council (IRSA-CNR), 70132 Bari, BA, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 15, 1-17

Abstract: Remediation interventions based on the native bacteria’s capability to reduce Cr(VI) represent a valid strategy in terms of economic and environmental sustainability. In this study, a bioremediation test was carried out using viable microcosms set with groundwater and deep soil (4:1), collected from the saturated zone of an industrial site in Southern Italy that was polluted by ~130 µg L −1 of Cr(VI). Conditions simulating the potential natural attenuation were compared to the enhanced natural attenuation induced by supplying yeast extract or polyhydroxybutyrate. Sterile controls were set up to study the possible Cr(VI) abiotic reduction. No pollution attenuation was detected in the unamended viable reactors, whereas yeast extract provided the complete Cr(VI) removal in 7 days, and polyhydroxybutyrate allowed ~70% pollutant removal after 21 days. The incomplete abiotic removal of Cr(VI) was observed in sterile reactors amended with yeast extract, thus suggesting the essential role of native bacteria in Cr(VI) remediation. This was in accordance with the results of Pearson’s coefficient test, which revealed that Cr(VI) removal was positively correlated with microbial proliferation (n = 0.724), and also negatively correlated with pH (n = −0.646), dissolved oxygen (n = −0.828) and nitrate (n = −0.940). The relationships between the Cr(VI) removal and other monitored parameters were investigated by principal component analysis, which explained 76.71% of the total variance.

Keywords: hexavalent chromium; groundwater; bioremediation; enhanced natural attenuation; yeast extract; polyhydroxybutyrate (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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