Remediation of chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons in groundwater using ZVI and low-voltage DC field: Long-term performance and insights from pilot-scale experimental study

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F46747885%3A24620%2F25%3A00013978" target="_blank" >RIV/46747885:24620/25:00013978 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.140517" target="_blank" >https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.140517</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.140517" target="_blank" >10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.140517</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Remediation of chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons in groundwater using ZVI and low-voltage DC field: Long-term performance and insights from pilot-scale experimental study

Original language description

A promising approach for in situ treatment of chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons (CAHs) in groundwater combines zero-valent iron (ZVI) with a low-voltage direct current (DC) field. This study compared DC-assisted ZVI remediation with conventional ZVI treatment for tetrachloroethene (PCE) degradation in two identical 3.1 m3 sand-filled reactors simulating a three-dimensional aquifer under field-like conditions. Monitoring of PCE, its aqueous and gaseous degradation products, and chloride ions showed consistently higher performance in the DC-assisted system. Total PCE removal was 1.4 times greater, based on chloride mass balance as a robust dechlorination indicator. Cumulative acetylene production, a diagnostic of the β–elimination pathway, was twice as high under DC assistance, confirming a mechanistic enhancement of the more efficient abiotic degradation. Mössbauer spectroscopy indicated a 50 % higher [Figure presented] content and reduced formation of passivating iron phases. Multiple lines of evidence suggested that the applied electric field enhanced iron reactivity, regulated pH, and facilitated electron transfer, collectively accelerating dechlorination processes. By scaling-up beyond typical laboratory setups, this rare long-term, large-scale study provides critical insights into DC-assisted ZVI performance under realistic subsurface conditions and highlights its potential as a scalable, energy-efficient, and mechanistically optimized technology for in situ remediation of CAH-contaminated aquifers. Environmental Implications Chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbon (CAH) contamination of aquifers remains a global concern due to the persistence and toxicity of these compounds in groundwater. This study demonstrates that integrating zero-valent iron with a low-voltage direct current field can substantially enhance in situ remediation of CAHs. Large-scale, long-term experiments under field-conditions showed higher PCE degradation and an enhancement of the β–elimination pathway. Acetylene proved a sensitive indicator of enhanced degradation, while chloride mass balance supported improved performance. The ability to manipulate subsurface pH and redox potential offers opportunities for process optimization, supporting DC-assisted ZVI remediation as a scalable, energy-efficient field technology.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

10511 - Environmental sciences (social aspects to be 5.7)

Project

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Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Journal of Hazardous Materials>

ISSN

0304-3894

e-ISSN

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Volume of the periodical

500

Issue of the periodical within the volume

DEC 5

Country of publishing house

NL - THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS

Number of pages

11

Pages from-to

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UT code for WoS article

001627493900006

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-105022303945