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The containment of contaminant plumes to protect groundwater from pollution is recognized as a frequent need in brownfield redevelopment. Plume containment can be physical, with slurry walls, jet grouting etc., or hydraulic, with wells capturing the subsurface flow that crosses the contaminated front (Pump & Treat), or a combination of both types. The choice of the most suitable technique is a difficult task, since various aspects must be taken into consideration. In this paper, we present a framework for evaluating barriers in terms of effectiveness and efficiency, along with a simplified approach for the evaluation of capital and operational costs. The contaminant mass discharge escaping from the containment system is a robust indicator of its effectiveness, and can be derived from modelling results. The abstracted water flowrate is a key indicator of the efficiency and sustainability of each option, especially in the long term. The methodology is tested in a simplified case study and in a real one, highlighting the relevance of modelling results in guiding the choice and design of contaminant source containment systems.
Alessandro Casasso; Agnese Salomone; Carlo Bianco; Giovanni Prassede; Rajandrea Sethi. A Quantitative Approach to Assessing the Technical and Economic Performance of Source Containment Options for Contaminated Aquifers. Sustainability 2021, 13, 5346 .
AMA StyleAlessandro Casasso, Agnese Salomone, Carlo Bianco, Giovanni Prassede, Rajandrea Sethi. A Quantitative Approach to Assessing the Technical and Economic Performance of Source Containment Options for Contaminated Aquifers. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (10):5346.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlessandro Casasso; Agnese Salomone; Carlo Bianco; Giovanni Prassede; Rajandrea Sethi. 2021. "A Quantitative Approach to Assessing the Technical and Economic Performance of Source Containment Options for Contaminated Aquifers." Sustainability 13, no. 10: 5346.
Non-exhaust emissions (NEE) of particulate matter (PM) from brake, tyre, road pavement and railway wear, as well as resuspension of already deposited road dust, account for up to 90% by mass of total traffic-related PM emitted. This review aims at analysing the current knowledge on road traffic NEE regarding sources, particle generation processes, chemical and physical characterization, and mitigation strategies. The literature on this matter often presents highly variable and hardly comparable results due to the heterogeneity of NEE sources and the absence of standardized sampling and measurement protocols. As evidence, emission factors (EFs) were found to range from 1 mg km−1 veh−1 to 18.5 mg km−1 veh−1 for brake wear, and from 0.3 mg km−1 veh−1 to 7.4 mg km−1 veh−1 for tyre wear. Resuspended dust, which varies in even wider ranges (from 5.4 mg km−1 veh−1 to 330 mg km−1 veh−1 for cars), is considered the prevailing NEE source. The lack of standardized monitoring approaches resulted in the impossibility of setting international regulations to limit NEE. Therefore, up until now the abatement of NEE has only been achieved by mitigation and prevention strategies. However, the effectiveness of these measures still needs to be improved and further investigated. As an example, mitigation strategies, such as street washing or sweeping, proved effective in reducing PM levels, but only in the short term. The replacement of internal combustion engines vehicles with electric ones was instead proposed as a prevention strategy, but there are still concerns regarding the increase of NEE deriving from the extra weight of the batteries. The data reported in this review highlighted the need for future studies to broaden their research area, and to focus not only on the standardization of methods and the introduction of regulations, but also on improving already existing technologies and mitigating strategies.
Amelia Piscitello; Carlo Bianco; Alessandro Casasso; Rajandrea Sethi. Non-exhaust traffic emissions: Sources, characterization, and mitigation measures. Science of The Total Environment 2021, 766, 144440 .
AMA StyleAmelia Piscitello, Carlo Bianco, Alessandro Casasso, Rajandrea Sethi. Non-exhaust traffic emissions: Sources, characterization, and mitigation measures. Science of The Total Environment. 2021; 766 ():144440.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAmelia Piscitello; Carlo Bianco; Alessandro Casasso; Rajandrea Sethi. 2021. "Non-exhaust traffic emissions: Sources, characterization, and mitigation measures." Science of The Total Environment 766, no. : 144440.
Abandoned industrial sites are generally characterized by soil and subsoil contamination. The paradigm currently employed for their remediation is “tabula rasa”, i.e., remediation of the entire site before its repurpose. However, this method is not economically, socially, or technologically sustainable: it delays the reuse of large areas, often well-connected to infrastructures, whose reuse may prevent further soil consumption. A possible solution to this problem is the application of adaptive reuse principles. This study, conducted at FULL (Future Urban Legacy Lab) in Politecnico di Torino, presents an interdisciplinary approach to spatialize, visualize, and manage interactions between reclamation and urban design for the transformation of contaminated urban areas. The core is based on a decision support parametric toolkit, named AdRem, developed to compare available remediation techniques and schematic urban design solutions. AdRem uses a 3D modeling interface and VPL scripting. Required input data are a geometric description of the site, data on the contamination status, viable remediation techniques, and associated features, and schematic urban design recommendations. A filtering process selects the techniques compatible with the site use foreseen. The output is an optimized remediation and reuse plan that can support an interdisciplinary discussion on possible site regeneration options.
Valerio Palma; Federico Accorsi; Alessandro Casasso; Carlo Bianco; Sarah Cutrì; Matteo Robiglio; Tiziana Tosco. AdRem: An Integrated Approach for Adaptive Remediation. Sustainability 2020, 13, 28 .
AMA StyleValerio Palma, Federico Accorsi, Alessandro Casasso, Carlo Bianco, Sarah Cutrì, Matteo Robiglio, Tiziana Tosco. AdRem: An Integrated Approach for Adaptive Remediation. Sustainability. 2020; 13 (1):28.
Chicago/Turabian StyleValerio Palma; Federico Accorsi; Alessandro Casasso; Carlo Bianco; Sarah Cutrì; Matteo Robiglio; Tiziana Tosco. 2020. "AdRem: An Integrated Approach for Adaptive Remediation." Sustainability 13, no. 1: 28.
Remediation of heavy metal-contaminated aquifers is a challenging process because they cannot be degraded by microorganisms. Together with the usually limited effectiveness of technologies applied today for treatment of heavy metal contaminated groundwater, this creates a need for new remediation technologies. We therefore developed a new treatment, in which permeable adsorption barriers are established in situ in aquifers by the injection of colloidal iron oxides. These adsorption barriers aim at the immobilization of heavy metals in aquifers groundwater, which was assessed in a large-scale field study in a brownfield site. Colloidal iron oxide (goethite) nanoparticles were used to install an in situ adsorption barrier in a very heterogeneous, contaminated aquifer of a brownfield in Asturias, Spain. The groundwater contained high concentrations of heavy metals with up to 25 mg/L zinc, 1.3 mg/L lead, 40 mg/L copper, 0.1 mg/L nickel and other minor heavy metal pollutants below 1 mg/L. High amounts of zinc (>900 mg/kg), lead (>2000 mg/kg), nickel (>190 mg/kg) were also present in the sediment. Ca. 1500 kg of goethite nanoparticles of 461 ± 266 nm diameter were injected at low pressure (< 0.6 bar) into the aquifer through nine screened injection wells. For each injection well, a radius of influence of at least 2.5 m was achieved within 8 h, creating an in situ barrier of 22 × 3 × 9 m. Despite the extremely high heavy metal contamination and the strong heterogeneity of the aquifer, successful immobilization of contaminants was observed in the tested area. The contaminant concentrations were strongly reduced immediately after the injection and the abatement of the heavy metals continued for a total post-injection monitoring period of 189 days. The iron oxide particles were found to adsorb heavy metals even at pH-values between 4 and 6, where low adsorption would have been expected. The study demonstrated the applicability of iron oxide nanoparticles for installing adsorption barriers for containment of heavy metals in contaminated groundwater under real conditions.
Sadjad Mohammadian; Beate Krok; Andreas Fritzsche; Carlo Bianco; Tiziana Tosco; Ekain Cagigal; Bruno Mata; Veronica Gonzalez; Maria Diez-Ortiz; Vanesa Ramos; Daniela Montalvo; Erik Smolders; Rajandrea Sethi; Rainer U. Meckenstock. Field-scale demonstration of in situ immobilization of heavy metals by injecting iron oxide nanoparticle adsorption barriers in groundwater. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 2020, 237, 103741 .
AMA StyleSadjad Mohammadian, Beate Krok, Andreas Fritzsche, Carlo Bianco, Tiziana Tosco, Ekain Cagigal, Bruno Mata, Veronica Gonzalez, Maria Diez-Ortiz, Vanesa Ramos, Daniela Montalvo, Erik Smolders, Rajandrea Sethi, Rainer U. Meckenstock. Field-scale demonstration of in situ immobilization of heavy metals by injecting iron oxide nanoparticle adsorption barriers in groundwater. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology. 2020; 237 ():103741.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSadjad Mohammadian; Beate Krok; Andreas Fritzsche; Carlo Bianco; Tiziana Tosco; Ekain Cagigal; Bruno Mata; Veronica Gonzalez; Maria Diez-Ortiz; Vanesa Ramos; Daniela Montalvo; Erik Smolders; Rajandrea Sethi; Rainer U. Meckenstock. 2020. "Field-scale demonstration of in situ immobilization of heavy metals by injecting iron oxide nanoparticle adsorption barriers in groundwater." Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 237, no. : 103741.
Borehole heat exchangers (BHEs) generally employ water-antifreeze solutions to allow working fluid temperatures to fall below 0 °C. However, some local regulations have forbidden antifreeze additives (even non-toxic ones) to avoid groundwater pollution in case of pipe leakage. This paper presents a techno-economic and environmental analysis of four different fluids: propylene glycol at 25% and 33% weight concentrations, calcium chloride at 20% weight concentration (CaCl2 20%), and pure water. Thermal loads from 36 case studies in six different climate zones are used to perform BHE sizing and compare the abovementioned fluids from the economic, operational, and environmental points of view. The economic analysis and the carbon footprint assessment are performed on a life cycle of 25 years considering the installation (BHE drilling, fluid) and operation (heat pump and ground-side circulation pump energy demand, fluid replacement) of the simulated GSHPs. Results highlight that using pure water as a heat carrier fluid is convenient for cooling-dominated buildings but, for heating-dominated buildings, this choice leads to a noticeable increase of the BHE needed length which is not compensated by the lower operational costs. On the other hand, avoiding the use of antifreeze additives generally leads to a reduction of the lifetime carbon footprint, with a few exceptions in very cold climates. CaCl2 20% proves to be a good choice in most cases, both from the economic and the environmental points of view, as it allows a strong reduction of the installed BHE length in cold climates with a low additional cost and carbon footprint.
Nicola Bartolini; Alessandro Casasso; Carlo Bianco; Rajandrea Sethi. Environmental and Economic Impact of the Antifreeze Agents in Geothermal Heat Exchangers. Energies 2020, 13, 5653 .
AMA StyleNicola Bartolini, Alessandro Casasso, Carlo Bianco, Rajandrea Sethi. Environmental and Economic Impact of the Antifreeze Agents in Geothermal Heat Exchangers. Energies. 2020; 13 (21):5653.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNicola Bartolini; Alessandro Casasso; Carlo Bianco; Rajandrea Sethi. 2020. "Environmental and Economic Impact of the Antifreeze Agents in Geothermal Heat Exchangers." Energies 13, no. 21: 5653.
Humic acid-coated goethite nanoparticles (HA-GoeNPs) have been recently proposed as an effective reagent for the in situ nanoremediation of contaminated aquifers. However, the effective dosage of these particles has been studied only at laboratory scale to date. This study investigates the possibility of using HA-GoeNPs in remediation of real field sites by mimicking the injection and transport of HA-GoeNPs under realistic conditions. To this purpose, a three-dimensional (3D) transport experiment was conducted in a large-scale container representing a heterogeneous unconfined aquifer. Monitoring data, including particle size distribution, total iron (Fetot) content and turbidity measurements, revealed a good subsurface mobility of the HA-GoeNP suspension, especially within the higher permeability zones. A radius of influence of 2 m was achieved, proving that HA-GoeNPs delivery is feasible for aquifer restoration. A flow and transport model of the container was built using the numerical code Micro and Nanoparticle transport Model in 3D geometries (MNM3D) to predict the particle behavior during the experiment. The agreement between modeling and experimental results validated the capability of the model to reproduce the HA-GoeNP transport in a 3D heterogeneous aquifer. Such result confirms MNM3D as a valuable tool to support the design of field-scale applications of goethite-based nanoremediation.
Milica Velimirovic; Carlo Bianco; Natalia Ferrantello; Tiziana Tosco; Alessandro Casasso; Rajandrea Sethi; Doris Schmid; Stephan Wagner; Kumiko Miyajima; Norbert Klaas; Rainer U. Meckenstock; Frank Von Der Kammer; Thilo Hofmann. A Large-Scale 3D Study on Transport of Humic Acid-Coated Goethite Nanoparticles for Aquifer Remediation. Water 2020, 12, 1207 .
AMA StyleMilica Velimirovic, Carlo Bianco, Natalia Ferrantello, Tiziana Tosco, Alessandro Casasso, Rajandrea Sethi, Doris Schmid, Stephan Wagner, Kumiko Miyajima, Norbert Klaas, Rainer U. Meckenstock, Frank Von Der Kammer, Thilo Hofmann. A Large-Scale 3D Study on Transport of Humic Acid-Coated Goethite Nanoparticles for Aquifer Remediation. Water. 2020; 12 (4):1207.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMilica Velimirovic; Carlo Bianco; Natalia Ferrantello; Tiziana Tosco; Alessandro Casasso; Rajandrea Sethi; Doris Schmid; Stephan Wagner; Kumiko Miyajima; Norbert Klaas; Rainer U. Meckenstock; Frank Von Der Kammer; Thilo Hofmann. 2020. "A Large-Scale 3D Study on Transport of Humic Acid-Coated Goethite Nanoparticles for Aquifer Remediation." Water 12, no. 4: 1207.
Borehole heat exchangers (BHEs) commonly reach depths of several tens of meters and cross different aquifers. Concerns have been raised about the possibility of boreholes to act as preferential pathways for contaminant transport among aquifers (cross-contamination). This article employs numerical modelling of contaminant transport in the subsurface to address these concerns. A common hydrogeological setup is simulated, composed of three layers: A shallow contaminated and a deep uncontaminated aquifer separated by an aquitard, all crossed by a permeable borehole. The hydraulic conductivity of the borehole and, to a lesser extent, the vertical hydraulic gradient between the aquifers are the key factors of cross-contamination. Results of the numerical simulations highlight that, despite the severe conditions hypothesized in our modelling study, the cross-contamination due to the borehole is negligible when filled with a slightly permeable material such as a geothermal grout properly mixed and injected. A good agreement was found with analytical formulas used for estimating the flow rate leaking through the borehole and for studying the propagation of leaked contaminant into the deep aquifer.
Alessandro Casasso; Natalia Ferrantello; Simone Pescarmona; Carlo Bianco; Rajandrea Sethi. Can Borehole Heat Exchangers Trigger Cross-Contamination between Aquifers? Water 2020, 12, 1174 .
AMA StyleAlessandro Casasso, Natalia Ferrantello, Simone Pescarmona, Carlo Bianco, Rajandrea Sethi. Can Borehole Heat Exchangers Trigger Cross-Contamination between Aquifers? Water. 2020; 12 (4):1174.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlessandro Casasso; Natalia Ferrantello; Simone Pescarmona; Carlo Bianco; Rajandrea Sethi. 2020. "Can Borehole Heat Exchangers Trigger Cross-Contamination between Aquifers?" Water 12, no. 4: 1174.
One of the main technical problems faced during field-scale injections of iron microparticles (mZVI) for groundwater nanoremediation is related to their poor colloidal stability and mobility in porous media. In this study, a shear-thinning gel, composed of a mixture of two environmentally friendly biopolymers, i.e., guar gum and xanthan gum, was employed to overcome these limitations. The slurry rheology and particle mobility were characterized by column transport tests. Then, a radial transport experiment was performed to mimic the particle delivery in more realistic conditions. The gel, even at a low polymeric content (1.75 g/L), proved effective in enhancing the mobility of high concentrated mZVI suspensions (20 g/L) in field-like conditions. The high radius of influence (73 cm) and homogeneous iron distribution were achieved by maintaining a low injection overpressure (
Federico Mondino; Amelia Piscitello; Carlo Bianco; Andrea Gallo; Alessandra De Folly D’Auris; Tiziana Tosco; Marco Tagliabue; Rajandrea Sethi. Injection of Zerovalent Iron Gels for Aquifer Nanoremediation: Lab Experiments and Modeling. Water 2020, 12, 826 .
AMA StyleFederico Mondino, Amelia Piscitello, Carlo Bianco, Andrea Gallo, Alessandra De Folly D’Auris, Tiziana Tosco, Marco Tagliabue, Rajandrea Sethi. Injection of Zerovalent Iron Gels for Aquifer Nanoremediation: Lab Experiments and Modeling. Water. 2020; 12 (3):826.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFederico Mondino; Amelia Piscitello; Carlo Bianco; Andrea Gallo; Alessandra De Folly D’Auris; Tiziana Tosco; Marco Tagliabue; Rajandrea Sethi. 2020. "Injection of Zerovalent Iron Gels for Aquifer Nanoremediation: Lab Experiments and Modeling." Water 12, no. 3: 826.
Pump and treat (P&T) systems are still widely employed for the hydraulic containment of contaminated groundwater despite the fact that their usage is decreasing due to their high operational costs. A way to partially mitigate such costs, both in monetary and environmental terms, is to perform heat exchange (directly or with a heat pump) on the groundwater extracted by these systems, thus providing low-carbon and low-cost heating and/or cooling to buildings or industrial processes. This opportunity should be carefully evaluated in view of preserving (or even improving) the removal efficiency of the remediation process. Therefore, the heat exchange should be placed upstream or downstream of all treatments, or in an intermediate position, depending on the effect of water temperature change on the removal efficiency of each treatment step. This article provides an overview of such effects and is meant to serve as a starting reference for a case-by-case evaluation. Finally, the potentiality of geothermal use of P&T systems is assessed in the Italian contaminated Sites of National Interest (SIN), i.e., the 41 priority contaminated sites in Italy. At least 29 of these sites use pumping wells as hydraulic barriers or P&T systems. The total discharge rate treated by these plants exceeds 7000 m3/h and can potentially provide about 33 MW of heating and/or cooling power.
Alessandro Casasso; Tiziana Tosco; Carlo Bianco; Arianna Bucci; Rajandrea Sethi. How Can We Make Pump and Treat Systems More Energetically Sustainable? Water 2019, 12, 67 .
AMA StyleAlessandro Casasso, Tiziana Tosco, Carlo Bianco, Arianna Bucci, Rajandrea Sethi. How Can We Make Pump and Treat Systems More Energetically Sustainable? Water. 2019; 12 (1):67.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlessandro Casasso; Tiziana Tosco; Carlo Bianco; Arianna Bucci; Rajandrea Sethi. 2019. "How Can We Make Pump and Treat Systems More Energetically Sustainable?" Water 12, no. 1: 67.
This study focuses on the transport in porous media of graphene oxide nanoparticles (GONP) under conditions similar to those applied in the generation of in-situ reactive zones for groundwater remediation (i.e. GO concentration of few tens of mg/l, stable suspension in alkaline solution). The experimental tests evaluated the influence on GO transport of three key factors, namely particle size (300–1200 nm), concentration (10–50 mg/L), and sand size (coarse to fine). Three sources of GONP were considered (two commercial and one synthesized in the laboratory). Particles were stably dispersed in water at pH 8.5 and showed a good mobility in the porous medium under all experimental conditions: after injection of 5 pore volumes and flushing, the highest recovery was around 90%, the lowest around 30% (only for largest particles in fine sand). The particle size was by far the most impacting parameter, with increasing mobility with decreasing size, even if sand size and particle concentration were also relevant. The source of GONP showed a minor impact on the mobility. The transport test data were successfully modeled using the advection-dispersion-deposition equations typically applied for spherical colloids. Experimental and modeling results suggested that GONP, under the explored conditions, are retained due to both blocking and straining, the latter being relevant only for large particles and/or fine sand. The findings of this study play a key role in the development of an in-situ groundwater remediation technology based on the injection of GONP for contaminant degradation or sorption. Despite their peculiar shape, GONP behavior in porous media is comparable with spherical colloids, which have been more studied by far. In particular, the possibility of modeling GONP transport using existing models ensures that they can be applied also for the design of field-scale injections of GONP, similarly to other particles already used in nanoremediation.
Ali Beryani; Mohammad Reza Alavi Moghaddam; Tiziana Tosco; Carlo Bianco; Seiyed Mossa Hosseini; Elaheh Kowsari; Rajandrea Sethi. Key factors affecting graphene oxide transport in saturated porous media. Science of The Total Environment 2019, 698, 134224 .
AMA StyleAli Beryani, Mohammad Reza Alavi Moghaddam, Tiziana Tosco, Carlo Bianco, Seiyed Mossa Hosseini, Elaheh Kowsari, Rajandrea Sethi. Key factors affecting graphene oxide transport in saturated porous media. Science of The Total Environment. 2019; 698 ():134224.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAli Beryani; Mohammad Reza Alavi Moghaddam; Tiziana Tosco; Carlo Bianco; Seiyed Mossa Hosseini; Elaheh Kowsari; Rajandrea Sethi. 2019. "Key factors affecting graphene oxide transport in saturated porous media." Science of The Total Environment 698, no. : 134224.
Andrea Gallo; Carlo Bianco; Tiziana Tosco; Rajandrea Sethi. Characterization and reactivity of novel silver/iron nanoparticles. Materials Today: Proceedings 2019, 19, 15 -23.
AMA StyleAndrea Gallo, Carlo Bianco, Tiziana Tosco, Rajandrea Sethi. Characterization and reactivity of novel silver/iron nanoparticles. Materials Today: Proceedings. 2019; 19 ():15-23.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAndrea Gallo; Carlo Bianco; Tiziana Tosco; Rajandrea Sethi. 2019. "Characterization and reactivity of novel silver/iron nanoparticles." Materials Today: Proceedings 19, no. : 15-23.
In the last decade, zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI) have been applied for groundwater remediation and they proved to be effective towards a wide range of contaminants, both organic and inorganic. One of the critical aspects related to the synthesis of this material concerns the use of borohydride, which increases the cost of the final product and generates toxic borates. In this paper, a new synthesis method of bimetallic nanoscale zero-valent silver/iron (nZVSI), its properties and its reactivity towards a model compound are presented. The novel synthesis protocol employs benign hydrosulfite as reducing agent and it is of easy implementation and scalability. The resulting nanoparticles have narrow size distribution and show appropriate colloidal stability. They consist of a core of zerovalent iron and a thin shell of iron oxide, while silver is homogeneously distributed within the material. The nanoparticles showed effective reactivity, able to degrade bromophenol blue with suitable kinetics and using a low amount of material. Additionally, the bimetallic nanomaterial significantly outperformed nanometric zero-valent silver (nZVS) and nZVI obtained with the same protocol. The proposed synthesis would allow to significantly reduce the environmental and health impact of the stage prior to product application via injection in the subsoil. Also, the simplicity and the safety of the proposed synthesis procedure would allow the production of the bimetallic reactant directly on-site, thus streamlining the remediation process and maximizing its efficiency.
Andrea Gallo; Carlo Bianco; Tiziana Tosco; Alberto Tiraferri; Rajandrea Sethi. Synthesis of eco-compatible bimetallic silver/iron nanoparticles for water remediation and reactivity assessment on bromophenol blue. Journal of Cleaner Production 2018, 211, 1367 -1374.
AMA StyleAndrea Gallo, Carlo Bianco, Tiziana Tosco, Alberto Tiraferri, Rajandrea Sethi. Synthesis of eco-compatible bimetallic silver/iron nanoparticles for water remediation and reactivity assessment on bromophenol blue. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2018; 211 ():1367-1374.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAndrea Gallo; Carlo Bianco; Tiziana Tosco; Alberto Tiraferri; Rajandrea Sethi. 2018. "Synthesis of eco-compatible bimetallic silver/iron nanoparticles for water remediation and reactivity assessment on bromophenol blue." Journal of Cleaner Production 211, no. : 1367-1374.
Nanoremediation is a promising technology for the remediation of contaminated soils and aquifers. Engineered nanoparticles (NPs) are introduced into the subsurface in the form of a reactive suspension for the in situ degradation, transformation, or immobilization of pollutants [1]. The use of engineered NPs has been extensively studied in recent years as an alternative to more conventional approaches, such as pump and treat (P&T) and permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) [1, 2]. Despite the widespread use of P&T and PRBs, these remediation technologies are often costly and ineffective for 90the treatment of deep contaminations and/or in the presence of recalcitrant and weakly water-soluble pollutants. Moreover, P&T and PRBs can be used only for the treatment of the dissolved fraction of the pollutants (plume), while they are not suitable for the direct degradation of the contamination source. NP-based methods aim to overcome many of the drawbacks and limitations of P&T and PRBs. Several engineered NPs have been studied in the last years for groundwater remediation purposes. Even if the use of other materials has been explored, most of the particles that are currently being tested and show a good performance for groundwater remediation are iron-based NPs. Microparticles and NPs of zerovalent iron (respectively, MZVI and nZVI) have been extensively studied for the degradation of many recalcitrant contaminants, such as chlorinated hydrocarbons [2–5], metal ions [6, 7], PAH [8], PCBs, and pesticides [9]. nZVI has been investigated at the laboratory and field scale, both in the form of nZVI particles alone and as composite materials such as CARBO-IRON®, where nZVI is embedded in a carbon matrix to promote mobility and contaminant targeting [10], or as bimetallic particles [11, 12]. Moreover, a particular application of nZVI is represented by the emulsified zerovalent iron (EZVI) [13]. Nanosized iron oxides, such as goethite, have been largely studied because of their high sorption capacity toward heavy metals [14], such as chromium and arsenic. Moreover, ferrihydrite NPs have been employed as electron acceptors to stimulate the microbial assisted degradation of several organic contaminants, for example, BTEX [15].
Tiziana Tosco; Carlo Bianco; Rajandrea Sethi. An Integrated Experimental and Modeling Approach to Assess the Mobility of Iron-Based Nanoparticles in Groundwater Systems. Iron Nanomaterials for Water and Soil Treatment 2018, 89 -118.
AMA StyleTiziana Tosco, Carlo Bianco, Rajandrea Sethi. An Integrated Experimental and Modeling Approach to Assess the Mobility of Iron-Based Nanoparticles in Groundwater Systems. Iron Nanomaterials for Water and Soil Treatment. 2018; ():89-118.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTiziana Tosco; Carlo Bianco; Rajandrea Sethi. 2018. "An Integrated Experimental and Modeling Approach to Assess the Mobility of Iron-Based Nanoparticles in Groundwater Systems." Iron Nanomaterials for Water and Soil Treatment , no. : 89-118.
In this study, a model assisted strategy is developed to control the distribution of colloids in porous media in the framework of nanoremediation, an innovative environmental nanotechnology aimed at reclaiming contaminated aquifers. This approach is exemplified by the delivery of humic acid-stabilized iron oxide nanoparticles (FeOx), a typical reagent for in situ immobilization of heavy metals. By tuned sequential injections of FeOx suspensions and of solutions containing a destabilizing agent (i.e. calcium or magnesium), the two fronts, which advance at different rates, overlap at the target location (i.e., the central portion) of the porous systems. Here, the particles deposit and accumulate irreversibly, creating a reactive zone. An analytical expression predicting the position of the clustering zone in 1D systems is derived from first principles of advective-dispersive transport. Through this equation, the sequence and duration of the injection of the different solutions in the medium is assessed. The model robustness is demonstrated by its successful application to various systems, comprising the use of different sands or immobilizing cations, both in 1D and 2D geometries. The method represents an advancement in the control of nanomaterial fate in the environment, and could enhance nanoremediation making it an effective alternative to more conventional techniques.
Carlo Bianco; Janis Eneida Patiño Higuita; Tiziana Tosco; Alberto Tiraferri; Rajandrea Sethi. Controlled Deposition of Particles in Porous Media for Effective Aquifer Nanoremediation. Scientific Reports 2017, 7, 12992 .
AMA StyleCarlo Bianco, Janis Eneida Patiño Higuita, Tiziana Tosco, Alberto Tiraferri, Rajandrea Sethi. Controlled Deposition of Particles in Porous Media for Effective Aquifer Nanoremediation. Scientific Reports. 2017; 7 (1):12992.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCarlo Bianco; Janis Eneida Patiño Higuita; Tiziana Tosco; Alberto Tiraferri; Rajandrea Sethi. 2017. "Controlled Deposition of Particles in Porous Media for Effective Aquifer Nanoremediation." Scientific Reports 7, no. 1: 12992.
Nanosized colloids of iron oxide adsorb heavy metals, enhance the biodegradation of contaminants, and represent a promising technology to clean up contaminated aquifers. Goethite particles for aquifer reclamation were recently synthesized with a coating of humic acids to reduce aggregation. This study investigates the stability and the mobility in porous media of this material as a function of aqueous chemistry, and it identifies the best practices to maximize the efficacy of the related remediation. Humic acid-coated nanogoethite (hydrodynamic diameter ∼90 nm) displays high stability in solutions of NaCl, consistent with effective electrosteric stabilization. However, particle aggregation is fast when calcium is present and, to a lesser extent, also in the presence of magnesium. This result is rationalized with complexation phenomena related to the interaction of divalent cations with humic acid, inducing rapid flocculation and sedimentation of the suspensions. The calcium dose, i.e., the amount of calcium ions with respect to solids in the dispersion, is the parameter governing stability. Therefore, more concentrated slurries may be more stable and mobile in the subsurface than dispersions of low particle concentration. Particle concentration during field injection should be thus chosen based on concentration and proportion of divalent cations in groundwater.
Alberto Tiraferri; Laura Andrea Saldarriaga Hernandez; Carlo Bianco; Tiziana Tosco; Rajandrea Sethi. Colloidal behavior of goethite nanoparticles modified with humic acid and implications for aquifer reclamation. Journal of Nanoparticle Research 2017, 19, 107 .
AMA StyleAlberto Tiraferri, Laura Andrea Saldarriaga Hernandez, Carlo Bianco, Tiziana Tosco, Rajandrea Sethi. Colloidal behavior of goethite nanoparticles modified with humic acid and implications for aquifer reclamation. Journal of Nanoparticle Research. 2017; 19 (3):107.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlberto Tiraferri; Laura Andrea Saldarriaga Hernandez; Carlo Bianco; Tiziana Tosco; Rajandrea Sethi. 2017. "Colloidal behavior of goethite nanoparticles modified with humic acid and implications for aquifer reclamation." Journal of Nanoparticle Research 19, no. 3: 107.
Engineered nanoparticles (NPs) in the environment can act both as contaminants, when they are unintentionally released, and as remediation agents when injected on purpose at contaminated sites. In this work two carbon-based NPs are considered, namely CARBO-IRON®, a new material developed for contaminated site remediation, and single layer graphene oxide (SLGO), a potential contaminant of the next future. Understanding and modeling the transport and deposition of such NPs in aquifer systems is a key aspect in both cases, and numerical models capable to simulate NP transport in groundwater in complex 3D scenarios are necessary. To this aim, this work proposes a modeling approach based on modified advection-dispersion-deposition equations accounting for the coupled influence of flow velocity and ionic strength on particle transport. A new modeling tool (MNM3D - Micro and Nanoparticle transport Model in 3D geometries) is presented for the simulation of NPs injection and transport in 3D scenarios. MNM3D is the result of the integration of the numerical code MNMs (Micro and Nanoparticle transport, filtration and clogging Model - Suite) in the well-known transport model RT3D (Clement et al., 1998). The injection in field-like conditions of CARBO-IRON® (20g/l) amended by CMC (4g/l) in a 2D vertical tank (0.7×1.0×0.12m) was simulated using MNM3D, and compared to experimental results under the same conditions. Column transport tests of SLGO at a concentration (10mg/l) representative of a possible spill of SLGO-containing waste water were performed at different values of ionic strength (0.1 to 35mM), evidencing a strong dependence of SLGO transport on IS, and a reversible blocking deposition. The experimental data were fitted using the numerical code MNMs and the ionic strength-dependent transport was up-scaled for a full scale 3D simulation of SLGO release and long-term transport in a heterogeneous aquifer. MNM3D showed to potentially represent a valid tool for the prediction of the long-term behavior of engineered nanoparticles released in the environment (e.g. from landfills), and the preliminary design of in situ aquifer remediation through injection of suspensions of reactive NPs.
Carlo Bianco; Tiziana Tosco; Rajandrea Sethi. A 3-dimensional micro- and nanoparticle transport and filtration model (MNM3D) applied to the migration of carbon-based nanomaterials in porous media. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 2016, 193, 10 -20.
AMA StyleCarlo Bianco, Tiziana Tosco, Rajandrea Sethi. A 3-dimensional micro- and nanoparticle transport and filtration model (MNM3D) applied to the migration of carbon-based nanomaterials in porous media. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology. 2016; 193 ():10-20.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCarlo Bianco; Tiziana Tosco; Rajandrea Sethi. 2016. "A 3-dimensional micro- and nanoparticle transport and filtration model (MNM3D) applied to the migration of carbon-based nanomaterials in porous media." Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 193, no. : 10-20.