Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Removing Selenite from Groundwater with an In Situ Biobarrier: Laboratory Studies

  • Published:
Current Microbiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Laboratory biobarriers were evaluated for their ability to remove selenite from flowing groundwater. Microbial activity in aquifers is usually limited by substrate availability, and biobarriers stimulate microbial activity by providing a substrate; for these studies soybean oil was used. Water containing 10 mg L−1 selenite-Se was pumped through the biobarriers for 74 days and the amount present in the effluent monitored. The amounts remained high for the first 2 weeks of the study but then declined. From day 28 until the end of the study the amount of selenite-Se in the column effluents averaged 0.20 ± 0.04 mg L−1, a decrease of approximately 98%. At the end of the study about half of the selenite-Se applied to the columns was recovered as immobilized selenium trapped by the biobarrier. This study suggests that biobarriers containing vegetable oil might be used as a process for removing selenite from contaminated groundwater.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  1. H DeMoll-Decker JM Macy (1993) ArticleTitleThe periplasmic nitrite reductase of Thanera selenatis may catalyze the reduction of selenite to elemental selenium Arch Microbiol 160 241–247 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK3sXms1Kiurs%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. K Fadil A Chahlaoui A Ouahbi A Zaid R Borja (2003) ArticleTitleAerobic biodegradation and detoxification of wastewaters from the olive oil industry Int Biodeterioration Biodegrad 51 37–41 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0964-8305(02)00073-2 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXisFCn

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. HR Geering EE Cary LHP Jones WH Allaway (1968) ArticleTitleSolubility and redox criteria for the possible forms of selenium in soils Soil Sci Soc Am Proc 32 35–40 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaF1cXpslGrtQ%3D%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. TL Gerrard JN Telford HH Williams (1974) ArticleTitleDetection of selenium deposits in Escherichia coli by electron microscopy J Bacteriol 119 1057–1060 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaE2cXltlalsLw%3D Occurrence Handle4604307

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. In: Greenburg AE, Clesceri LS, Eaton AD (eds) (1992) Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, 18th edn. Washington, DC: American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association and Water Environmental Federation

  6. L Guo WA Jury Jr WT Frankenberger (2000) ArticleTitleMeasurement of the Henry’s constant of dimethyl selenide as a function of temperature J Environ Qual 29 1715–1717 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXmvFKhs7g%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. GI Harrison EJ Laishely HR Krouse (1980) ArticleTitleStable isotope fractionation by Clostridium pasteurianum. 3. Effect of SeO 2–3 on the physiology and associated sulfur isotope fractionation during SO 2–3 and SO 2–4 reductions Can J Microbiol 26 952–958 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL3cXlvVamtbs%3D Occurrence Handle7459717

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. SL Hockin GM Gadd (2003) ArticleTitleLinked redox precipitation of sulfur and selenium under anaerobic condition by sulfate-reducing bacterial biofilms Appl Environ Microbiol 69 7063–7072 Occurrence Handle10.1128/AEM.69.12.7063-7072.2003 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXpvFCmu74%3D Occurrence Handle14660350

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. WJ Hunter (2001) ArticleTitleUse of vegetable oil in a pilot-scale denitrifying wall J Contam Hydrol 53 119–131 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0169-7722(01)00137-1 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXotVyjsr4%3D Occurrence Handle11816990

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. WJ Hunter (2001) Remediation of drinking water for rural populations RF Follett JL Hatfield (Eds) Nitrogen in the environment: Sources, problems and management Elsevier Science Amsterdam 433–453

    Google Scholar 

  11. WJ Hunter (2002) ArticleTitleBioremediation of chlorate or perchlorate contaminated water using permeable barriers containing vegetable oil Curr Microbiol 45 287–292 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s00284-002-3751-4 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XmsFWlt7w%3D Occurrence Handle12192528

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. WJ Hunter (2003) ArticleTitleAccumulation of nitrite in denitrifying barriers when phosphate is limiting J Contam Hydrol 66 79–91 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0169-7722(03)00008-1 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXntl2it7o%3D Occurrence Handle14516942

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. WJ Hunter RF Follett (1997) Removing nitrate from groundwater using innocuous oils: Water quality studies BC Alleman A Leeson (Eds) In situ and on-site bioremediation, vol 3 Battelle Press Columbus, OH 415–420

    Google Scholar 

  14. WJ Hunter RF Follett JW Cary (1997) ArticleTitleUse of vegetable oil to stimulate denitrification and remove nitrate from flowing water Trans ASAE (Am Soc Agric Eng) 40 345–353

    Google Scholar 

  15. WJ Hunter LD Kuykendall (2004) ArticleTitleDetermination of dimethylselenide and dimethyldiselenide by gas chromatography–photoionization detection J Chrom A 1038 295–297 Occurrence Handle10.1016/j.chroma.2004.03.005 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXktV2ks7Y%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. JC Kruithof CA Bennekom Particlevan HAL Dierx WAM Hijnen JAM Paassen Particlevan JC Schippers (1988) ArticleTitleNitrate removal from ground water sulphur/limestone filtration Wat Supply 6 207–217 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL1MXhtleisQ%3D%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. DG Lampe TC Zhang (1997) Sulfur-based autotrophic denitrification for remediation of nitrate-contaminated drinking water BC Alleman A Leeson (Eds) In situ and on-site bioremediation. vol 3. Columbus Battelle Press OH 423–428

    Google Scholar 

  18. MD Lee RJ Buchanan SuffixJr DE Ellis (2000) Laboratory studies using edible oils to support reductive dechlorination GB Wickranayake AR Gavaskar BC Alleman VS Magar (Eds) Bioremediation and phytoremediation of chlorinated and recalcitrant compounds Battelle Press Columbus, OH 47–53

    Google Scholar 

  19. MD Lee B Borden MT Lieberman W Beckwith T Crotwell PE Haas (2001) Effective distribution of edible oils: Results from five field applications VS Magar DE Fennell JJ Morse BC Alleman A Leeson (Eds) Anaerobic degradation of chlorinated solvents Battelle Press Columbus, OH 249–256

    Google Scholar 

  20. DD Myrold JM Tiedje (1985) ArticleTitleEstablishment of denitrification capacity in soil: Effects of carbon, nitrate and moisture Soil Biol Biochem 17 819–822 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0038-0717(85)90140-3 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL28XltVym

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. RS Oremland MJ Herbel JS Blum S Langley TJ Beveridge PM Ajayan et al. (2004) ArticleTitleStructural and spectral features of selenium nanospheres produced by Se-respiring bacteria Appl Environ Microbiol 70 52–60 Occurrence Handle10.1128/AEM.70.1.52-60.2004 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXmvFajtA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle14711625

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. KJ Reddy MJ Blaylock GF Vance RB See (1995) Effects of redox potential on the speciation of selenium in ground water and coal-mine backfill materials, Wyoming GE Schuman GF Vance (Eds) Proceedings of the 12th Annual National Meeting of the American Society for Surface Mining and Reclamation American Society for Surface Mining and Reclamation Princeton, WV 230–236

    Google Scholar 

  23. WD Robertson JA Cherry (1995) ArticleTitleIn situ denitrification of septic-system nitrate using reactive porous media barriers: Field trials Ground Wat 33 99–111 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXjt1Cjs7Y%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. WD Robertson MR Anderson (1999) ArticleTitleNitrogen removal from landfill leachate using an infiltration bed coupled with a denitrification barrier Ground Wat Monit Remed 19 73–80 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXotVOltrk%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. L Schipper M Vojvodic-Vukovic (1998) ArticleTitleNitrate removal from groundwater using a denitrification wall amended with sawdust: Field trial J Environ Qual 27 664–668 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXjtlWitbs%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. BA Silverberg PTS Wong YK Chau (1976) ArticleTitleLocalization of selenium in bacterial cells using TEM and energy dispersive x-ray analysis Arch Microbiol 107 1–6 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00427860 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaE28Xhs1WgtLo%3D Occurrence Handle175749

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. DL Spark (Eds) (1996) Method of soil analysis, part III: Chemical methods. Soil Science Society of America Madison, WI pp 91–140

    Google Scholar 

  28. RC Squires GR Groves G Raymond WR Johnston (1989) ArticleTitleEconomics of selenium removal from drainage water J Irrigation Drainage Eng 115 48–57

    Google Scholar 

  29. RC Starr RW Gillham (1993) ArticleTitleDenitrification and organic carbon availability in two aquifers Ground Wat 31 934–947 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2cXisFalt7w%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. JF Stolze RS Oremland (1999) ArticleTitleBacterial respiration of arsenic and selenium FEMS Microbiol Rev 23 615–627 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0168-6445(99)00024-8 Occurrence Handle10525169

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. TK Tokunaga PT Zawislanski PW Johannis S Benson DS Lipton (1994) Field investigations of selenium speciation, transformation, and transport in soils from Kesterson Reservoir and Lahontan Valley WT Jr, Benson S Frankenberger (Eds) Selenium in the environment Marcel Dekke New York 119–138

    Google Scholar 

  32. USEPA (2003) Ground water and drinking water: List of drinking water contaminants and MCLs. http://www.epa.gov/safewater/mcl.html#inorganic (Confirmed June 17, 2003)

    Google Scholar 

  33. USEPA (2002) Consumer factsheet on: Selenium. http://www. epa.gov/safewater/dwh/c-ioc/selenium.html (Confirmed June 17, 2003)

    Google Scholar 

  34. KL Weier JW Doran JF Power DT Walters (1992) ArticleTitleTotal denitrification and the N2:N2O ratio as affected by soil water, available C and soil NO3−N Soil Sci Soc Am J 57 66–72

    Google Scholar 

  35. PT Zawislanski M Zavarin (1996) ArticleTitleNature and rates of selenium transformations: A laboratory study of Kesterson Reservoir soils Soil Sci Soc Am J 60 791–800 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK28XjtFanu7Y%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank Robin Montenieri and Ryan Vaughn for technical assistance. Reference to manufacturer or product brand name is made for the reader’s convenience and does not reflect endorsement by the US Department of Agriculture. This article was the work of US government employees engaged in their official duties and is exempt from copyright.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. USDA-ARS, NRRC, 2150-D Centre Avenue, Fort Collins, CO, 80526-8119, USA

    William J. Hunter

  2. USDA-ARS, BARC-W, Building 004, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA

    L. David Kuykendall

Authors
  1. William J. Hunter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. L. David Kuykendall
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to William J. Hunter.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hunter, W.J., Kuykendall, L.D. Removing Selenite from Groundwater with an In Situ Biobarrier: Laboratory Studies. Curr Microbiol 50, 145–150 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-004-4418-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-004-4418-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation