abstract: Zero-Valent Metals (ZVM) are highly reactive materials and have been proved to be effective in contaminant reduction in soils and groundwater remediation. In fact, zero-Valent Iron (ZVI) has proven to be very effective in removing, particularly chlorinated organics, heavy metals, and odorous sulfides. Addition of ZVI has also been proved in enhancing the methane gas generation in anaerobic digestion of activated sludge. However, no studies have been conducted regarding the effect of ZVM stimulation to Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) degradation. Therefore, a collaborative study was developed to manipulate microbial activity in the landfill bioreactors to favor methane production by adding ZVMs. This study focuses on evaluating the effects of added ZVM on the leachate generated from replicated lab scale landfill bioreactors. The specific objective was to investigate the effects of ZVMs addition on the organic and inorganic pollutants in leachate. The hypothesis here evaluated was that adding ZVM including ZVI and Zero Valent Manganese (ZVMn) will enhance the removal rates of the organic pollutants present in the leachate, likely by a putative higher rate of microbial metabolism. Test with six (4.23 gallons) bioreactors assembled with MSW collected from the Salt River Landfill and Southwest Regional Landfill showed that under 5 grams /liter of ZVI and 0.625 grams/liter of ZVMn additions, no significant difference was observed in the pH and temperature data of the leachate generated from these reactors. The conductivity data suggested the steady rise across all reactors over the period of time. The removal efficiency of sCOD was highest (27.112 mg/lit/day) for the reactors added with ZVMn at the end of 150 days for bottom layer, however the removal rate was highest (16.955 mg/lit/day) for ZVI after the end of 150 days of the middle layer. Similar trends in the results was observed in TC analysis. HPLC study indicated the dominance of the concentration of heptanoate and isovalerate were leachate generated from the bottom layer across all reactors. Heptanoate continued to dominate in the ZVMn added leachate even after middle layer injection. IC analysis concluded the chloride was dominant in the leachate generated from all the reactors and there was a steady increase in the chloride content over the period of time. Along with chloride, fluoride, bromide, nitrate, nitrite, phosphate and sulfate were also detected in considerable concentrations. In the summary, the addition of the zero valent metals has proved to be efficient in removal of the organics present in the leachate. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Environmental and Resource Management 2019

In this Thesis either advanced oxidation or reductive processes are investigated for the degradation of two pesticides considered persistent in the environment: amicarbazone (AMZ) and chlorpyrifos (CP). In chapter I, different advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) driven by sulfate (SO4o-) and hydroxyl radicals (oOH) were applied to the degradation of AMZ. In the first study, several persulfate (PS) activated reactions were explored for AMZ degradation, namely activation with UVA radiation, Fe(II) and H2O2, as well as the combination of UVA radiation with Fe(II), Fe(III) and Fe(III)-complexes. Here, the influence of different reaction variables, such as solution pH, reactants and pesticide initial concentrations, addition of a second oxidant (H2O2) and the addition of different iron catalysts were also investigated. Control experiments regarding the photolysis of iron species in the absence of PS captured our interest and, with the aim of exploring more deeply this process on AMZ degradation, a second investigation was carried out. In this second study, a Doehlert experimental design was applied to investigate the simultaneous effects of two variables on AMZ degradation: pH and Fe(III):carboxylate ratio, where the carboxylate could be oxalate, citrate or tartrate. A response surface model for the observed degradation rate (kobs) as a function of pH and Fe(III):carboxylate ratio was obtained. The processes explored in both aforementioned studies revealed to be effective for AMZ removal, although nothing is known yet about their effectiveness regarding toxicity removal. Given that, a third study was carried out, where the toxicity of AMZ solutions, before and after submission to the processes studied was evaluated towards five microorganisms: Vibrio fischeri (acute toxicity), Tetrahymena thermophile, Chlorella vulgaris (chronic toxicity), Escherichia coli and Bacilus subtilis (antimicrobial activity). The last investigation detailed in chapter I is related with the application of zero-valent-metals on PS activation, which is a subject that links this chapter with the following one. For that, zero-valent-iron (ZVI) was investigated as a PS activator and the influence of variables that help to assess the environmental applicability of this process. In general, organochlorine pesticides reveal a higher resistance to oxidation than reduction, the latter process preferred when the aim is to degrade that important class of contaminants. Therefore, in chapter II the reductive degradation of CP by means of zero-valent-metals and bimetallic particles was investigated. ZVI has been extensively applied for that purpose. However, besides iron, other zero-valent metals can be potential reactive materials for reductive degradation and hence, in this study, the effectiveness of Zn0 and Cu0 was also explored in comparison to that widely reported for ZVI. Furthermore, two different ways of enhancing metals reactivity were here explored: i) by coating ZVI or Zn0 with a more noble metal (Cu), in order to analyze the copper catalytic effect on the bimetallic system; ii) by different surface pretreatments. / Na presente Tese de Doutorado foram abordados tanto processos oxidativos avançados (POA), como processos redutivos por metais de valência zero, na degradação de dois pesticidas considerados persistentes no meio ambiente: amicarbazona (AMZ) e clorpirifós (CP). No capítulo I são apresentados os estudos realizados com diversos POA, mediados por radicais sulfato (SO4o-) e hidroxila (oOH), aplicados da AMZ. Num primeiro estudo foi explorada a ativação do oxidante persulfato (PS), de diferentes formas, tais como radiação UVA, H2O2 e Fe(II), assim como a combinação de radiação UVA com Fe(II), Fe(III) e complexos de Fe(III). Aqui também foram investigados os efeitos de diversas variáveis reacionais, tais como pH, concentração inicial de reagentes e de pesticida, adição de um segundo oxidante (H2O2) e adição de diferentes espécies de ferro. Os testes realizados, para efeito de controle, referentes à irradiação das espécies de Fe(III) na ausência de PS, despertaram o interesse para um estudo mais aprofundado sobre o efeito da fotólise destas espécies na degradação da AMZ, surgindo assim o segundo trabalho. Neste utilizou-se um projeto experimental de Doehlert, para avaliar o efeito de duas variáveis em simultâneo quanto à degradação da AMZ: pH e proporção Fe(III): ligante, sendo o ligante um dos seguintes carboxilatos: oxalato, citrato ou tartarato. Um modelo de superfície de resposta, que correlaciona a taxa de degradação observada (kobs) em função do pH e proporção Fe(III):ligante foi obtido para cada um dos complexos de Fe(III) estudados. Os processos explorados, tanto no primeiro como no segundo estudo, se mostraram eficazes na remoção da AMZ, porém nada se sabe acerca da remoção da toxicidade. Para tal, foi desenvolvido um terceiro estudo dedicado à avaliação da toxicidade da solução de AMZ, antes e após a aplicação de cada um dos processos anteriormente abordados, contra cinco micro-organismos: Vibrio fischeri (toxicidade aguda); Tetrahymena thermophila, Chlorella vulgaris (toxicidade crônica); Escherichia coli e Bacilus subtilis (atividade antimicrobiana). O último estudo abordado no capitulo I é referente à aplicação de metais de valência zero também nos POA, correlacionado assim o capítulo I e o capítulo II. Como tal, foi feito um estudo de ativação de PS por meio de ferro de valência zero (Fe0), em que se investigou a influência de diversas variáveis por forma a inferir sobre a aplicabilidade prática deste processo. Pesticidas organoclorados apresentam maior resistência à degradação por processos oxidativos do que redutivos, sendo preferível o último na degradação desta importante classe de contaminantes. Como tal, o capítulo II se refere à degradação redutiva, por meio de diferentes metais de valência zero e partículas bimetálicas, do pesticida organoclorado CP. Além do amplamente explorado Fe0, outros metais podem ser aplicados neste processo, pelo que, neste estudo, explorou-se a potencialidade de Zn0 e Cu0 comparativamente ao primeiro. Ainda neste estudo foram investigadas duas formas de aumentar a reatividade dos metais: i) no caso do Fe0 e Zn0, revestindo com um metal mais nobre (Cu), por forma a observar o efeito catalisador do último no sistema bimetálico; ii) realizando um pré-tratamento à superfície dos metais.

In this Thesis either advanced oxidation or reductive processes are investigated for the degradation of two pesticides considered persistent in the environment: amicarbazone (AMZ) and chlorpyrifos (CP). In chapter I, different advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) driven by sulfate (SO4o-) and hydroxyl radicals (oOH) were applied to the degradation of AMZ. In the first study, several persulfate (PS) activated reactions were explored for AMZ degradation, namely activation with UVA radiation, Fe(II) and H2O2, as well as the combination of UVA radiation with Fe(II), Fe(III) and Fe(III)-complexes. Here, the influence of different reaction variables, such as solution pH, reactants and pesticide initial concentrations, addition of a second oxidant (H2O2) and the addition of different iron catalysts were also investigated. Control experiments regarding the photolysis of iron species in the absence of PS captured our interest and, with the aim of exploring more deeply this process on AMZ degradation, a second investigation was carried out. In this second study, a Doehlert experimental design was applied to investigate the simultaneous effects of two variables on AMZ degradation: pH and Fe(III):carboxylate ratio, where the carboxylate could be oxalate, citrate or tartrate. A response surface model for the observed degradation rate (kobs) as a function of pH and Fe(III):carboxylate ratio was obtained. The processes explored in both aforementioned studies revealed to be effective for AMZ removal, although nothing is known yet about their effectiveness regarding toxicity removal. Given that, a third study was carried out, where the toxicity of AMZ solutions, before and after submission to the processes studied was evaluated towards five microorganisms: Vibrio fischeri (acute toxicity), Tetrahymena thermophile, Chlorella vulgaris (chronic toxicity), Escherichia coli and Bacilus subtilis (antimicrobial activity). The last investigation detailed in chapter I is related with the application of zero-valent-metals on PS activation, which is a subject that links this chapter with the following one. For that, zero-valent-iron (ZVI) was investigated as a PS activator and the influence of variables that help to assess the environmental applicability of this process. In general, organochlorine pesticides reveal a higher resistance to oxidation than reduction, the latter process preferred when the aim is to degrade that important class of contaminants. Therefore, in chapter II the reductive degradation of CP by means of zero-valent-metals and bimetallic particles was investigated. ZVI has been extensively applied for that purpose. However, besides iron, other zero-valent metals can be potential reactive materials for reductive degradation and hence, in this study, the effectiveness of Zn0 and Cu0 was also explored in comparison to that widely reported for ZVI. Furthermore, two different ways of enhancing metals reactivity were here explored: i) by coating ZVI or Zn0 with a more noble metal (Cu), in order to analyze the copper catalytic effect on the bimetallic system; ii) by different surface pretreatments. / Na presente Tese de Doutorado foram abordados tanto processos oxidativos avançados (POA), como processos redutivos por metais de valência zero, na degradação de dois pesticidas considerados persistentes no meio ambiente: amicarbazona (AMZ) e clorpirifós (CP). No capítulo I são apresentados os estudos realizados com diversos POA, mediados por radicais sulfato (SO4o-) e hidroxila (oOH), aplicados da AMZ. Num primeiro estudo foi explorada a ativação do oxidante persulfato (PS), de diferentes formas, tais como radiação UVA, H2O2 e Fe(II), assim como a combinação de radiação UVA com Fe(II), Fe(III) e complexos de Fe(III). Aqui também foram investigados os efeitos de diversas variáveis reacionais, tais como pH, concentração inicial de reagentes e de pesticida, adição de um segundo oxidante (H2O2) e adição de diferentes espécies de ferro. Os testes realizados, para efeito de controle, referentes à irradiação das espécies de Fe(III) na ausência de PS, despertaram o interesse para um estudo mais aprofundado sobre o efeito da fotólise destas espécies na degradação da AMZ, surgindo assim o segundo trabalho. Neste utilizou-se um projeto experimental de Doehlert, para avaliar o efeito de duas variáveis em simultâneo quanto à degradação da AMZ: pH e proporção Fe(III): ligante, sendo o ligante um dos seguintes carboxilatos: oxalato, citrato ou tartarato. Um modelo de superfície de resposta, que correlaciona a taxa de degradação observada (kobs) em função do pH e proporção Fe(III):ligante foi obtido para cada um dos complexos de Fe(III) estudados. Os processos explorados, tanto no primeiro como no segundo estudo, se mostraram eficazes na remoção da AMZ, porém nada se sabe acerca da remoção da toxicidade. Para tal, foi desenvolvido um terceiro estudo dedicado à avaliação da toxicidade da solução de AMZ, antes e após a aplicação de cada um dos processos anteriormente abordados, contra cinco micro-organismos: Vibrio fischeri (toxicidade aguda); Tetrahymena thermophila, Chlorella vulgaris (toxicidade crônica); Escherichia coli e Bacilus subtilis (atividade antimicrobiana). O último estudo abordado no capitulo I é referente à aplicação de metais de valência zero também nos POA, correlacionado assim o capítulo I e o capítulo II. Como tal, foi feito um estudo de ativação de PS por meio de ferro de valência zero (Fe0), em que se investigou a influência de diversas variáveis por forma a inferir sobre a aplicabilidade prática deste processo. Pesticidas organoclorados apresentam maior resistência à degradação por processos oxidativos do que redutivos, sendo preferível o último na degradação desta importante classe de contaminantes. Como tal, o capítulo II se refere à degradação redutiva, por meio de diferentes metais de valência zero e partículas bimetálicas, do pesticida organoclorado CP. Além do amplamente explorado Fe0, outros metais podem ser aplicados neste processo, pelo que, neste estudo, explorou-se a potencialidade de Zn0 e Cu0 comparativamente ao primeiro. Ainda neste estudo foram investigadas duas formas de aumentar a reatividade dos metais: i) no caso do Fe0 e Zn0, revestindo com um metal mais nobre (Cu), por forma a observar o efeito catalisador do último no sistema bimetálico; ii) realizando um pré-tratamento à superfície dos metais.

The Department of Defense (DoD) has numerous sites that contain groundwater contaminated with 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT). The currently applied technologies for treating TNT contaminated waters are carbon adsorption and chemical oxidation. Carbon adsorption is a non-destructive technology, which could create future liability issues and is inefficient at relatively low TNT concentrations. On the other hand, application of chemical oxidation for the treatment of TNT contaminated water generates trinitrobenzene (TNB), a by-product of the incomplete oxidation of TNT. TNB is regulated as strictly as TNT. Additionally, over 70% of the reactor required treatment time for meeting target levels is due solely for TNB removal. This study evaluated the potential integration of zero-valent metallic species and advanced oxidation for the treatment of waters contaminated with TNT. The idea was to reduce treatment time, and thus, operational costs, when advanced oxidation is used as a stand-alone treatment technology by reducing TNT prior to oxidation. The use of zero-valent metals as the first treatment step transformed TNT into reduced organic compounds which were easily oxidized. The effectiveness of zinc, iron, nickel, copper, and tin as TNT reducing agents was evaluated. Zinc and iron were selected for further study based on their performance degrading TNT. Then, the reduction mechanism (pathway) and associated by-products of TNT reduction using zinc were examined using a zinc specimen manufactured by Sigma Corporation. Three amines were identified during reduction : 2-amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene, 4-amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene, and 2,4-diamino-toluene. Other intermediates were observed but not identified. Many of these reduction by-products adsorbed strongly onto the metal surface, significantly reducing the rate of TNT degradation during aging experiments. The aging of the metallic species was modeled using a power decay law parameter with the rate expression for TNT degradation. Corrosion promoters such as KCl addition, ozonation, and peroxone were evaluated as alternatives to reactivate zinc and iron to achieve steady TNT degradation. The addition of KCl performed significantly better than ozonation and peroxone. Furthermore, addition of KCl during the reduction step using iron or zinc generated organics that were successfully mineralized by ozonation or peroxone.