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http://dx.doi.org/10.7857/JSGE.2021.26.2.017

Removal of Nitrate in Groundwater Using Passive Treatment Systems: Evaluation of Removal Efficiency Through a Long-Term Column Experiment  

Ko, Hye Na (School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Seoul National University)
Kang, Jiyoung (Department of Environment and Energy, Jeonbuk National University)
Jeen, Sung-Wook (Department of Environment and Energy, Jeonbuk National University)
Publication Information
Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment / v.26, no.2, 2021 , pp. 17-27 More about this Journal
Abstract
Nitrate in groundwater can be transported to surface water, which can exacerbate eutrophication of surface water. Therefore, it is necessary to treat nitrate not only in surface water but also in groundwater. In this study, we evaluated the long-term efficiency of passive treatment systems, such as permeable reactive barriers (PRBs), for nitrate removal. A laboratory column experiment using wood chips as a reactive material for bacterial denitrification was conducted for about 5 years, and the rate of nitrate removal over time was evaluated. The results showed that initially the average removal rate of 0.86 mmol L-1 day-1 (±0.18 mmol L-1 day-1) was maintained for the first 6 months. The removal rate gradually decreased over time, probably due to the consumption of carbon source in the column. However, even after 5 years, the removal rate was comparable to those of previous studies, with the average rate of 0.41 mmol L-1 day-1 (±0.12 mmol L-1 day-1) for the remainder of the experimental period. This study shows that a passive treatment system using wood chips can be effectively operated for a long time to remove nitrate in groundwater.
Keywords
Nitrate; Permeable reactive barrier; Denitrification; Carbon source; Removal rate;
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