Bio-electro-remediation: electrokinetic transport of nitrate in a flow-through system for enhanced toluene biodegradation

The availability of electron acceptors and nutrients is often limiting the microbiological clean-up of polluted groundwater at contaminated sites. In this study, the feasibility of electrokinetic processes to improve mass transfer was demonstrated in a model system simulating laminar groundwater flow conditions. Electrokinetic nitrate transport and enhanced biodegradation of toluene under denitrifying conditions was studied as function of voltage gradient in a new flow-through system. The study was done in a three-dimensional anaerobic model aquifer system filled with coarse sand. The influent area was divided into seven chambers thus enabling a separate addition of toluene and nitrate. Mesh electrodes were inserted laterally in order to form an electric field perpendicular to the flow direction with voltage gradients of 0, 0.125 and 0.25 V cm⁻¹, respectively. Biodegradation was studied after inoculation with a denitrifying microbial mixed culture. Application of the electric field resulted in nitrate migration into areas containing toluene. In the presence of denitrifying bacteria, the availability of nitrate in toluene polluted areas resulted in toluene biodegradation, demonstrated by nitrite formation and decreased toluene concentration.