Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026
08:49
Vegetated Treatment Systems for Removing Contaminants Associated with Surface Water Toxicity in Agriculture and Urban Runoff
Published on: May 15, 2017
Removing selenate from groundwater with a vegetable oil-based biobarrier
1USDA-ARS, 2150-D Centre Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80526-8119, USA. William.Hunter@ars.usda.gov
Current Microbiology
|July 21, 2006
Summary
Vegetable oil-based permeable reactive biobarriers (PRBs) effectively removed selenate from groundwater. These soybean oil-enhanced PRBs also removed co-contaminant nitrate, showing promise for in situ remediation.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Geochemistry
- Water Treatment
Background:
- Groundwater contamination by selenate poses environmental risks.
- Permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) are a potential in situ remediation technology.
- Vegetable oil-based PRBs offer a sustainable approach to contaminant removal.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of soybean oil-coated sand PRBs for selenate removal from groundwater.
- To assess the performance of these PRBs in the presence of nitrate co-contaminants.
Main Methods:
- Laboratory-scale soil columns packed with soybean oil-coated sand were used.
- Simulated groundwater with selenate and/or nitrate was supplied to the columns.
- Effluent water was monitored for selenate, selenite, and nitrate concentrations.
Main Results:
- Two of three columns effectively removed selenate, immobilizing 95% as selenium.
- Soybean oil PRBs efficiently removed nitrate, reducing it to <0.03 μg/mL.
- Selenate removal occurred at a slower rate than nitrate, with 95% removal in the final weeks.
Conclusions:
- Soybean oil-based PRBs are effective for selenate remediation.
- These PRBs can simultaneously remove selenate and nitrate from contaminated groundwater.
- In situ application of soybean oil PRBs is a viable remediation strategy.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons
Bioremediation is an environmentally sustainable process that employs living organisms—primarily microorganisms—to degrade or neutralize pollutants from contaminated environments. In oil spills and hydrocarbon pollution, bioremediation involves the use of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria to transform toxic compounds into less harmful substances. This approach leverages natural microbial metabolic processes and is considered both cost-effective and ecologically favorable compared to physical or...
00:46Bioremediation
Bioremediation is the use of prokaryotes, fungi, or plants to remove pollutants from the environment. This process has been used to remove harmful toxins in groundwater as a byproduct of agricultural run-off and also to clean up oil spills.
01:28Microbial Bioremediation of Pesticides
Pesticides often feature structurally complex chemical architectures, incorporating halogen groups and multiple aromatic rings. These characteristics confer high chemical stability, rendering many pesticides resistant to natural degradation processes. This resistance poses significant environmental concerns, as persistent pesticide residues can accumulate in ecosystems and affect non-target organisms.Despite the inherent stability of many pesticides, certain microorganisms possess the metabolic...
01:18Surface Membrane Barriers
The skin and mucous membranes serve as the primary line of defense against pathogens by providing both physical and chemical protection. These barriers are essential in preventing the entry and establishment of microbes, thereby maintaining the integrity of the host.
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...
01:25Microbial Bioremediation of Uranium
Microorganisms play a critical role in the transformation and immobilization of uranium in contaminated environments through four main pathways: bioreduction, biosorption, bioaccumulation, and biomineralization. These mechanisms reduce uranium’s toxicity and prevent its migration through groundwater systems, offering sustainable approaches for in situ bioremediation.Bioreduction of UraniumBioreduction is driven by anaerobic bacteria such as certain strains of Geobacter and Shewanella, which use...
01:25Biofuels
The microbial conversion of organic matter into biofuels holds potential as a renewable energy source. Among biofuel sources, microalgae are recognized as a highly efficient and adaptable feedstock for biodiesel production, owing to their rapid biomass accumulation, elevated lipid productivity, and capacity to proliferate in diverse aquatic systems, including freshwater, marine, and wastewater habitats. Unlike terrestrial crops, microalgae do not compete for land and can achieve significantly...