Full-Scale Application of Activated Carbon to Reduce Pollutant Bioavailability in a 5-Acre Lake
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 146, Issue 5
Abstract
The first full-scale remediation project in North America to use the direct placement of activated carbon (AC) into sediments was completed in 2013 in a 2-ha lake on the St. Jones River in Dover, Delaware. The sediment cleanup remedy at this site aims to enhance the sorption capacity of native sediments in the lake to reduce the exposure of bioaccumulative pollutants that currently contribute to fish consumption advisories in the lake. In November 2013, approximately 36 t of AC was applied to the lake over a 2-week period. Posttreatment sampling indicated an average AC concentration of 4.3% by dry weight in surface sediments. The primary monitoring was performed immediately prior to AC application and 1 and 3 years following application. Sediment porewater and surface water measurement using passive samplers showed reductions of 60%–80% of total freely dissolved polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and both were reduced to below the Delaware Human Health Water Quality Criteria. Fish tissue analysis of resident fish samples collected before and 3–5 years after treatment showed reductions of approximately 70% on a lipid-normalized basis and agree with modeled predictions. In contrast, two migratory species caught in the lake showed limited changes in PCB concentrations, likely reflecting greater regional exposure while these fish migrated beyond the lake. Overall, the project demonstrates AC amendment as a viable and effective sediment remediation technology.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code generated or used during the study are available from the corresponding author by request (data presented in manuscript and supplemental figures and food chain model inputs and calculations).
Acknowledgments
Funding for this study was provided by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and the National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences Superfund Research Program.
Conflict of Interest Statement
Upal Ghosh is a co-inventor of two patents related to the technology described in this paper for which he is entitled to receive royalties. One invention was issued to Stanford University (US Patent No. 7,101,115 B2) and the other to UMBC (US Patent No. 7,824,129). In addition, Ghosh is a partner in a startup company (Sediment Solutions) that has licensed the technology from Stanford and UMBC and is transitioning the technology in the field.
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Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 146 • Issue 5 • May 2020
Copyright
©2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 24, 2019
Accepted: Aug 26, 2019
Published online: Feb 20, 2020
Published in print: May 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Jul 20, 2020
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