Chapter 20
Nano-Bioremediation: Nanoscale
Zero-Valent Iron for Inorganic and Organic
Contamination
Jaroslav Semerád, Martin Pivokonský, and Tomáš Cajthaml
Abstract The present chapter is describing two pilot-scale experiments and showing the potential of the combined technology (i.e., nanoremediation and bioremediation) for in situ heavy metal removal and dechlorination of chlorinated solvents.
Successful applications of the nano-bioremediation approach at two different sites in
the Czech Republic contaminated with hexavalent chromium are summarized and
evaluated in this chapter. High effectivity of nZVI and the further microbial
bioaugmentation step by whey addition resulted in reduction and geofixation of
hexavalent chromium in both localities. In addition, a high removal of chlorinated
ethenes was observed in the locality 2 after the whey application. The successive
abiotic and biotic processes involving the chemical reduction and further microbial
bioreduction of chromium and dechlorination of chlorinated ethenes were evaluated
by monitoring of physicochemical and biological parameters. The results of both
applications of the combined remediation technology clearly prove feasibility and
high efficiency of this approach for chromium and chlorinated ethenes removal.
Keywords Nano-bioremediation · Bioreduction · Geofixation · Ecotoxicity ·
Hexavalent chromium
20.1 Introduction—Two Field Studies
Since zero-valent iron nanoparticles have been invented, the number of published
laboratory studies has reached several hundreds. The outcomes of these studies have
proved the effectiveness of the above-mentioned nanoparticles and their composites
for degradation and elimination of organic and inorganic contamination. In the light
J. Semerád (*) · T. Cajthaml
Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
Institute for Environmental Studies, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech
Republic
e-mail: jaroslav.semerad@biomed.cas.cz
M. Pivokonský
Institute of Hydrodynamics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
J. Filip et al. (eds.), Advanced Nano-Bio Technologies for Water and Soil Treatment,
Applied Environmental Science and Engineering for a Sustainable Future,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29840-1_20
425
Nano-Bioremediation: Nanoscale
Zero-Valent Iron for Inorganic and Organic
Contamination
Jaroslav Semerád, Martin Pivokonský, and Tomáš Cajthaml
Abstract The present chapter is describing two pilot-scale experiments and showing the potential of the combined technology (i.e., nanoremediation and bioremediation) for in situ heavy metal removal and dechlorination of chlorinated solvents.
Successful applications of the nano-bioremediation approach at two different sites in
the Czech Republic contaminated with hexavalent chromium are summarized and
evaluated in this chapter. High effectivity of nZVI and the further microbial
bioaugmentation step by whey addition resulted in reduction and geofixation of
hexavalent chromium in both localities. In addition, a high removal of chlorinated
ethenes was observed in the locality 2 after the whey application. The successive
abiotic and biotic processes involving the chemical reduction and further microbial
bioreduction of chromium and dechlorination of chlorinated ethenes were evaluated
by monitoring of physicochemical and biological parameters. The results of both
applications of the combined remediation technology clearly prove feasibility and
high efficiency of this approach for chromium and chlorinated ethenes removal.
Keywords Nano-bioremediation · Bioreduction · Geofixation · Ecotoxicity ·
Hexavalent chromium
20.1 Introduction—Two Field Studies
Since zero-valent iron nanoparticles have been invented, the number of published
laboratory studies has reached several hundreds. The outcomes of these studies have
proved the effectiveness of the above-mentioned nanoparticles and their composites
for degradation and elimination of organic and inorganic contamination. In the light
J. Semerád (*) · T. Cajthaml
Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
Institute for Environmental Studies, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech
Republic
e-mail: jaroslav.semerad@biomed.cas.cz
M. Pivokonský
Institute of Hydrodynamics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
J. Filip et al. (eds.), Advanced Nano-Bio Technologies for Water and Soil Treatment,
Applied Environmental Science and Engineering for a Sustainable Future,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29840-1_20
425