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Title: Co-transport of chlordecone and sulfadiazine in the presence of functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes in soils

Author
item ZHANG, MIAOYUE - Agrosphere Institute
item ENGELHARDT, IRINA - Agrosphere Institute
item SIMUNEK, JIRKA - University Of California
item Bradford, Scott
item KASEL, DANIELA - Dr Knoell Consult Gmbh
item BERNS, ANNE - Agrosphere Institute
item VEREECKEN, HARRY - Agrosphere Institute
item KLUMPP, ERWIN - Agrosphere Institute

Submitted to: Environmental Pollution
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/12/2016
Publication Date: 12/21/2016
Citation: Zhang, M., Engelhardt, I., Simunek, J., Bradford, S.A., Kasel, D., Berns, A.E., Vereecken, H., Klumpp, E. 2016. Co-transport of chlordecone and sulfadiazine in the presence of functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes in soils. Environmental Pollution. 221:470-479. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2016.12.018.

Interpretive Summary: Interpretative Summary: Surface properties of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) may potentially be exploited to remediate or immobilize various environmental contaminants. This study examines the potential of MWCNTs to remediate soils contaminated by a persistent pesticide (chlordecone, CLD) and to decrease the mobility of an antibiotic (sulfadiazine, SDZ). Mobile MWCNTs facilitated the recovery of sorbed CLD from contaminated soil. In contrast, retained MWCNTs enhanced the sorption of SDZ in soil. These results will be of interest to scientists and engineers concerned with managing the fate of contaminants in the soils and aquifers.

Technical Abstract: Batch and saturated soil column experiments were conducted to investigate sorption and mobility of two 14C-labeled contaminants, the hydrophobic chlordecone (CLD) and the readily water-soluble sulfadiazine (SDZ), in the absence or presence of functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The transport behaviors of CLD, SDZ, and MWCNTs were studied at environmentally relevant concentrations (0.1-10 mg L-1) and they were applied in the column studies at different times. The breakthrough curves and retention profiles were simulated using a numerical model that accounted for the advective-dispersive transport of all compounds, attachment/detachment of MWCNTs, equilibrium and kinetic sorption of contaminants, and co-transport of contaminants with MWCNTs. The experimental results indicated that the presence of mobile MWCNTs facilitated remobilization of previously deposited CLD and its co-transport into deeper soil layers, while retained MWCNTs enhanced SDZ deposition in the topsoil layers due to the increased adsorption capacity of the soil. The modeling results then demonstrated that the mobility of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) in the environment and the high affinity and entrapment of contaminants to ENPs were the main reasons for ENP-facilitated contaminant transport. On the other hand, immobile MWCNTs had a less significant impact on the contaminant transport, even though they were still able to enhance the adsorption capacity of the soil.