The present study explored bacterial aerobic biodegradation of reduced carbon-contaminants (RCC) in a pilot system mimicking remediation of a saturated aquifer in a permeable reactive biobarrier (PRBB). Bioaugmentation was performed with a pure culture of Pseudomonas putida macro-encapsulated in a cellulose-acetate porous envelope and integrated transversely to the flow trajectory of the fluid in the biobarrier and compared with controls without capsules. The macro-encapsulation technique applied allowed the incorporation of a built-in nutrient core for the slow release of macronutrients, i.e. N, P, instead of exogenous nutrients supply. 3-Chlorophenol (3CP) at a concentration range of 350-500 mg/L was chosen as an RCC model compound. The findings indicate efficient 3CP biodegradation during the PRBB operation with a similar degree of transformation (76 ± 2% and 72 ± 2%) and mineralization (55 ± 4% vs. 49 ± 3%) for exogenous and built-in nutrients supply, respectively. The extent of dechlorination in both cases (54 ± 10% vs. 40 ± 2%, respectively) followed mineralization rather than transformation, suggesting that Cl- release took place in late transformation stages. Negligible decontamination was observed in the control system without bioaugmentation. Concluding, tailored PRBB with macro-capsules incorporating a built-in nutrient core to support bacterial growth presents a significant environmental advantage controlling excess nutrients release required in bioremediation of oligotrophic systems.
Keywords: Permeable reactive biobarrriers; bioaugmentation; exogenous nutrients contamination; groundwater remediation; macro-encapsulation.