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Effects on inorganic nitrogen compounds release of contaminated sediment treatment with in situ calcium nitrate injection

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Abstract

Notable releases of nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia are often observed in contaminated sediment treatment works implementing in situ calcium nitrate injection. In order to provide extended information for making best decision of employing this in situ sediment remediation technology, in this study the releases of nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia from the sediment after the calcium nitrate addition operation was investigated in column setups designed to simulate the scenarios of a stagnant water (e.g., a pound or small lake) and a tidal-influenced water (e.g., a river mouth), respectively. Comparison with published aquatic toxicity data or authorized criteria was conducted to assess if there is any toxic effect that might be induced. Along with the vigorous N2 emission due to the denitrification reactions which occurred in the treated sediment, external loaded nitrate, intermediately produced nitrite, and indigenous ammonia in the sediment showed being mobilized and released out. Their promoted release and fast buildup in the overlying water to an excessive level probably cause toxic effects to sensitive freshwater living species. Among them, the potential ecological risk induced by the promoted sediment ammonia release is the greatest, and cautions shall be raised for applying the calcium nitrate injection in ammonia-rich sediments. The caused impacts shall be less violent in a tidal-influenced water body, and comparatively, the continuous and fast accumulation of the released inorganic nitrogen compounds in a stagnant water body might impose severer influences to the ecosystem until being further transferred to less harmful forms.

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Acknowledgments

Acknowledgment attributed to research projects supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51208145) and Shenzhen Overseas Talents Innovation and Entrepreneurship Special Fund (Grant No. KQCX20120802102417034).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Water Resource Utilization and Environmental Pollution Control, Shenzhen, 518055, People’s Republic of China

    Tongzhou Liu, Jiajia Yuan, Wenyi Dong & Hongjie Wang

  2. China Water Resources Pearl River Planning, Surveying and Designing Co. Ltd, Shenzhen, People’s Republic of China

    Huacai Wu

Authors
  1. Tongzhou Liu
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  2. Jiajia Yuan
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  3. Wenyi Dong
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  4. Huacai Wu
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  5. Hongjie Wang
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Correspondence to Hongjie Wang.

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Responsible editor: Zhihong Xu

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Liu, T., Yuan, J., Dong, W. et al. Effects on inorganic nitrogen compounds release of contaminated sediment treatment with in situ calcium nitrate injection. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 1250–1260 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3421-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3421-7

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