The addition of carbonaceous sorbents such as biochar or activated carbon to soils and sediments polluted with xenobiotic organic chemicals is an innovative remediation approach. However, effects of sorbent amendments on the pollutant transformation by microorganisms are still poorly understood. Interactions between the pollutant sorption and biodegradation processes can be both synergistic and antagonistic. Hence, it is important to be able to simulate these interactions and consider them for the development of effective remediation designs. A modelling framework will be presented for simulating biochar and activated carbon amendment effects on the transformation of different organic pollutants in saturated or unsaturated porous media. A distinction will be made between organic pollutants which serve as growth substrates for microorganisms, and organic pollutants which serve as electron acceptors in microbially facilitated redox reactions. Experimental data will be presented from column and batch experiments investigating the biochar and activated carbon amendment effects. This will include a characterisation of biochar and activated carbon amendment effects on the composition and functioning of microbial communities. Purposefully designed biochar and activated carbon amendments may add robustness to the pollution attenuation in porous media and may thus provide innovative solutions in soil and sediment remediation and stormwater management applications.

Modelling pollutant transformations in biochar or activated carbon amended soils and sediments

256th National Meeting (2018)

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