Electromigration of microbial electron acceptors and nutrients: (II) transport in groundwater.

Bioremediation in contaminated aquifers is often limited by the availability of microbial electron acceptors and nutrients. In this study, electromigration of the electron acceptor nitrate was assessed in sandy model soil mixed with groundwater from a contaminated site, and compared with previous results obtained in soil mixed with demineralized water. The specific nitrate transport rate in soil with groundwater at a voltage gradient of 2 V/cm and 0.5 g/L nitrate was 1.64 cm/h, and proved to be higher than in demineralized water (1.13 cm/h). The application of electrokinetic transport is a promising approach to enhance mass transfer in groundwater systems.