Manganese and cobalt metals interrelations with ammonium performance in soil aquifer treatment

Abstract

This study aimed to discover and explore the impacts and interactions of applying Mn2+ and Co2+ metals in NH4 removal performance under nitrification conditions through soil aquifer treatment. A laboratory scale column was used to simulate the soil aquifer treatment system using quartz sand as packed media to infiltrate the synthetic wastewater mixture from 35 mg/L of NH4, 60 mg/L Mn2+ and 40 mg/L of Co2+ concentrations. The experimental and linear regression model results demonstrate a significant relationship between NH3-N concentration with Mn2+ and Co2+ concentration with a p-value < 0.05, indicating a substantial influence of Mn2+ and Co2+ presence on ammonium bioremediation. Co2+ has a negative correlation interaction with NH3-N, which means Co2+ has increased ammonium oxidation by stimulating the degradation bacteria and cell growth to supplement and improve the activity of ammonium degradation bacteria. However, applying a high concentration of Mn2+ works as an inhibitor for NH3-N bioremediation. Using a high concentration of Mn2+ negatively impacts bacteria, causing a toxic effect and decreasing the bacteria's degradability for ammonium.