This experiment used a modified zeolite and biofilm system to find a long-term effective way of repairing sediment. Four types of modified zeolites[AlCl3, Al(NO3)3, Al2(SO4)3, and KAl(SO4)2] and a biofilm system were investigated for the removal of ammonia nitrogen from overlaying water. The results showed that, of the modified zeolites, AlCl3 had the greatest effect on the zeolite and biofilm system, and the optimal modified concentration was 0.8 mol·L-1. The persistence was further studied after adding OHHL, including the inhibition of ammonium released from contaminated sediment by the AlCl3-modified zeolite and biofilm system, NaCl-modified zeolite and biofilm system, and natural zeolite and biofilm system. The results illuminated that the number of bacteria attached to the AlCl3-modified zeolite and biofilm system was the highest, and the proportion of denitrifying bacteria was also high (the initial proportion was 82.1%; 30 days later it was 61.1%). Therefore, the biological regeneration was high (64.9%), which caused the zeolite service life to be up to 8.5 months. Thus, ammonium released from contaminated sediment can be inhibited effectively and continuously by an AlCl3-modified zeolite and biofilm system.
Keywords: in-suit regeneration; modified zeolite and biofilm system; reparation of contaminated sediments; service life; signaling molecules.