Details zur Publikation

Kategorie Textpublikation
Referenztyp Zeitschriften
DOI 10.1016/j.jece.2022.107799
Lizenz creative commons licence
Titel (primär) Syntrophy drives the microbial electrochemical oxidation of toluene in a continuous-flow “bioelectric well”
Autor Tucci, M.; Milani, A.; Resitano, M.; Cruz Viggi, C.; Giampaoli, O.; Miccheli, A.; Crognale, S.; Matturro, B.; Rossetti, S.; Harnisch, F. ORCID logo ; Aulenta, F.
Quelle Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering
Erscheinungsjahr 2022
Department UMB
Band/Volume 10
Heft 3
Seite von art. 107799
Sprache englisch
Topic T7 Bioeconomy
Supplements https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S2213343722006728-mmc1.docx
Keywords Microbial electrochemical technologies; Groundwater remediation; Bioremediation; Toluene; Petroleum hydrocarbons
Abstract Microbial electrochemical technologies (MET) are promising for the remediation of groundwater pollutants such as petroleum hydrocarbons (PH). Indeed, MET can provide virtually inexhaustible electron donors or acceptors directly in the subsurface environment. However, the degradation mechanisms linking contaminants removal to electric current flow are still largely unknown, hindering the development of robust design criteria.
Here, we analysed the degradation of toluene, a model PH, in a bioelectrochemical reactor known as “bioelectric well” operated in continuous-flow mode at various influent toluene concentrations. With increasing concentration of toluene, the removal rate increased while the current tended to a plateau, hence the columbic efficiency decreased. Operation at open circuit confirmed that the bioelectrochemical degradation of toluene proceeded via a syntrophic pathway involving cooperation between different microbial populations. First of all, hydrocarbon degraders quickly converted toluene into metabolic intermediates probably by breaking the aromatic ring upon fumarate addition. Subsequently, fermentative bacteria converted these intermediates into volatile fatty acids (VFA) and likely also H2, which were then used as substrates by electroactive microorganisms forming the anodic biofilm. As toluene degradation is faster than subsequent conversion steps, the increase in intermediate concentration could not result in a current increase.
This work provides valuable insights on the syntrophic degradation of BTEX, which are essential for the application of microbial electrochemical system to groundwater remediation of petroleum hydrocarbons.
dauerhafte UFZ-Verlinkung https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=26083
Tucci, M., Milani, A., Resitano, M., Cruz Viggi, C., Giampaoli, O., Miccheli, A., Crognale, S., Matturro, B., Rossetti, S., Harnisch, F., Aulenta, F. (2022):
Syntrophy drives the microbial electrochemical oxidation of toluene in a continuous-flow “bioelectric well”
J. Environ. Chem. Eng. 10 (3), art. 107799 10.1016/j.jece.2022.107799