Evaluation of the Bioelectrochemical Approach and Different Electron Donors for Biological Trichloroethylene Reductive Dichlorination

Trichloroethylene (TCE) and more in general chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons (CAHs) can be removed from a contaminated matrix thanks to microorganisms able to perform the reductive dechlorination reaction (RD). Due to the lack of electron donors in the contaminated matrix, CAHs’ reductive dechlorination can be stimulated by fermentable organic substrates, which slowly release molecular hydrogen through their fermentation. In this paper, three different electron donors constituted by lactate, hydrogen, and a biocathode of a bioelectrochemical cell have been studied in TCE dechlorination batch experiments. The batch reactors evaluated in terms of reductive dechlorination rate and utilization efficiency of the electron donor reported that the bio-electrochemical system (BES) showed a lower RD rate with respect of lactate reactor (51 ± 9 µeq/d compared to 98 ± 4 µeq/d), while the direct utilization of molecular hydrogen gave a significantly lower RD rate (19 ± 8 µeq/d), due to hydrogen low solubility in liquid media. The study also gives a comparative evaluation of the different electron donors showing the capability of the bioelectrochemical system to reach comparable efficiencies with a fermentable substrate without the use of other chemicals, 10.7 ± 3.3% for BES with respect of 3.5 ± 0.2% for the lactate-fed batch reactor. This study shows the BES capability of being an alternative at classic remediation approaches.

Conceptual Exchanges for Understanding Free-Living and Host-Associated Microbiomes

Whether a microbe is free-living or associated with a host from across the tree of life, its existence depends on a limited number of elements and electron donors and acceptors. Yet divergent approaches have been used by investigators from different fields.

Biotic and Abiotic Biostimulation for the Reduction of Hexavalent Chromium in Contaminated Aquifers

Hexavalent chromium is a carcinogenic heavy metal that needs to be removed effectively from polluted aquifers in order to protect public health and the environment. This work aims to evaluate the reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) in a contaminated aquifer through the stimulation of indigenous microbial communities with the addition of reductive agents. Soil-column experiments were conducted in the absence of oxygen and at hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) groundwater concentrations in the 1000–2000 μg/L range. Two carbon sources (molasses and EVO) and one iron electron donor (FeSO4·7H2O) were used as ways to stimulate the metabolism and proliferation of Cr(VI) reducing bacteria in-situ. The obtained results indicate that microbial anaerobic respiration and electron transfer can be fundamental to alleviate polluted groundwater from hazardous Cr(VI). The addition of organic electron donors increased significantly Cr(VI) reduction rates in comparison to natural soil attenuation rates. Furthermore, a combination of organic carbon and iron electron donors led to a longer life span of the remediation process and thus increased total Cr(VI) removal. This is the first study to investigate biotic and abiotic Cr(VI) removal by conducting experiments with natural soil and by applying biostimulation to modify the natural existing microbial communities.

Isolation of A Molybdenum-reducing Bacillus sp. strain Zeid 15 and Modeling of its Growth on Amides

More and more people are looking at bioremediation as a cheaper option to physhiochemical techniques for cleaning up pollution from farming, mines, and other chemical industries. Toxic effects of molybdenum on spermatogenesis harm not only humans but also livestock and aquatic life. As a result, efforts are being made to remove it from the ecosystem. A microorganism that can convert soluble molybdenum into colloidal molybdenum blue has been discovered. Phosphate concentrations were optimum between 2.5 and 5, molybdate concentrations between 15 and 20, pH between 6, and temperature between 25 and 34 degrees Celsius for the bacteria to thrive. Absorption spectrum of Mo-blue shows a peak at 865 nm and a shoulder at 700 nm, which indicates that it is in fact reduced phosphomolybdate. Copper, mercury, silver, copper, and chromium are all hazardous heavy metals that hinder the synthesis of Mo-blue. Bacillus sp. strain Zeid 15 is the most likely candidate for the bacterium's identity. As part of our screening, we look for the bacterium's capacity to employ different nitriles and amides as potential electron donors for molybdenum reduction or as substrates for growth. A microplate format was used for the screening. The bacterium was able to use the amides acrylamide and propionamide as sources of electron donor for reduction. Mo-blue production was best supported by acrylamide between 750 and 1250 mg/L, and propionamide between 750 and 1000 mg/L. In addition, these amides including acetamide could support the growth of the bacterium. The modified Gompertz model was utilized to model the growth of this bacterium on amides. The model’s growth parameters obtained were lag periods of 1.372, 1.562 and 1.639 d and maximum specific growth rates of 1.38, 0.95 and 0.734 d-1, for acrylamide, acetamide and propionamide, respectively. The capacity of this bacterium to decontaminate simultaneously amides and molybdenum is a novel characteristic that will be very beneficial in bioremediation.