Effects of sludge lysate for Cr(VI) bioreduction and analysis of bioaugmentation mechanism of sludge humic acid

Interactions between Humic Substances and Microorganisms and Their Implications for Nature-like Bioremediation Technologies

The state of the art of the reported data on interactions between microorganisms and HSs is presented herein. The properties of HSs are discussed in terms of microbial utilization, degradation, and transformation. The data on biologically active individual compounds found in HSs are summarized. Bacteria of the phylum Proteobacteria and fungi of the phyla Basidiomycota and Ascomycota were found to be the main HS degraders, while Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes were found to be the predominant phyla in humic-reducing microorganisms (HRMs). Some promising aspects of interactions between microorganisms and HSs are discussed as a feasible basis for nature-like biotechnologies, including the production of enzymes capable of catalyzing the oxidative binding of organic pollutants to HSs, while electron shuttling through the utilization of HSs by HRMs as electron shuttles may be used for the enhancement of organic pollutant biodegradation or lowering bioavailability of some metals. Utilization of HSs by HRMs as terminal electron acceptors may suppress electron transfer to CO2, reducing the formation of CH4 in temporarily anoxic systems. The data reported so far are mostly related to the use of HSs as redox compounds. HSs are capable of altering the composition of the microbial community, and there are environmental conditions that determine the efficiency of HSs. To facilitate the development of HS-based technologies, complex studies addressing these factors are in demand.

Removal of chromium(VI) by MnFe2O4 and ferrous ion: synergetic effects and reaction mechanism

MnFe₂O₄ was a magnetic material that can be used to adsorb contaminants in the wastewater. Fe(II) could act as a reductant to transfer Cr(VI) into Cr(III). In this paper, mesoporous MnFe₂O₄ prepared by the coprecipitation method was incorporated with Fe(II) to remove Cr(VI). The samples before and after reaction were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A total of 98~100% of Cr(VI) in solution was removed by MnFe₂O₄/Fe(II) hybrid system within a wide pH range (pH 3.0-9.0), which is due to the synergetic effects of adsorption from MnFe₂O₄ and reduction from Fe(II). Cr(VI) was reduced to Cr(III) by ≡Mn(II) on MnFe₂O₄ and Fe(II). Cr(III) and Fe(III) produced during reaction formed Cr(III)-Fe(III) hydroxides/oxyhydroxides and deposited on MnFe₂O₄. The inhibiting action of phosphate on the removal of Cr(VI) was greater than that of sulfate. Cr(VI) removal rate retained 94.5% at the fourth recycle test, which showed excellent re-usability of MnFe₂O₄.