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Shi X, Liang Y, Wen G, Evlashin SA, Fedorov FS, Ma X, Feng Y, Zheng J, Wang Y, Shi J, Liu Y, Zhu W, Guo P, Kim BH. Review of cathodic electroactive bacteria: Species, properties, applications and electron transfer mechanisms. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 946:174332. [PMID: 38950630 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
Cathodic electroactive bacteria (C-EAB) which are capable of accepting electrons from solid electrodes provide fresh avenues for pollutant removal, biosensor design, and electrosynthesis. This review systematically summarized the burgeoning applications of the C-EAB over the past decade, including 1) removal of nitrate, aromatic derivatives, and metal ions; 2) biosensing based on biocathode; 3) electrosynthesis of CH4, H2, organic carbon, NH3, and protein. In addition, the mechanisms of electron transfer by the C-EAB are also classified and summarized. Extracellular electron transfer and interspecies electron transfer have been introduced, and the electron transport mechanism of typical C-EAB, such as Shewanella oneidensis MR-1, has been combed in detail. By bringing to light this cutting-edge area of the C-EAB, this review aims to stimulate more interest and research on not only exploring great potential applications of these electron-accepting bacteria, but also developing steady and scalable processes harnessing biocathodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinxin Shi
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China
| | - Yutong Liang
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China
| | - Gang Wen
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China.
| | - Stanislav A Evlashin
- Center for Materials Technologies, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, the territory of the Skolkovo Innovation Center, Bolshoy Boulevard, 30, p.1, Moscow 121205, Russia
| | - Fedor S Fedorov
- Center for Photonic Science and Engineering, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, the territory of the Skolkovo Innovation Center, Bolshoy Boulevard, 30, p.1, Moscow 121205, Russia
| | - Xinyue Ma
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China
| | - Yujie Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, No 73 Huanghe Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Junjie Zheng
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China
| | - Yixing Wang
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China
| | - Julian Shi
- Xi'an Institute for Innovative Earth Environment Research, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Shaanxi Land Engineering Construction Group Co., Ltd, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Weihuang Zhu
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China
| | - Pengfei Guo
- School of Civil Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China
| | - Byung Hong Kim
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, No 73 Huanghe Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150090, China; Korea Institute of Science & Technology, Seongbug-ku, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
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Ostermeyer P, Folens K, Verbruggen F, Bonin L, Hennebel T, Korneel R. A sulfate reducing bioreactor controlled by an electrochemical system enables near-zero chemical treatment of metallurgical wastewater. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 242:120215. [PMID: 37327546 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Metallurgical wastewaters are characterized by a low pH (<4), high concentrations of sulfate (15 gSO42- L-1), and metal(loid)s. Current treatment requires the consumption of chemicals such as alkali and high levels of waste sludge generation. In this study, we have shown that combining water electrolysis and sulfate reducing bioreactors enables the in-situ generation of base and H2, eliminating the need for base and electron donor addition, resulting in the near-zero treatment of metallurgical wastewater. By extracting cations from the effluent of the system to the bioreactor, the bioreactor pH could be maintained by the in-situ production of alkali. The current for pH control varied between 112-753 mol electrons per m³ wastewater or 5-48 A m-2 electrode area. High concentrations of sulfate in the influent and addition of CO2 increased the current required to maintain a steady bioreactor pH. On the other hand, a high sulfate reduction rate and increased influent pH lowered the current required for pH control. Moreover, the current efficiency varied from 14% to 91% and increased with higher pH and cation (Na+, NH4+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+) concentrations in the middle compartment of the electrochemical cell. The salinity was lowered from 70-120 mS cm-1 in the influent to 5-20 mS cm-1 in the system effluent. The energy consumption of the electrochemical pH control varied between 10 and 100 kWh m-3 and was affected by the conductivity of the wastewater. Industrial wastewater was treated successfully with an average energy consumption of 39 ± 7 kWh m-3, removing sulfate from 15 g SO42- L-1 to 0.5 ± 0.5 g SO42- L-1 at a reduction rate of 20 ± 1 gSO42- L-1 d-1..Metal(loid)s such as As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Te, Tl, Ni and Zn were removed to levels of 1-50 µg L-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pieter Ostermeyer
- Center of Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Gent B-9000, Belgium; CAPTURE, Frieda Saeysstraat 1www.capture-resources.be, Gent 9000, Belgium
| | - Karel Folens
- Center of Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Gent B-9000, Belgium
| | - Florian Verbruggen
- Center of Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Gent B-9000, Belgium; CAPTURE, Frieda Saeysstraat 1www.capture-resources.be, Gent 9000, Belgium
| | - Luiza Bonin
- Center of Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Gent B-9000, Belgium; CAPTURE, Frieda Saeysstraat 1www.capture-resources.be, Gent 9000, Belgium,.
| | - Tom Hennebel
- Center of Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Gent B-9000, Belgium; Group Research & Development, Competence Area Recycling and Extraction Technologies, Umicore, Watertorenstraat 33, Olen B-2250, Belgium
| | - Rabaey Korneel
- Center of Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Gent B-9000, Belgium; CAPTURE, Frieda Saeysstraat 1www.capture-resources.be, Gent 9000, Belgium
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3
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Vasconcelos VM, Santos GOS, Eguiluz KIB, Salazar-Banda GR, de Fatima Gimenez I. Recent advances on modified reticulated vitreous carbon for water and wastewater treatment - A mini-review. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 286:131573. [PMID: 34303050 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Recently, modifications on reticulated vitreous carbon (RVC) have attracted attention as a promising strategy to produce low-cost, stable, and highly active electrodes leading to significant advances in the water/wastewater treatment field compared with raw RVC. Modified RVC materials have been used as cathode, anode, and membrane. Improvements on physical and electrocatalytic properties are achieved by RVC modification via diverse strategies, including the deposition of metal oxides, the introduction of surface functional groups, and the formation of composites, which were used to remove organic contaminants and pathogens from water matrices, as summarized in this mini-review. This mini-review mainly focused on papers published from 2015 to 2020 that reported modified RVC electrodes to eliminate pollutants and pathogens from water matrices by electrochemical advanced oxidation processes. Likewise, news challenges and opportunities are discussed, and perspectives for the ongoing and future studies in this research field are also given.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa M Vasconcelos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, 49100-000, São Cristóvão, SE, Brazil
| | - Géssica O S Santos
- Laboratório de Eletroquímica e Nanotecnologia - LEN, Instituto de Tecnologia e Pesquisa - ITP, 49032-490, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil
| | - Katlin I B Eguiluz
- Laboratório de Eletroquímica e Nanotecnologia - LEN, Instituto de Tecnologia e Pesquisa - ITP, 49032-490, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Engenharia de Processos, Universidade Tiradentes - UNIT, 49032-490, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil.
| | - Giancarlo R Salazar-Banda
- Laboratório de Eletroquímica e Nanotecnologia - LEN, Instituto de Tecnologia e Pesquisa - ITP, 49032-490, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Engenharia de Processos, Universidade Tiradentes - UNIT, 49032-490, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil
| | - Iara de Fatima Gimenez
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, 49100-000, São Cristóvão, SE, Brazil.
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Ostermeyer P, Bonin L, Leon-Fernandez LF, Dominguez-Benetton X, Hennebel T, Rabaey K. Electrified bioreactors: the next power-up for biometallurgical wastewater treatment. Microb Biotechnol 2021; 15:755-772. [PMID: 34927376 PMCID: PMC8913880 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.13992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past decades, biological treatment of metallurgical wastewaters has become commonplace. Passive systems require intensive land use due to their slow treatment rates, do not recover embedded resources and are poorly controllable. Active systems however require the addition of chemicals, increasing operational costs and possibly negatively affecting safety and the environment. Electrification of biological systems can reduce the use of chemicals, operational costs, surface footprint and environmental impact when compared to passive and active technologies whilst increasing the recovery of resources and the extraction of products. Electrification of low rate applications has resulted in the development of bioelectrochemical systems (BES), but electrification of high rate systems has been lagging behind due to the limited mass transfer, electron transfer and biomass density in BES. We postulate that for high rate applications, the electrification of bioreactors, for example, through the use of electrolyzers, may herald a new generation of electrified biological systems (EBS). In this review, we evaluate the latest trends in the field of biometallurgical and microbial‐electrochemical wastewater treatment and discuss the advantages and challenges of these existing treatment technologies. We advocate for future research to focus on the development of electrified bioreactors, exploring the boundaries and limitations of these systems, and their validity upon treating industrial wastewaters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pieter Ostermeyer
- Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Center of Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Ghent, B-9000, Belgium.,CAPTURE, Frieda Saeysstraat 1, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
| | - Luiza Bonin
- Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Center of Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Ghent, B-9000, Belgium.,CAPTURE, Frieda Saeysstraat 1, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
| | - Luis Fernando Leon-Fernandez
- Separation and Conversion Technology, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, Mol, 2400, Belgium
| | - Xochitl Dominguez-Benetton
- Separation and Conversion Technology, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, Mol, 2400, Belgium
| | - Tom Hennebel
- Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Center of Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Ghent, B-9000, Belgium.,Group Research and Development, Competence Area Recycling and Extraction Technologies, Umicore, Watertorenstraat 33, Olen, B-2250, Belgium
| | - Korneel Rabaey
- Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Center of Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Ghent, B-9000, Belgium.,CAPTURE, Frieda Saeysstraat 1, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
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5
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Massazza D, Robledo AJ, Rodriguez Simón CN, Busalmen JP, Bonanni S. Energetics, electron uptake mechanisms and limitations of electroautotrophs growing on biocathodes - A review. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2021; 342:125893. [PMID: 34537530 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.125893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Electroautotrophs are microorganisms that can take the electrons needed for energy generation, CO2 fixation and other metabolic reactions from a polarized electrode. They have been the focus of intense research for its application in wastewater treatment, bioelectrosynthetic processes and hydrogen generation. As a general trend, current densities produced by the electron uptake of these microorganisms are low, limiting their applicability at large scale. In this work, the electron uptake mechanisms that may operate in electroautotrophs are reviewed, aiming at finding possible causes for this low performance. Biomass yields, growth rates and electron uptake rates observed when these microorganisms use chemical electron donors are compared with those typically obtained with electrodes, to explore limitations and advantages inherent to the electroautotrophic metabolism. Also, the factors affecting biofilm development are analysed to show how interfacial interactions condition bacterial adhesion, biofilm growth and electrons uptake. Finally, possible strategies to overcome these limitations are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Massazza
- División Ingeniería de Interfases y Bioprocesos, INTEMA (Conicet, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata), Av. Colón 10850, Mar del Plata 7600, Argentina
| | - Alejandro Javier Robledo
- División Ingeniería de Interfases y Bioprocesos, INTEMA (Conicet, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata), Av. Colón 10850, Mar del Plata 7600, Argentina
| | - Carlos Norberto Rodriguez Simón
- División Ingeniería de Interfases y Bioprocesos, INTEMA (Conicet, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata), Av. Colón 10850, Mar del Plata 7600, Argentina
| | - Juan Pablo Busalmen
- División Ingeniería de Interfases y Bioprocesos, INTEMA (Conicet, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata), Av. Colón 10850, Mar del Plata 7600, Argentina
| | - Sebastián Bonanni
- División Ingeniería de Interfases y Bioprocesos, INTEMA (Conicet, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata), Av. Colón 10850, Mar del Plata 7600, Argentina.
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Blázquez E, Gabriel D, Baeza JA, Guisasola A, Ledezma P, Freguia S. Implementation of a Sulfide-Air Fuel Cell Coupled to a Sulfate-Reducing Biocathode for Elemental Sulfur Recovery. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18115571. [PMID: 34071068 PMCID: PMC8197079 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18115571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Bio-electrochemical systems (BES) are a flexible biotechnological platform that can be employed to treat several types of wastewaters and recover valuable products concomitantly. Sulfate-rich wastewaters usually lack an electron donor; for this reason, implementing BES to treat the sulfate and the possibility of recovering the elemental sulfur (S0) offers a solution to this kind of wastewater. This study proposes a novel BES configuration that combines bio-electrochemical sulfate reduction in a biocathode with a sulfide–air fuel cell (FC) to recover S0. The proposed system achieved high elemental sulfur production rates (up to 386 mg S0-S L−1 d−1) with 65% of the sulfate removed recovered as S0 and a 12% lower energy consumption per kg of S0 produced (16.50 ± 0.19 kWh kg−1 S0-S) than a conventional electrochemical S0 recovery system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enric Blázquez
- GENOCOV Research Group, Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (D.G.); (J.A.B.); (A.G.)
- Correspondence:
| | - David Gabriel
- GENOCOV Research Group, Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (D.G.); (J.A.B.); (A.G.)
| | - Juan Antonio Baeza
- GENOCOV Research Group, Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (D.G.); (J.A.B.); (A.G.)
| | - Albert Guisasola
- GENOCOV Research Group, Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (D.G.); (J.A.B.); (A.G.)
| | - Pablo Ledezma
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia; (P.L.); (S.F.)
| | - Stefano Freguia
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia; (P.L.); (S.F.)
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Sulonen MLK, Baeza JA, Gabriel D, Guisasola A. Optimisation of the operational parameters for a comprehensive bioelectrochemical treatment of acid mine drainage. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 409:124944. [PMID: 33422754 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Bioelectrochemical systems provide a promising tool for the treatment of acid mine drainage (AMD). Biological sulphate reduction powered with electrical energy consumes acidity and produces sulphide, which can precipitate metals. However, the produced sulphide and the changes in pH resulting from the biological processes affect the efficiency and the environmental impacts of this treatment significantly. In this work, the effects of pH and sulphur speciation on the sulphate reduction rate (SRR) and comprehensive AMD treatment were evaluated in two-chamber microbial electrolysis cells at a cathode potential of -0.8 V vs. NHE. The increase of initial sulphate concentration from below 1000 mg to above 1500 mg S-SO42-/L increased SRR from 121 ± 25 to 177 ± 19 mg S-SO42-/L/d. SRR further increased to 347 mg S-SO42-/L/d when the operation mode was changed from batch to periodical addition of sulphate and acidity (363 mg S-SO42-/L/d and 22.6 mmol H+/L/d, respectively). The average SRR remained above 150 mg S-SO42-/L/d even at pH above 8.5 and with the total dissolved sulphide concentration increasing above 1300 mg S-TDSu/L. Operation at pH above 8 enabled the recovery of over 90% of the sulphur as dissolved sulphide and thus assisted in minimising the formation and release of toxic H2S.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mira L K Sulonen
- GENOCOV Research Group, Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental. Escola d'Enginyeria, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Juan Antonio Baeza
- GENOCOV Research Group, Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental. Escola d'Enginyeria, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Gabriel
- GENOCOV Research Group, Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental. Escola d'Enginyeria, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Albert Guisasola
- GENOCOV Research Group, Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental. Escola d'Enginyeria, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
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Agostino V, Lenic A, Bardl B, Rizzotto V, Phan ANT, Blank LM, Rosenbaum MA. Electrophysiology of the Facultative Autotrophic Bacterium Desulfosporosinus orientis. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:457. [PMID: 32509745 PMCID: PMC7248197 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Electroautotrophy is a novel and fascinating microbial metabolism, with tremendous potential for CO2 storage and valorization into chemicals and materials made thereof. Research attention has been devoted toward the characterization of acetogenic and methanogenic electroautotrophs. In contrast, here we characterize the electrophysiology of a sulfate-reducing bacterium, Desulfosporosinus orientis, harboring the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway and, thus, capable of fixing CO2 into acetyl-CoA. For most electroautotrophs the mode of electron uptake is still not fully clarified. Our electrochemical experiments at different polarization conditions and Fe0 corrosion tests point to a H2- mediated electron uptake ability of this strain. This observation is in line with the lack of outer membrane and periplasmic multi-heme c-type cytochromes in this bacterium. Maximum planktonic biomass production and a maximum sulfate reduction rate of 2 ± 0.4 mM day–1 were obtained with an applied cathode potential of −900 mV vs. Ag/AgCl, resulting in an electron recovery in sulfate reduction of 37 ± 1.4%. Anaerobic sulfate respiration is more thermodynamically favorable than acetogenesis. Nevertheless, D. orientis strains adapted to sulfate-limiting conditions, could be tuned to electrosynthetic production of up to 8 mM of acetate, which compares well with other electroacetogens. The yield per biomass was very similar to H2/CO2 based acetogenesis. Acetate bioelectrosynthesis was confirmed through stable isotope labeling experiments with Na-H13CO3. Our results highlight a great influence of the CO2 feeding strategy and start-up H2 level in the catholyte on planktonic biomass growth and acetate production. In serum bottles experiments, D. orientis also generated butyrate, which makes D. orientis even more attractive for bioelectrosynthesis application. A further optimization of these physiological pathways is needed to obtain electrosynthetic butyrate production in D. orientis biocathodes. This study expands the diversity of facultative autotrophs able to perform H2-mediated extracellular electron uptake in Bioelectrochemical Systems (BES). We characterized a sulfate-reducing and acetogenic bacterium, D. orientis, able to naturally produce acetate and butyrate from CO2 and H2. For any future bioprocess, the exploitation of planktonic growing electroautotrophs with H2-mediated electron uptake would allow for a better use of the entire liquid volume of the cathodic reactor and, thus, higher productivities and product yields from CO2-rich waste gas streams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Agostino
- Institute of Applied Microbiology (iAMB), Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Annika Lenic
- Institute of Applied Microbiology (iAMB), Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Bettina Bardl
- Bio Pilot Plant, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Valentina Rizzotto
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - An N T Phan
- Institute of Applied Microbiology (iAMB), Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Lars M Blank
- Institute of Applied Microbiology (iAMB), Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Miriam A Rosenbaum
- Bio Pilot Plant, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute, Jena, Germany.,Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
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Blázquez E, Gabriel D, Baeza JA, Guisasola A, Freguia S, Ledezma P. Recovery of elemental sulfur with a novel integrated bioelectrochemical system with an electrochemical cell. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 677:175-183. [PMID: 31055098 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Revised: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/27/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Several industrial activities produce wastewater with high sulfate content that can cause significant environmental issues. Although bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) have recently been studied for the treatment of sulfate contained in this wastewater, the recovery of elemental sulfur with BESs is still in its beginnings. This work proposes a new reactor configuration named BES-EC, consisting of the coupling of a BES with an electrochemical cell (EC), to treat this type of wastewater and recover elemental sulfur. The reactor consisted of four electrodes: i) an abiotic anode, ii) a biocathode for the autotrophic sulfate reduction, iii) an anode of an electrochemical cell (EC) for the partial oxidation of sulfide to elemental sulfur (the biocathode and the EC anode were placed in the same chamber) and iv) an abiotic EC cathode. Several cathode potentials and sulfate loads were tested, obtaining high sulfate removal rates (up to 888 mg SO42--S L-1 d-1 at -0.9 V vs. SHE with a specific energy consumption of 9.18 ± 0.80 kWh kg-1 SO42--S). Exceptionally high theoretical elemental sulfur production rates (up to 498 mg S0-S L-1 d-1) were achieved with the EC controlled at a current density of 2.5 A m-2. Electron recovery around 80% was observed throughout most of the operation of the integrated system. In addition, short experiments were performed at different current densities, observing that sulfate removal did not increase proportionally to the higher applied current density. However, when the BES was controlled at 30 A m-2 and the EC at 7.5 A m-2, the proportion of elemental sulfur produced corresponded to 92.9 ± 1.9% of all sulfate removed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enric Blázquez
- GENOCOV, Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Gabriel
- GENOCOV, Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan Antonio Baeza
- GENOCOV, Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Albert Guisasola
- GENOCOV, Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Stefano Freguia
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia QLD 4072, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Pablo Ledezma
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia QLD 4072, Brisbane, Australia.
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Blázquez E, Baeza JA, Gabriel D, Guisasola A. Treatment of real flue gas desulfurization wastewater in an autotrophic biocathode in view of elemental sulfur recovery: Microbial communities involved. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 657:945-952. [PMID: 30677960 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Revised: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 12/04/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Sulfur oxide emissions can lead to acidic precipitation and health concerns. Flue gas desulfurization (FGD) systems treat these emissions generating a wastewater with high-sulfate content. This work is the first attempt to treat this effluent with bioelectrochemical systems (BES) in order to recover elemental sulfur, a technology that allows the treatment of several wastewaters that lack of electron donor. The sulfate treatment and elemental sulfur recovery have been studied in a biocathode with simultaneous sulfate reduction to sulfide and partial sulfide oxidation, comparing the performance obtained with synthetic and real wastewater. A decrease of the sulfate removal rate (SRR) from 108 to 73mgS-SO42-L-1d-1 was observed coupled to an increase in the elemental sulfur recovery from 1.4 to 27mgS-S0L-1d-1. This elemental sulfur recovered as a solid from the real wastewater represented a 64% of the theoretical elemental sulfur produced (the elemental sulfur corresponded to a 72% of the solid weight). In addition, microbial communities analysis of the membrane and cathode biofilms and planktonic biomass showed that the real wastewater allowed a higher growth of sulfur oxidizing bacteria (SOB) adapted to more complex waters as Halothiobacillus sp. while decreasing the relative abundance of sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB).
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Affiliation(s)
- Enric Blázquez
- GENOCOV, Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental, Escola d'Enginyeria, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Juan Antonio Baeza
- GENOCOV, Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental, Escola d'Enginyeria, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - David Gabriel
- GENOCOV, Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental, Escola d'Enginyeria, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Albert Guisasola
- GENOCOV, Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental, Escola d'Enginyeria, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
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Ledezma P, Lu Y, Freguia S. Electroactive haloalkaliphiles exhibit exceptional tolerance to free ammonia. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2018; 365:4689094. [PMID: 29228269 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnx260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2017] [Accepted: 11/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Electrochemical activity in bacteria has been observed in numerous environments and conditions. However, enrichments in circumneutral freshwater media where acetate is the main electron donor seem to invariably lead to the dominance of Geobacter spp. Here we report on an electroactive bacterial consortium which was enriched on acetate as electron donor, but in a medium which reproduces hydrolysed urine (high pH, high salinity and high free ammonia). The consortium was found to be free of Geobacter species, whereas a previously undescribed community dominated by species closely related to Pseudomonas and Desulfuromonas was established. The salient features of this community were as follows: (i) high electroactivity, with anodic current densities up to 47.4 ± 2.0 A m-2; (ii) haloalkaliphilicity, with top performance at a medium pH of 10 and 19.5 ± 0.5 mS cm-1; and (iii) a remarkably high tolerance to free ammonia toxicity at over 2200 mgNH3-N L-1. This community is likely to find applications in microbial electrochemical technology for nutrient recovery from source-separated urine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Ledezma
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus, Gehrmann Laboratories level 4, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Yang Lu
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus, Gehrmann Laboratories level 4, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Stefano Freguia
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus, Gehrmann Laboratories level 4, QLD 4072, Australia
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Brewster ET, Pozo G, Batstone DJ, Freguia S, Ledezma P. A modelling approach to assess the long-term stability of a novel microbial/electrochemical system for the treatment of acid mine drainage. RSC Adv 2018; 8:18682-18689. [PMID: 35541131 PMCID: PMC9080545 DOI: 10.1039/c8ra03153c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial electrochemical processes have potential to remediate acid mine drainage (AMD) wastewaters which are highly acidic and rich in sulfate and heavy metals, without the need for extensive chemical dosing. In this manuscript, a novel hybrid microbial/electrochemical remediation process which uses a 3-reactor system – a precipitation vessel, an electrochemical reactor and a microbial electrochemical reactor with a sulfate-reducing biocathode – was modelled. To evaluate the long-term operability of this system, a dynamic model for the fluxes of 140 different ionic species was developed and calibrated using laboratory-scale experimental data. The model identified that when the reactors are operating in the desired state, the coulombic efficiency of sulfate removal from AMD is high (91%). Modelling also identified that a periodic electrolyte purge is required to prevent the build-up of Cl− ions in the microbial electrochemical reactor. The model furthermore studied the fate of sulfate and carbon in the system. For sulfate, it was found that only 29% can be converted into elemental sulfur, with the rest complexating with metals in the precipitation vessel. Finally, the model shows that the flux of inorganic carbon under the current operational strategy is insufficient to maintain the autotrophic sulfate-reducing biomass. The modelling approach demonstrates that a change in system operational strategies plus close monitoring of overlooked ionic species (such as Cl− and HCO3−) are key towards the scaling-up of this technology. Microbial electrochemical processes have potential to remediate acid mine drainage (AMD) wastewaters which are highly acidic and rich in sulfate and heavy metals, without the need for extensive chemical dosing.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Guillermo Pozo
- Advanced Water Management Centre
- The University of Queensland
- Australia
| | | | - Stefano Freguia
- Advanced Water Management Centre
- The University of Queensland
- Australia
| | - Pablo Ledezma
- Advanced Water Management Centre
- The University of Queensland
- Australia
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Pozo G, Pongy S, Keller J, Ledezma P, Freguia S. A novel bioelectrochemical system for chemical-free permanent treatment of acid mine drainage. WATER RESEARCH 2017; 126:411-420. [PMID: 28987953 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2017.09.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2017] [Revised: 09/27/2017] [Accepted: 09/30/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The mining sector is currently under unprecedented pressure due to stringent environmental regulations. As a consequence, a permanent acid mine drainage (AMD) treatment is increasingly being regarded as a desirable target with direct benefits for the environment and the operational and economic viability of the resources sector. In this study we demonstrate that a novel bioelectrochemical system (BES) can deliver permanent treatment of acid mine drainage without chemical dosing. The technology consists of a two-cell bioelectrochemical setup to enable the removal of sulfate from the ongoing reduction-oxidation sulfur cycle to less than 550 mg L-1 (85 ± 2% removal from a real AMD of an abandoned silver mine), thereby also reducing salinity at an electrical energy requirement of 10 ± 0.3 kWh kg-1 of SO42--S removed. In addition, the BES operation drove the removal and recovery of the main cations Al, Fe, Mg, Zn at rates of 151 ± 0 g Al m-3 d-1, 179 ± 1 g Fe m-3 d-1, 172 ± 1 g Mg m-3 d-1 and 46 ± 0 g Zn m-3 d-1 into a concentrate stream containing 263 ± 2 mg Al, 279 ± 2 mg Fe, 152 ± 0 mg Mg and 90 ± 0 mg Zn per gram of solid precipitated after BES fed-rate control treatment. The solid metal-sludge was twice less voluminous and 9 times more readily settleable than metal-sludge precipitated using NaOH. The continuous BES treatment also demonstrated the concomitant precipitation of rare earth elements together with yttrium (REY), with up to 498 ± 70 μg Y, 166 ± 27 μg Nd, 155 ± 14 μg Gd per gram of solid, among other high-value metals. The high-REY precipitates could be used to offset the treatment costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Pozo
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; Separation and Conversion Technologies, VITO-Flemish Institute for Technological Research, Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - Sebastien Pongy
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; Département Génie Energétique et Environnement, INSA Lyon, 69621 Villeurbanne Cedex, France
| | - Jürg Keller
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities, Australia
| | - Pablo Ledezma
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Stefano Freguia
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
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