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Gupta S, Plugge CM, Muyzer G, Sánchez-Andrea I. Harnessing the potential of the microbial sulfur cycle for environmental biotechnology. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2024; 88:103164. [PMID: 38964081 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2024.103164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
The sulfur cycle is a complex biogeochemical cycle characterized by the high variability in the oxidation states of sulfur. While sulfur is essential for life processes, certain sulfur compounds, such as hydrogen sulfide, are toxic to all life forms. Micro-organisms facilitate the sulfur cycle, playing a prominent role even in extreme environments, such as soda lakes, acid mine drainage sites, hot springs, and other harsh habitats. The activity of these micro-organisms presents unique opportunities for mitigating sulfur-based pollution and enhancing the recovery of sulfur and metals. This review highlights the application of sulfur-oxidizing and -reducing micro-organisms in environmental biotechnology through three illustrative examples. Additionally, it discusses the challenges, recent trends, and prospects associated with these applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suyash Gupta
- Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands; Microbial Systems Ecology, Department of Freshwater and Marine Ecology, Institute or Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Caroline M Plugge
- Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands; Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Gerard Muyzer
- Microbial Systems Ecology, Department of Freshwater and Marine Ecology, Institute or Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Irene Sánchez-Andrea
- Environmental Science for Sustainability Department, IE Universidad, Segovia, Spain
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2
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Egas RA, Sahonero-Canavesi DX, Bale NJ, Koenen M, Yildiz Ç, Villanueva L, Sousa DZ, Sánchez-Andrea I. Acetic acid stress response of the acidophilic sulfate reducer Acididesulfobacillus acetoxydans. Environ Microbiol 2024; 26:e16565. [PMID: 38356112 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Acid mine drainage (AMD) waters are a severe environmental threat, due to their high metal content and low pH (pH <3). Current technologies treating AMD utilize neutrophilic sulfate-reducing microorganisms (SRMs), but acidophilic SRM could offer advantages. As AMDs are low in organics these processes require electron donor addition, which is often incompletely oxidized into organic acids (e.g., acetic acid). At low pH, acetic acid is undissociated and toxic to microorganisms. We investigated the stress response of the acetotrophic Acididesulfobacillus acetoxydans to acetic acid. A. acetoxydans was cultivated in bioreactors at pH 5.0 (optimum). For stress experiments, triplicate reactors were spiked until 7.5 mM of acetic acid and compared with (non-spiked) triplicate reactors for physiological, transcriptomic, and membrane lipid changes. After acetic acid spiking, the optical density initially dropped, followed by an adaptation phase during which growth resumed at a lower growth rate. Transcriptome analysis revealed a downregulation of genes involved in glutamate and aspartate synthesis following spiking. Membrane lipid analysis revealed a decrease in iso and anteiso fatty acid relative abundance; and an increase of acetyl-CoA as a fatty acid precursor. These adaptations allow A. acetoxydans to detoxify acetic acid, creating milder conditions for other microorganisms in AMD environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reinier A Egas
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Diana X Sahonero-Canavesi
- Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), Texel, Den Burg, The Netherlands
| | - Nicole J Bale
- Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), Texel, Den Burg, The Netherlands
| | - Michel Koenen
- Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), Texel, Den Burg, The Netherlands
| | - Çağlar Yildiz
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Laura Villanueva
- Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), Texel, Den Burg, The Netherlands
- Department of Earth Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Diana Z Sousa
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Centre for Living Technologies, Alliance TU/e, WUR, UU, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Irene Sánchez-Andrea
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Environmental Sciences and Sustainability Department, Science & Technology School, IE University, Segovia, Spain
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3
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Frederico TD, Nancucheo I, Santos WCB, Oliveira RRM, Buzzi DC, Pires ES, Silva PMP, Lucheta AR, Alves JO, Oliveira GCD, Bitencourt JAP. Comparison of two acidophilic sulfidogenic consortia for the treatment of acidic mine water. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:1048412. [DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.1048412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Sulfate-reducing bioreactors are a biotechnological alternative for the treatment of acid mine drainage (AMD). In this study, two separate bioreactors with pH and temperature-controlled (Bio I and II) were operated with two different acidophilic microbial consortia to determine their efficiencies in sulfate removal from a synthetic acidic mine water. The bioreactors were operated for 302 days in continuous flow mode under the same parameters: fed with a sulfate solution of ∼30 mM with a pH of 2.5, the temperature at 30°C, stirred gently at 40 rpm and using a continuous stream of nitrogen to help remove the H2S produced in the bioreactor. The glycerol consumption, acetate production, and sulfate removal were monitored throughout the course of the experiment. The community composition and potential metabolic functional groups were analyzed via 16S rRNA partial gene sequencing. Bio I consortium reduced the sulfate, achieving a range of sulfate concentration from 4.7 to 19 mM in the effluent liquor. The removal of sulfate in Bio II was between 5.6 and 18 mM. Both bioreactors’ communities showed the presence of the genus Desulfosporosinus as the main sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). Despite differences in microbial composition, both bioreactors have similar potential metabolism, with a higher percentage of microorganisms that can use sulfate in respiration. Overall, both bioreactors showed similar performance in treating acidic mine water containing mostly sulfate using two different acidophilic sulfidogenic consortia obtained from different global locations.
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Liu Y, Vaughan J, Southam G, Serrano A, Gao H, Palfreyman R, Marcellin E, Villa-Gomez DK. Role of the substrate on Ni inhibition in biological sulfate reduction. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 316:115216. [PMID: 35550960 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115216] [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: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In treating mine-impacted waters using sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB), metal inhibition and substrate selection are important factors affecting the efficiency of the bioprocess. This work investigated the role of the substrate (i.e. lactate, formate, glycerol and glucose) on Ni inhibition to SRB with sulfate-reducing activity tests at initial pH 5, 7 and 9 and 100 mg/L of Ni. Results indicated that the type of substrate was a significant factor affecting Ni inhibition in SRB, which was the most negligible in the lactate system, followed by glycerol, glucose, and formate. Although less significant, Ni inhibition also varied with the pH, leading for instance, to a reduction of 77% in the sulfate reducing activity for the formate system, but only of 28% for lactate at pH 5. The added substrate also influenced the precipitation kinetics and the characteristics of the precipitates, reaching Ni precipitation extents above 95%, except for glucose (83.2%).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Liu
- School of Chemical Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, China; School of Civil Engineering, The University of Queensland, 4072, QLD, Australia.
| | - James Vaughan
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland, 4072, QLD, Australia
| | - Gordon Southam
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, 4072, QLD, Australia
| | - Antonio Serrano
- Institute of Water Research, University of Granada, Granada, 18071, Spain; Department of Microbiology, Pharmacy Faculty, University of Granada, Campus de Cartuja s/n, Granada, 18071, Spain.
| | - Han Gao
- School of Physics and Microelectronics, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Robin Palfreyman
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, 4072, QLD, Australia
| | - Esteban Marcellin
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, 4072, QLD, Australia
| | - Denys K Villa-Gomez
- School of Civil Engineering, The University of Queensland, 4072, QLD, Australia
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5
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Santos AL, Johnson DB. Comparison of different small molecular weight alcohols for sustaining sulfidogenic bioreactors maintained at moderately low pH. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:937987. [PMID: 36032724 PMCID: PMC9402942 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.937987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) catalyse the dissimilatory reduction of sulfate to hydrogen sulfide using a wide range of small molecular weight organic compounds, and hydrogen, as electron donors. Here we report the effects of different combinations of small molecular weight alcohols on the performance and bacterial composition of a moderately low pH sulfidogenic bioreactor (pH 4.0–5.5) operated at 35°C in continuous flow mode. Ethanol alone and methanol or ethanol used in combination with glycerol were evaluated based on their equivalent amounts of carbon. Although evidenced that methanol was utilised as electron donor to fuel sulfidogenesis at pH 5.5, rates of sulfate reduction/sulfide production were negatively impacted when this alcohol was first introduced to the system, though these rates increased in subsequent phases as a result of adaptation of the microbial community. Further increased dosage of methanol again caused rates of sulfidogenesis to decrease. Methanol addition resulted in perturbations of the bioreactor microbial community, and species not previously detected were present in relatively large abundance, including the sulfate-reducer Desulfovibrio desulfuricans. Ethanol utilization was evidenced by the increase in rates of sulfidogenesis as the dosage of ethanol increased, with rates being highest when the bioreactor was fed with ethanol alone. Concentrations of acetate in the effluent liquor also increased (up to 8 mM) as a result of incomplete oxidation of ethanol. This alcohol continued to be used as the electron donor for sulfate reduction when the bioreactor pH was decreased incrementally (to pH 4.0), but rates of sulfidogenesis decreased. The relative abundance of Dv. desulfuricans diminished as the bioreactor pH was lowered, while that of the acidophilic Firmicute Desulfosporosinus acididurans increased. This study has shown that all three alcohols can be used to fuel microbial sulfidogenesis in moderately acidic liquors, though the cost-effectiveness, availability and toxicity to the microbial community will dictate the choice of substrate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Laura Santos
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, United Kingdom
- Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Ana Laura Santos,
| | - D. Barrie Johnson
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, United Kingdom
- Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
- Health and Life Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry, United Kingdom
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6
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Campos-Quevedo N, Moreno-Perlin T, Razo-Flores E, Stams AJM, Celis LB, Sánchez-Andrea I. Acetotrophic sulfate-reducing consortia develop active biofilms on zeolite and glass beads in batch cultures at initial pH 3. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2021; 105:5213-5227. [PMID: 34125274 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-021-11365-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Sulfate-reducing microbial communities remain a suitable option for the remediation of acid mine drainage using several types of carrier materials and appropriate reactor configurations. However, acetate prevails as a product derived from the incomplete oxidation of most organic substrates by sulfate reducers, limiting the efficiency of the whole process. An established sulfate-reducing consortium, able to degrade acetate at initial acidic pH (3.0), was used to develop biofilms over granular activated carbon (GAC), glass beads, and zeolite as carrier materials. In batch assays using glycerol, biofilms successfully formed on zeolite, glass beads, and GAC with sulfide production rates of 0.32, 0.26, and 0.14 mmol H2S/L·d, respectively, but only with glass beads and zeolite, acetate was degraded completely. The planktonic and biofilm communities were determined by the 16S rRNA gene analysis to evaluate the microbial selectivity of the carrier materials. In total, 46 OTUs (family level) composed the microbial communities. Ruminococcaceae and Clostridiaceae families were present in zeolite and glass beads, whereas Peptococcaceae was mostly enriched on zeolite and Desulfovibrionaceae on glass beads. The most abundant sulfate reducer in the biofilm of zeolite was Desulfotomaculum sp., while Desulfatirhabdium sp. abounded in the planktonic community. With glass beads, Desulfovibrio sp. dominated the biofilm and the planktonic communities. Our results indicate that both materials (glass beads and zeolite) selected different key sulfate-reducing microorganisms able to oxidize glycerol completely at initial acidic pH, which is relevant for a future application of the consortium in continuous bioreactors to treat acidic streams. KEY POINTS: • Complete consumption of glycerol and acetate at acidic pH by sulfate reduction. • Glass beads and zeolite are suitable materials to form sulfate-reducing biofilms. • Acetotrophic sulfate-reducing bacteria attached to zeolite preferably.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nohemi Campos-Quevedo
- División de Ciencias Ambientales, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica, Camino a la Presa San José 2055, Lomas 4a. Sección, C.P. 78216, San Luis Potosí, S.L.P., México.,Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Tonatiuh Moreno-Perlin
- División de Ciencias Ambientales, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica, Camino a la Presa San José 2055, Lomas 4a. Sección, C.P. 78216, San Luis Potosí, S.L.P., México
| | - Elías Razo-Flores
- División de Ciencias Ambientales, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica, Camino a la Presa San José 2055, Lomas 4a. Sección, C.P. 78216, San Luis Potosí, S.L.P., México
| | - Alfons J M Stams
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE, Wageningen, The Netherlands.,Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Lourdes B Celis
- División de Ciencias Ambientales, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica, Camino a la Presa San José 2055, Lomas 4a. Sección, C.P. 78216, San Luis Potosí, S.L.P., México.
| | - Irene Sánchez-Andrea
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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Vieira BF, Rodriguez RP, Coutinho de Paula E, Simões GF. Real effluents and fractionation in the supply of COD: Rapid adaptation and high efficiency to treat mine drainage combined with industrial by-products. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 286:112114. [PMID: 33618323 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The biological treatment of mine drainage (MD) using sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) is a technology in growing exploitation. The use of by-products as sources of electrons can make this treatment more environmentally and economically advantageous. However, the high chemical oxygen demand (COD) and the presence of recalcitrant molecules can lead to the accumulation of metabolic intermediates that acidify the system, thus interrupting the treatment. Besides, the adaptation of the inoculum to the establishment of sulfidogenesis with MD and by-product may be slow. This study aimed to investigate prompt adaptation and operation strategies that do not require additives to enable the sulfidogenic process to occur while maintaining a pH close to neutrality. The sources of electrons tested were trub (brewery residue) and crude glycerol - CG (residue from the biodiesel production). The inoculum from a methanogenic reactor was stored with a real MD for a month. The adapted inoculum was applied in a batch reactor for 168 h of hydraulic detention time, and promoted 75.8 ± 4.3% of sulfate removal from an MD with 3756.4 ± 258 mg.L-1 of sulfate using CG in a COD/SO42- ratio of 3 ratio. With higher initial substrate concentrations, acidification occurred and the treatment was interrupted. Using trub instead of CG, the acidification occurred at a COD/SO42- ratio of 3. Acidification was prevented and the best efficiencies in sulfate removal were obtained when the amount of substrate corresponding to COD/SO42- ratio of 3 was fractioned into equal parts and added over six days in the CG reactor. It was achieved 94.15 ± 1.76% of sulfate removal. With trub, the same procedure in which this COD was divided into seven parts, and resulted in a sulfate removal of 88.49 ± 1.02%. The removal of metals and metalloids were greater than 94.5% in all the systems in which the substrate supply was made fractionally, and the effluent generated presented alkalinity between 3370 and 4242 mg CaCO3.L-1, and pH between 6.8 and 7. The method of adaptation and operation applied allowed the realization of a MD treatment with quick establishment of sulfidogenesis and without the use of neutralizing additives. Finally, the effluent presented characteristics considered favorable for a later stage of post-treatment of the effluent with methane generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bárbara Franco Vieira
- School of Engineering - Federal University of Minas Gerais, UFMG, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
| | | | | | - Gustavo Ferreira Simões
- School of Engineering - Federal University of Minas Gerais, UFMG, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
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Holanda R, Johnson DB. Isolation and characterization of a novel acidophilic zero-valent sulfur- and ferric iron-respiring Firmicute. Res Microbiol 2020; 171:215-221. [DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2020.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Willis G, Nancucheo I, Hedrich S, Giaveno A, Donati E, Johnson DB. Enrichment and isolation of acid-tolerant sulfate-reducing microorganisms in the anoxic, acidic hot spring sediments from Copahue volcano, Argentina. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2020; 95:5610214. [PMID: 31665270 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiz175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 10/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The geothermal Copahue-Caviahue (GCC) system (Argentina) is an extreme acidic environment, dominated by the activity of Copahue volcano. Environments characterised by low pH values, such as volcanic areas, are of particular interest for the search of acidophilic microorganisms with application in biotechnological processes. In this work, sulfate-reducing microorganisms were investigated in geothermal acidic, anaerobic zones from GCC system. Sediment samples from Agua del Limón (AL1), Las Máquinas (LMa2), Las Maquinitas (LMi) and Baño 9 (B9-2, B9-3) were found to be acidic (pH values 2.1-3.0) to moderate acidic (5.1-5.2), containing small total organic carbon values, and ferric iron precipitates. The organic electron donor added to the enrichment was completely oxidised to CO2. Bacteria related to 'Desulfobacillus acidavidus' strain CL4 were found to be dominant (67-83% of the total number of clones) in the enrichment cultures, and their presence was confirmed by their isolation on overlay plates. Other bacteria were also detected with lower abundance (6-20% of the total number of clones), with representatives of the genera Acidithiobacillus, Sulfobacillus, Alicyclobacillus and Athalassotoga/Mesoaciditoga. These enrichment and isolates found at low pH confirm the presence of anaerobic activities in the acidic sediments from the geothermal Copahue-Caviahue system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graciana Willis
- CINDEFI (CONICET-UNLP), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Calle 47 y 115, 1900 La Plata, Argentina
| | - Ivan Nancucheo
- Facultad de Ingeniería y Tecnología, Universidad San Sebastián, Lientur 1457, Concepción 4080871, Chile
| | - Sabrina Hedrich
- Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, Resource Geochemistry, Stilleweg 2, 30655 Hannover, Germany
| | - Alejandra Giaveno
- PROBIEN (CONICET-UNCo), Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Buenos Aires 1400, 8300 Neuquén, Argentina
| | - Edgardo Donati
- CINDEFI (CONICET-UNLP), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Calle 47 y 115, 1900 La Plata, Argentina
| | - David Barrie Johnson
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Deiniol Road, Bangor, LL57 2UW, UK
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Rambabu K, Banat F, Pham QM, Ho SH, Ren NQ, Show PL. Biological remediation of acid mine drainage: Review of past trends and current outlook. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ECOTECHNOLOGY 2020; 2:100024. [PMID: 36160925 PMCID: PMC9488087 DOI: 10.1016/j.ese.2020.100024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Revised: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Formation of acid mine drainage (AMD) is a widespread environmental issue that has not subsided throughout decades of continuing research. Highly acidic and highly concentrated metallic streams are characteristics of such streams. Humans, plants and surrounding ecosystems that are in proximity to AMD producing sites face immediate threats. Remediation options include active and passive biological treatments which are markedly different in many aspects. Sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) remove sulfate and heavy metals to generate non-toxic streams. Passive systems are inexpensive to operate but entail fundamental drawbacks such as large land requirements and prolonged treatment period. Active bioreactors offer greater operational predictability and quicker treatment time but require higher investment costs and wide scale usage is limited by lack of expertise. Recent advancements include the use of renewable raw materials for AMD clean up purposes, which will likely achieve much greener mitigation solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- K. Rambabu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Khalifa University, P.O. Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Fawzi Banat
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Khalifa University, P.O. Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Quan Minh Pham
- Institute of Natural Products Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 11307, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
- Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 11307, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
| | - Shih-Hsin Ho
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, PR China
| | - Nan-Qi Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, PR China
| | - Pau Loke Show
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Jalan Broga, Semenyih, 43500, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
- Corresponding author.
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Johnson DB, Sánchez-Andrea I. Dissimilatory reduction of sulfate and zero-valent sulfur at low pH and its significance for bioremediation and metal recovery. Adv Microb Physiol 2019; 75:205-231. [PMID: 31655738 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ampbs.2019.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Redox transformations of sulfur, involving dissimilatory and assimilatory oxidation and reduction reactions, occurs in water bodies and terrestrial environments worldwide, leading to dynamic cycling of this element throughout the biosphere. In cases where zero-valent (elemental) sulfur, sulfate and other oxidized forms are used as electron acceptor in (primarily) anaerobic microbial metabolisms, the end product is hydrogen sulfide (HS- or H2S, dependent on pH). While neutrophilic and alkalophilic sulfidogenic prokaryotes have been known for many decades, acid-tolerant and acidophilic strains and species have been isolated and characterized only in the past twenty or so years, even though evidence for sulfide generation on these environments was previously well documented. This review outlines the background and current status of the biodiversity and metabolisms of sulfate- and sulfur-reducing prokaryotes that are metabolically active in low pH environments, and describes the developing technologies in which they are being used to remediate acidic waste waters (which are often metal-contaminated) and to recover metal resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Barrie Johnson
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, United Kingdom
| | - Irene Sánchez-Andrea
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
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12
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Mikheenko IP, Gomez-Bolivar J, Merroun ML, Macaskie LE, Sharma S, Walker M, Hand RA, Grail BM, Johnson DB, Orozco RL. Upconversion of Cellulosic Waste Into a Potential "Drop in Fuel" via Novel Catalyst Generated Using Desulfovibrio desulfuricans and a Consortium of Acidophilic Sulfidogens. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:970. [PMID: 31134018 PMCID: PMC6523789 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Biogas-energy is marginally profitable against the "parasitic" energy demands of processing biomass. Biogas involves microbial fermentation of feedstock hydrolyzate generated enzymatically or thermochemically. The latter also produces 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (5-HMF) which can be catalytically upgraded to 2, 5-dimethyl furan (DMF), a "drop in fuel." An integrated process is proposed with side-stream upgrading into DMF to mitigate the "parasitic" energy demand. 5-HMF was upgraded using bacterially-supported Pd/Ru catalysts. Purpose-growth of bacteria adds additional process costs; Pd/Ru catalysts biofabricated using the sulfate-reducing bacterium (SRB) Desulfovibrio desulfuricans were compared to those generated from a waste consortium of acidophilic sulfidogens (CAS). Methyl tetrahydrofuran (MTHF) was used as the extraction-reaction solvent to compare the use of bio-metallic Pd/Ru catalysts to upgrade 5-HMF to DMF from starch and cellulose hydrolyzates. MTHF extracted up to 65% of the 5-HMF, delivering solutions, respectively, containing 8.8 and 2.2 g 5-HMF/L MTHF. Commercial 5% (wt/wt) Ru-carbon catalyst upgraded 5-HMF from pure solution but it was ineffective against the hydrolyzates. Both types of bacterial catalyst (5wt%Pd/3-5wt% Ru) achieved this, bio-Pd/Ru on the CAS delivering the highest conversion yields. The yield of 5-HMF from starch-cellulose thermal treatment to 2,5 DMF was 224 and 127 g DMF/kg extracted 5-HMF, respectively, for CAS and D. desulfuricans catalysts, which would provide additional energy of 2.1 and 1.2 kWh/kg extracted 5-HMF. The CAS comprised a mixed population with three patterns of metallic nanoparticle (NP) deposition. Types I and II showed cell surface-localization of the Pd/Ru while type III localized NPs throughout the cell surface and cytoplasm. No metallic patterning in the NPs was shown via elemental mapping using energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis but co-localization with sulfur was observed. Analysis of the cell surfaces of the bulk populations by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the higher S content of the CAS bacteria as compared to D. desulfuricans and also the presence of Pd-S as well as Ru-S compounds and hence a mixed deposit of PdS, Pd(0), and Ru in the form of various +3, +4, and +6 oxidation states. The results are discussed in the context of recently-reported controlled palladium sulfide ensembles for an improved hydrogenation catalyst.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iryna P Mikheenko
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Jaime Gomez-Bolivar
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Mohamed L Merroun
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Lynne E Macaskie
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Surbhi Sharma
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Marc Walker
- Department of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel A Hand
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Barry M Grail
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Gwynedd, United Kingdom
| | | | - Rafael L Orozco
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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