Reduction of Fe(III)EDTA by Klebsiella sp. strain FD-3 in NOx scrubber solutions

N2O recovery from wastewater and flue gas via microbial denitrification: Processes and mechanisms

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is increasingly regarded as a significant greenhouse gas implicated in global warming and the depletion of the ozone layer, yet it is also recognized as a valuable resource. This paper comprehensively reviews innovative microbial denitrification techniques for recovering N2O from nitrogenous wastewater and flue gas. Critical analysis is carried out on cutting-edge processes such as the coupled aerobic-anoxic nitrous decomposition operation (CANDO) process, semi-artificial photosynthesis, and the selective utilization of microbial strains, as well as flue gas absorption coupled with heterotrophic/autotrophic denitrification. These processes are highlighted for their potential to facilitate denitrification and enhance the recovery rate of N2O. The review integrates feasible methods for process control and optimization, and presents the underlying mechanisms for N2O recovery through denitrification, primarily achieved by suppressing nitrous oxide reductase (Nos) activity and intensifying competition for electron donors. The paper concludes by recognizing the shortcomings in existing technologies and proposing future research directions, with an emphasis on prioritizing the collection and utilization of N2O while considering environmental sustainability and economic feasibility. Through this review, we aim to inspire interest in the recovery and utilization of N2O, as well as the development and application of related technologies.

A review: Biological technologies for nitrogen monoxide abatement

Nitrogen oxides (NOx), including nitrogen monoxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), are among the most important global atmospheric pollutants because they have a negative impact on human respiratory health, animals, and the environment through the greenhouse effect and ozone layer destruction. NOx compounds are predominantly generated by anthropogenic activities, which involve combustion processes such as energy production, transportation, and industrial activities. The most widely used alternatives for NOx abatement on an industrial scale are selective catalytic and non-catalytic reductions; however, these alternatives have high costs when treating large air flows with low pollutant concentrations, and most of these methods generate residues that require further treatment. Therefore, biotechnologies that are normally used for wastewater treatment (based on nitrification, denitrification, anammox, microalgae, and combinations of these) are being investigated for flue gas treatment. Most of such investigations have focused on chemical absorption and biological reduction (CABR) systems using different equipment configurations, such as biofilters, rotating reactors, or membrane reactors. This review summarizes the current state of these biotechnologies available for NOx treatment, discusses and compares the use of different microorganisms, and analyzes the experimental performance of bioreactors used for NOx emission control, both at the laboratory scale and in industrial settings, to provide an overview of proven technical solutions and biotechnologies for NOx treatment. Additionally, a comparative assessment of the advantages and disadvantages is performed, and special challenges for biological technologies for NO abatement are presented.

Engineering multiscale polypyrrole/carbon nanotubes interface to boost electron utilization in a bioelectrochemical system coupled with chemical absorption for NO removal

The chemical absorption-bioelectrochemical reduction (CABER) integrated system provides an alternative of good potential for NO removal. The efficient utilization of cathode electrons directly determines the system performance and operating cost. Herein, we synthesize a polypyrrole/carbon nanotubes (PPy/CNTs) composite to engineer a micro-and nanoscale interface with low resistance and high biocompatibility between the cathode and biofilms in the CABER system. The resulting PPy/CNTs biocathodes exhibit 36.4% increase in biomass density, 40.7%-302.6% increase in Faraday efficiency along Fe(III)EDTA reduction, and 204% increase in Fe(II)EDTA-NO reduction rate. The enrichment of functional microorganisms is validated to be a key strengthening factor, as the proportion of which increased from 57.9% to 84.6%. Moreover, for efficient electron transfer and utilization, a low-resistance electron transfer route, "electrode substrate → PPy (→ CNTs) → microbial cells → Fe(III)EDTA or Fe(II)EDTA-NO", is realized in the multiscale conductive networks constructed of PPy/CNTs composite and microbial nanowires.

Simultaneous removal of NOX and SO2 from flue gas in an integrated FGD-CABR system by sulfur cycling-mediated Fe(II)EDTA regeneration

Chemical absorption-biological reduction (CABR) process is an attractive method for NO_X removal and Fe(II)EDTA regeneration is important to sustain high NO_X removal. In this study a sustainable and eco-friendly sulfur cycling-mediated Fe(II)EDTA regeneration method was incorporated in the integrated biological flue gas desulfurization (FGD)-CABR system. Here, we investigated the NO_X and SO₂ removal efficiency of the system under three different flue gas flows (100 mL/min, 500 mL/min, and 1000 mL/min) and evaluated the feasibility of chemical Fe(III)EDTA reduction by sulfide in series of batch tests. Our results showed that complete SO₂ removal was achieved at all the tested scenarios with sulfide, thiosulfate and S⁰ accumulation in the solution. Meanwhile, the total removal efficiency of NO_X achieved ∼100% in the system, of which 3.2%-23.3% was removed in spray scrubber and 76.7%-96.5% in EGSB reactor along with no N₂O emission. The optimal pH and S^2-/Fe(III)EDTA for Fe(II)EDTA regeneration and S⁰ recovery was 8.0 and 1:2. The microbial community analysis results showed that the cooperation of heterotrophic denitrifier (Saprospiraceae_uncultured and Dechloromonas) and iron-reducing bacteria (Klebsiella and Petrimonas) in EGSB reactor and sulfide-oxidizing, nitrate-reducing bacteria (Azoarcus and Pseudarcobacter) in spray scrubber contributed to the efficient removal of NO_X in flue gas.

Evaluation of NOx removal from flue gas and Fe(II)EDTA regeneration using a novel BTF-ABR integrated system

A promising process is under development for the removal of NOx and regeneration of Fe(II)EDTA in a novel biotrickling filter-anaerobic baffled reactor (BTF-ABR) integrated system at 50 ± 0.5 ℃. In this work, we investigated the NOx removal capacity of a BTF under different O₂ concentrations (7.0 vol%, 5.25 vol% and 3.5 vol%), and tested the effect of an ABR on NOx removal and regeneration of Fe(II)EDTA. The results showed that the NOx removal capacity was significantly increased with the O₂ concentration reduced from 7.0% to 3.5%. The microoxygen environment produced by the BTF-ABR integrated system was more conducive to the removal of NOx and regeneration of Fe(II)EDTA compared with that in the BTF. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis showed that the coordinated expression of denitrification genes was the major reason for no N₂O emission, along with no nitrate and nitrite accumulation. The 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing analysis showed that the cooperation of denitrifying bacteria (Klebsiella, Petrimonas, Rhodococcus and Ochrobactium) and iron-reducing bacteria (Klebsiella, Geobacter and Petrimonas) in the system was the key to the stable and efficient removal of NOx and the regeneration of Fe(II)EDTA simultaneously.

Evaluation of Fe(iii)EDTA reduction with ascorbic acid in a wet denitrification system

The reduction of Fe(iii)EDTA to Fe(ii)EDTA is the core process in a wet flue gas system with simultaneous desulfurization and denitrification. Herein, at first, the reductant ascorbic acid (VC) was used for reducing Fe(iii)EDTA. The feasibility of Fe(iii)EDTA reduction with ascorbic acid was investigated at different Fe(iii)EDTA concentrations, various pH values, diverse temperatures, and different molar ratios of VC to Fe(iii)EDTA. The results showed that the Fe(ii)EDTA concentration increased with an increase in the initial Fe(iii)EDTA concentration. Furthermore, the reduction efficiency increased as the mole ratio of VC to Fe(iii)EDTA was increased, and all the Fe(iii)EDTA reduction efficiencies were close to 100% when the mole ratio was more than 0.5. On the other hand, an alkaline environment did not favor the conversion of Fe(iii)EDTA by VC. The Fe(iii)EDTA conversion slightly increased as the temperature was increased. Moreover, compared with other reduction systems, ascorbic acid (VC) was found to be more powerful in reducing Fe(iii)EDTA, especially in air. In addition, VC only exhibited powerful ability in the conversion of Fe(iii)EDTA to Fe(ii)EDTA and hardly reduced Fe(ii)EDTA–NO. Finally, the stoichiometry of Fe(iii)EDTA reduction by ascorbic acid was derived. Thus, our study would offer a bridge between foundational research and industrial denitration using the combination of Fe(ii)EDTA and VC.

Color change during Fe(iii)EDTA reduction by VC ((A) Fe(iii)EDTA color; (B) color of Fe(iii)EDTA solution after reduction by VC; (C) Fe(ii)EDTA-NO color; (D) color of Fe(ii)EDTA-NO solution after reduction by VC).

Bioelectrochemical Reduction of Fe(II)EDTA-NO in a Biofilm Electrode Reactor: Performance, Mechanism, and Kinetics

A biofilm electrode reactor (BER) is proposed to effectively regenerate Fe(II)EDTA, a solvent for NOx removal from flue gas, from Fe(II)EDTA-NO, a spent solution. In this study, the performance, mechanism, and kinetics of the bioelectrochemical reduction of Fe(II)EDTA-NO were investigated. The pathways of Fe(II)EDTA-NO reduction were investigated via determination of nitrogen element balance in the BER and an abiotic electrode reactor. The experimental results indicate that the chelated NO (Fe(II)EDTA-NO) is reduced to N2 with N2O as an intermediate. However, the oxidation of NO occurred in the absence of Fe(II)EDTA in abiotic reactors. Furthermore, the accumulation of N2O was suppressed with the help of electricity. The preponderant electron donor for reduction of Fe(II)EDTA-NO was also confirmed via analysis of the electron conservation. About 87% of Fe(II)EDTA-NO was reduced using Fe(II)EDTA as the electron donor in the presence of both glucose and cathode electrons while the cathode electrons were utilized for the reduction of Fe(III)EDTA to Fe(II)EDTA. Michaelis-Menten kinetic constants of bioelectrochemical reduction of Fe(II)EDTA-NO were also calculated. The maximum reduction rate of Fe(II)EDTA-NO was 13.04 mol m(-3) h(-1), which is 50% higher than that in a conventional biofilter.

Characterization of Fe (III)-reducing enrichment culture and isolation of Fe (III)-reducing bacterium Enterobacter sp. L6 from marine sediment

To enrich the Fe (III)-reducing bacteria, sludge from marine sediment was inoculated into the medium using Fe (OH)3 as the sole electron acceptor. Efficiency of Fe (III) reduction and composition of Fe (III)-reducing enrichment culture were analyzed. The results indicated that the Fe (III)-reducing enrichment culture with the dominant bacteria relating to Clostridium and Enterobacter sp. had high Fe (III) reduction of (2.73 ± 0.13) mmol/L-Fe (II). A new Fe (III)-reducing bacterium was isolated from the Fe (III)-reducing enrichment culture and identified as Enterobacter sp. L6 by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The Fe (III)-reducing ability of strain L6 under different culture conditions was investigated. The results indicated that strain L6 had high Fe (III)-reducing activity using glucose and pyruvate as carbon sources. Strain L6 could reduce Fe (III) at the range of NaCl concentrations tested and had the highest Fe (III) reduction of (4.63 ± 0.27) mmol/L Fe (II) at the NaCl concentration of 4 g/L. This strain L6 could reduce Fe (III) with unique properties in adaptability to salt variation, which indicated that it can be used as a model organism to study Fe (III)-reducing activity isolated from marine environment.

Reduction of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid iron(III) by Klebsiella sp. FD-3 immobilized on iron(II, III) oxide poly (styrene-glycidyl methacrylate) magnetic porous microspheres: effects of inorganic compounds and kinetic study of effective diffusion in porous media

Fe3O4 poly (styrene-glycidyl methacrylate) magnetic porous microspheres (MPPMs) were introduced to immobilize Klebsiella sp. FD-3, an iron-reducing bacterium applied to reduce Fe(III)EDTA. The effects of potential inhibitors (S(2-), SO3(2-), NO3(-), NO2(-) and Fe(II)EDTA-NO) on Fe(III)EDTA reduction were investigated. S(2-) reacted with Fe(III)EDTA as an electron-shuttling compound and enhanced the reduction. But Fe(III)EDTA reduction was inhibited by SO3(2-) and Fe(II)EDTA-NO due to their toxic to microorganisms. Low concentrations of NO3(-) and NO2(-) accelerated Fe(III)EDTA reduction, but high concentrations inhibited the reduction, whether by free or immobilized FD-3. The immobilized FD-3 performed better than freely-suspended style. The substrate mass transfer and diffusion kinetics in the porous microspheres were calculated. The value of Thiele modulus and effectiveness factors showed that the intraparticle diffusion was fairly small and neglected in this carrier. Fe(III)EDTA reduction fitted first-order model at low Fe(III)EDTA concentration, and changed to zero-order model at high concentrations.

Current advances of integrated processes combining chemical absorption and biological reduction for NO x removal from flue gas

Anthropogenic nitrogen oxides (NO x ) emitted from the fossil-fuel-fired power plants cause adverse environmental issues such as acid rain, urban ozone smoke, and photochemical smog. A novel chemical absorption-biological reduction (CABR) integrated process under development is regarded as a promising alternative to the conventional selective catalytic reduction processes for NO x removal from the flue gas because it is economic and environmentally friendly. CABR process employs ferrous ethylenediaminetetraacetate [Fe(II)EDTA] as a solvent to absorb the NO x following microbial denitrification of NO x to harmless nitrogen gas. Meanwhile, the absorbent Fe(II)EDTA is biologically regenerated to sustain the adequate NO x removal. Compared with conventional denitrification process, CABR not only enhances the mass transfer of NO from gas to liquid phase but also minimize the impact of oxygen on the microorganisms. This review provides the current advances of the development of the CABR process for NO x removal from the flue gas.

Influence of geochemical properties and land-use types on the microbial reduction of Fe(III) in subtropical soils

Microbial Fe(III) reduction significantly impacts the geochemical processes and the composition of most subsurface soils. However, up to now, the factors influencing the efficiency of Fe(III) reduction in soils have not been fully described. In this study, soil Fe(III) reduction processes related to geochemical properties and land-use types were systematically investigated using iron-rich soils. The results showed that microbial Fe(III) reduction processes were efficient and their rates varied significantly in different types of soils. Fe(III) reduction rates were 1.1-5.6 times as much in soils with glucose added as in those without glucose. Furthermore, Fe(III) reduction rates were similar in soils from the same parent materials, while they were highest in soils developed from sediments, with a mean rate of 1.87 mM per day when supplemented with glucose. In addition, the Fe(III) reduction rates, reaching 0.99 and 0.59 mM per day on average with and without glucose added, respectively, were higher in the paddy soils affected heavily by human activities than those in the forest soils (average rates of 0.38 and 0.15 mM per day when with and without glucose, respectively). All the soil weathering indices correlated linearly with Fe(III) reduction rates, even though the reduction of iron in soils with higher weathering degrees was partly inhibited by a higher soil protonation trend and fewer available iron reduction sites in the soils, which gives lower reduction rates. These results clearly illustrate that soil Fe(III) reduction rates are greatly dependent on soil geochemical properties and land-use types and help define which soil types exhibit similar degrees of Fe(III) reduction under field conditions.