Effects of microorganisms on the migration and transformation of typical heavy metal (loid)s in mercury-thallium mining waste slag during the combined application of fish manure and natural minerals

Integrated analyses of characterization and transcriptome reveal the adaptive response mechanism of Bacillus cereus FCHN 7-1 in cadmium adsorption

Cadmium (Cd2+) pollution is a pressing environmental issue that seriously threatens human health. In recent years, microbial extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) have been developed as an eco-friendly and effective solution for heavy metal bioremediation. In this study, Bacillus cereus FCHN 7-1, which was isolated from highly Cd-polluted soils in Hunan Province, China, has strong resistance to Cd2+ and excellent Cd2+ adsorptive capacity. Microscopic analyses showed that B. cereus FCHN 7-1 mainly adsorbed Cd2+ on the surface of EPS via the formation of granule deposits. The Freundlich isotherm was proven to better describe the sorption data with a higher R2 of 0.958, and the pseudo-second-order model fitted the sorption kinetic processes well, with an adsorption capacity of 66.128 mg/g. The variations in zeta potential indicated the occurrence of electrostatic attraction during the Cd2+ adsorption process. XRD, FTIR, 3D-EEM, and XPS analyses revealed that the functional groups of the EPS involved in Cd2+ adsorption were mainly CO, N-H, and COO- groups of proteins in the EPS, which greatly facilitated the adsorption of Cd2+ by forming EPS-metal complexes. Transcriptome sequencing analysis showed that an adaptive response to Cd2+ increased the expression of genes involved in amino acid biosynthesis and metabolism (asnB, alsS, ablA), and ABC transporter pathways (brnQ, abc-f, U2I57_RS23145), which promoted the synthesis of proteins and secretion of abundant EPS. This study provides new insights into the biosorption of Cd2+ for future applications.

Migration mechanism of PTEs in polymetallic mines under pioneer phytoremediation: A Lanmuchang mercury-thallium mine perspective

The establishment of pioneer plants in waste slag sites not only modifies the nutrient content of the waste, but also plays a significant role in regulating the pH and potentially toxic elements (PTEs), thereby providing favorable conditions for the quick introduction of other plants. However, the mechanisms by which pioneer plants impact the migration and transformation of PTEs in polymetallic mines have rarely been studied. In this study, we investigated the effects of pioneer phytoremediation on the migration and transformation of PTEs, specifically thallium (Tl), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), and antimony (Sb), in mercury-thallium mine waste. The results showed that pioneer phytoremediation increased esters and ethers containing C-O and P-O groups in dissolved organic matter, which subsequently formed soluble complexes with Hg, As, and Sb. Nevertheless, pioneer phytoremediation reduced the migration of Tl in the waste, this was mainly because pioneer phytoremediation reduced Fe3+ in silicate minerals and iron-containing minerals to more reactive Fe2+, thereby increasing the electronegativity (El) of the waste and enhancing its adsorption capacity for metal cations, such as Hg and Tl, thus maintaining electrical neutrality. However, the increased El of the waste was detrimental to the adsorption of negatively charged oxygen-containing anions, such as As and Sb. At the same time, the dissolution of Fe2+ resulted in the release and mobility of As and Sb that had been adsorbed onto iron oxides. The results offer significant theoretical support for guiding the ecological restoration of PTEs in polymetallic mines.

Biochemical transformation and bioremediation of thallium in the environment

Thallium (Tl) is a toxic element associated with minerals, and its redistribution is facilitated by both geological and anthropogenic activities. In the natural environment, the transformation and migration of Tl mediated by (micro)organisms have attracted increasing attention. This review presents an overview of the biochemical transformation of Tl and the bioremediation strategies for Tl contamination. In the environment, Tl exists in various forms and originates from diverse sources. The global distribution characteristics of Tl in various media are summarized here, while its speciation and toxicity mechanism to organisms are elucidated. Interactions between (micro)organisms and Tl are commonly observed in the environment. Microbial response mechanisms to typical Tl exposure are analyzed at both species and gene levels, and the possibility of microorganisms as bio-indicators for monitoring Tl contamination is also highlighted. The processes and mechanisms involved in the microbial and benthic mediated transformation of Tl, as well as its enrichment by plants, are discussed. Additionally, in situ bioremediation strategies for Tl contamination and bio-treatment techniques for Tl-containing wastewater are summarized. Finally, the existing knowledge gaps and future research challenges are emphasized, including Tl distribution characteristics in the atmosphere and ocean, the key molecular mechanisms underlying Tl transformation by organisms, the screening of potential Tl oxidizing microorganisms and hyperaccumulators, as well as the revelation of global biogeochemical cycling pathways of Tl.

The impact of microbial community structure changes on the migration and release of typical heavy metal (loid)s during the revegetation process of mercury-thallium mining waste slag

The effect of changes in microbial community structure on the migration and release of toxic heavy metal (loid)s is often ignored in ecological restoration. Here, we investigated a multi-metal (mercury and thallium, Tl) mine waste slag. With particular focus on its strong acidity, poor nutrition, and high toxicity pollution characteristics, we added fish manure and carbonate to the slag as environmental-friendly amendments. On this basis, ryegrass, which is suitable for the remediation of metal waste dumps, was then planted for ecological restoration. We finally explored the influence of changes in microbial community structure on the release of Tl and As in the waste slag during vegetation reconstruction. The results show that the combination of fish manure and carbonate temporarily halted the release of Tl, but subsequently promoted the release of Tl and arsenic (As), which was closely related to changes in the microbial community structure in the waste slag after fish manure and carbonate addition. The main reason for these patterns was that in the early stage of the experiment, Bacillaceae inhibited the release of Tl by secreting extracellular polymeric substances; with increasing time, Actinobacteriota became the dominant bacterium, which promoted the migration and release of Tl by mycelial disintegration of minerals. In addition, the exogenously added organic matter acted as an electron transport medium for reducing microorganisms and thus helped to reduce nitrate or As (Ⅴ) in the substrate, which reduced the redox potential of the waste slag and promoted As release. At the same time, the phylum Firmicutes, including specific dissimilatory As-reducing bacteria that are capable of converting As into a more soluble form, further promoted the release of As. Our findings provide a theoretical basis for guiding the ecological restoration of relevant heavy-metal (loid) mine waste dumps.