Biodegradation of [S,S], [R,R] and mixed stereoisomers of ethylene diamine disuccinic acid (EDDS), a transition metal chelator

EDDS and polystyrene interactions: implications for soil health and management practices

Ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid (EDDS) has been studied extensively for its potential use as an amendment in agriculture due to its numerous beneficial properties. The widespread usage of microplastics (MPs) poses a growing threat to plant growth. This study investigated the effects of Polystyrene MPs (PSMPs) and EDDS on soil pH, EC, organic matter (OM), available nutrients, and maize (Zea mays L.) growth in a calcareous soil. Results showed that both PS and EDDS had significant effects on soil pH, with higher concentrations leading to a decrease in pH. PSMPs negatively impacted soil health by increasing EC and decreasing OM, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). EDDS had potential applications in soil remediation and phytoremediation by decreasing EC and increasing N, P, and K. The interaction between EDDS and PSMPs suggests that their effects on soil pH may be modulated by each other. The study highlights the potential negative impacts of high concentrations of PS on soil health and the potential benefits of using EDDS at lower concentrations in soil remediation and phytoremediation. However, further research is needed to understand the mechanisms and environmental impacts of EDDS and the combined effects of EDDS and PSMPs on soil properties and plant growth.

Solar photo-Fenton optimization at neutral pH for microcontaminant removal at pilot plant scale

The increasing occurrence of micropollutants in natural water bodies has medium to long-term effects on both aquatic life and human health. The aim of this study is to optimize the degradation of two pharmaceutical pollutants of emerging concern: amoxicillin and acetaminophen in aqueous solution at laboratory and pilot scale, by solar photo-Fenton process carried out at neutral pH using ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid (EDDS) as a complexing agent to maintain iron in solution. The initial concentration of each compound was set at 1 mg/L dissolved in a simulated effluent from a municipal wastewater treatment plant (MWTP). A factorial experimental design and its surface response analysis were used to optimize the operating parameters to achieve the highest initial degradation rate of each target. The evolution of the degradation process was measured by ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC/UV), obtaining elimination rates above 90% for both contaminants. Statistical study showed the optimum concentrations of Fe(III) at 3 mg/L at an Fe-EDDS ratio of 1:2 and 2.75 mg/L H2O2 for the almost complete removal of the target compounds by solar photo-Fenton process. Validation of the experimental design was successfully carried out with actual MWTP effluent spiked with 100 μg/L of amoxicillin and acetaminophen, each at pilot plant scale.

Chelating agents supported solar photo-Fenton and sunlight/H2O2 processes for pharmaceuticals removal and resistant pathogens inactivation in quaternary treatment for urban wastewater reuse

In this work, Fe³⁺-iminodisuccinic acid (Fe:IDS) based solar photo Fenton (SPF), an Italian patented method, was investigated in quaternary treatment of real urban wastewater and compared to Fe³⁺-ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid (Fe:EDDS) for the first time. Three pharmaceuticals (PCs) (sulfamethoxazole, carbamazepine and trimethoprim) and four pathogens (Escherichia coli, somatic and F-plus coliphages, Clostridium perfringens, consistently with the new EU regulation for wastewater reuse (2020/741)), were chosen as target pollutants. SPF with Fe:EDDS was more effective in PCs removal (80%, 10 kJ L^-1) than the SPF with Fe:IDS (58%), possibly due to the higher capability of generating hydroxyl radicals. On the contrary, Fe:IDS was more effective (4.3 log inactivation for E. coli) than Fe:EDDS (1.9 log) in pathogens inactivation, possibly due to a lower iron precipitation and turbidity which finally promoted an improved intracellular photo-Fenton mechanism. Fe:L based SPF was subsequently coupled to sunlight/H₂O₂. Interestingly, while its combination with Fe:EDDS based SPF slightly increased disinfectant efficacy (2.3 vs 1.9 log inactivation for E. coli), the combination with Fe:IDS decreased inactivation efficiency (3.4 vs 4.3 log reduction). In conclusion, due to the good compromise between PCs removal and disinfection efficiency, Fe:IDS SPF alone is an attractive option for quaternary treatment for urban wastewater reuse.

Direct analysis of biodegradable chelating agents based on liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry using a metal-free hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatographic column

Recently, biodegradable aminopolycarboxylic acid chelating agents have attracted attention as an alternative to environmentally persistent chelating agents such as ethylenediamine-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid. However, the detection of chelating agents requires complexation with metals or derivatization by esterification reagents, and their direct detection using the currently available analytical methods still represents a challenge. Herein, we describe a direct analytical method for the biodegradable chelating agents ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid, 3-hydroxy-2,2'-iminodisuccinic acid, methylglycine-N,N'-diacetic acid, and N,N-bis(carboxymethyl)-L-glutamic acid, via ultra-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization quadrupole/time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Satisfactory retention and separation with a good peak shape were successfully achieved using a metal-free hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatographic column. The calibration curves showed good linearity in the range of 1.0-50 μM with correlation coefficients greater than 0.9988. The detection limits ranged from 0.04 to 0.12 μM. Furthermore, the developed method could be applied to the quantitative analysis of the four chelating agents in biodegradation and photodegradation experiments at the laboratory level. The proposed method, which offers the advantages of quickness, sensitivity, and requiring no complicated pretreatment steps, is expected to contribute significantly to the practical analysis of chelating agents in environmental water samples.

Application of Fe(III)–EDDS complexes and soybean peroxidase in photo-Fenton processes for organic pollutant removal: insights into possible synergistic effects

Photo-Fenton processes activated by biodegradable Fe(III)–EDDS complexes have attracted huge attention from the scientific community, but the operative mechanism of the photo-activation of H2O2 in the presence of Fe(III)–EDDS has not been fully clarified yet. The application of the Fe(III)–EDDS complex in Fenton and photo-Fenton (mainly under UV-B light) processes, using 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) as a model pollutant was explored to give insights into the operative mechanism. Furthermore, the potential synergistic contribution of soybean peroxidase (SBP) was investigated, since it has been reported that upon irradiation of Fe(III)–EDDS the production of H2O2 can occur. SBP did not boost the 4-CP degradation, suggesting that the possibly produced H2O2 reacts immediately with the Fe(II) ion with a quick kinetics that does not allow the diffusion of H2O2 into the bulk of the solution (i.e., outside the solvent cage of the complex). So, a concerted mechanism in which the photochemically produced H2O2 and Fe(II) react inside the hydration sphere of the Fe(III)–EDDS complex is proposed.

Graphical abstract

Biodegradation and effects of EDDS and NTA on Zn in soil solutions during phytoextraction by alfalfa in soils with three Zn levels

In chelator-enhanced Zn phytoremediation studies, it is crucial to understand how the degradable chelators and the competition from other ions influence the concentration of Zn in soil solutions. This study investigated the biodegradability of two chelators (EDDS: Ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid, and NTA: Nitrilotriacetic acid) and their effects on the Zn concentration in the soil solution during the growth of alfalfa (Medicago Sativa L.). The chelators were added at four doses (0, 0.5, 2 and 5 mmol kg^-1) in soils with varying Zn levels (189, 265 and 1496 mg kg^-1). The results showed that the lag phase before EDDS and NTA biodegradation varied from 0 to 7 days in the three soils. EDDS and NTA were completely decomposed within the assessed 57 days regardless of the applied dosage, with a half-life of 1.3-3.0 days in highly Zn-contaminated soil and 4.2-10.8 days in the two other soils. In soil solutions, the change in solubilized Zn was in line with EDDS and NTA degradation kinetics. Cu, Al, Fe and Mn were the main metal ions that competed against Zn for chelation. Besides, Ni competed with Zn in the whole process. Ca did not compete effectively in the three soils, while Mg was a competitor only at the initial stage. Our results show the importance of considering both the biodegradation rate and the competition between the target cation and other elements present in the soil when using chelators to enhance phytoremediation. A 30-day explorative incubation experiment is recommended to evaluate the appropriate application time of chelators and the target Zn exposure time for plants during phytoremediation.

Waste expanded polystyrene modified with H2SO4/biodegradable chelating agent for reuse: As a highly efficient adsorbent to remove fluoroquinolone antibiotic from water

Untreated wastewater containing fluoroquinolone antibiotics poses serious hazards to aquatic species and human health; therefore, treatment of waste expanded polystyrene (EPS) is a crucial environmental matter. In this study, waste EPS was modified with a H₂SO₄/biodegradable chelating agent, [S,S]-ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid (EDDS), and used for highly efficient adsorption of the fluoroquinolone antibiotic ciprofloxacin. When ciprofloxacin of 25 mg/L was used, the H₂SO₄-modified EPS (EPS_H2SO4) adsorbed 60.5% of the ciprofloxacin. During sulfonation, adding a low dose of EDDS markedly improved the adsorption ability of EPS_H2SO4+EDDS. The optimal modification conditions were 95% H₂SO₄, 0.002 M EDDS, 80 °C, and 40 min. The increased adsorbent doses enhanced the adsorption. Approximately 0.2 g/L of EPS_H2SO4+EDDS could effectively adsorb 97.8% of the ciprofloxacin (554.3 mg/g) within 30 min. Solution pH₀ greatly influenced the adsorption, and the most suitable pH₀ was 6. The Langmuir isotherm accurately described the adsorption behaviors of both EPS_H2SO4 and EPS_H2SO4+EDDS (R² = 0.997-0.998). The adsorption ability of EPS_H2SO4+EDDS (q_max = 1250 mg/g) was 32 times higher than that of EPS_H2SO4 (q_max = 38.6 mg/g). A total of 1 M HCl effectively regenerated the exhausted adsorbent. The optimal solid/liquid ratio and time were 0.08 g/20 mL and 60 min, respectively. The regenerated EPS_H2SO4+EDDS maintained a high adsorption ability (87.2%) after 10 regeneration cycles. The results thus indicate that the EPS_H2SO4+EDDS adsorption-regeneration process is a potential approach to remove ciprofloxacin from water.

How Organic Substances Promote the Chemical Oxidative Degradation of Pollutants: A Mini Review

The promotion of pollutant oxidation degradation efficiency by adding organic catalysts has obtained widespread attention in recent years. Studies have shown that organic substances promote the process of traditional oxidation reactions by accelerating the redox cycle of transition metals, chelating transition metals, activating oxidants directly to generate reactive oxygen species such as hydroxyl and sulfate radical, or changing the electron distribution of the target pollutant. Based on the promotion of typical organic functional groups on the chemical oxidative process, a metal-organic framework has been developed and applied in the field of chemical catalytic oxidation. This manuscript reviewed the types, relative merits, and action mechanisms of common organics which promoted oxidation reactions so as to deepen the understanding of chemical oxidation mechanisms and enhance the practical application of oxidation technology.

Sunlight advanced oxidation processes vs ozonation for wastewater disinfection and safe reclamation

Solar processes (sunlight/H₂O_2, solar photo-Fenton with EDDS at neutral pH) were compared to a consolidated technology (ozonation) in the inactivation of target bacteria (E. coli, Salmonella spp. and Enterococcus spp.) under realistic conditions (real secondary treated urban wastewater (WW), pilot scale reactors, natural sunlight) to evaluate their possible industrial application. The highest bacteria inactivation rate (all the target pathogens were inactivated below the detection limit (DL) (100 CFU/100 mL) within 45 min treatment) was observed for ozonation (83 mgO₃/L h). Similar inactivation behavior for all bacteria was observed for sunlight/H₂O₂ (50 mg/L) and solar photo-Fenton (SPF) with EDDS (1:1 molar ratio, 0.1 mM of Fe and 50 mg/L of H₂O₂). Although the DL was not reached, faster inactivation kinetics (0.007, 0.013 and 0.002 1/min for E. coli, Salmonella spp. and Enterococcus spp., respectively) and lower bacterial concentration after a 180 min treatment were observed for sunlight/H₂O₂ process compared to SPF (0.005, 0.01 1/min and no inactivation, respectively), Enterococcus spp. being the higher resistance microorganism. The negative effect of carbonates on disinfection performance was also evaluated. Quantitative microbial risk assessment for the ingestion of lettuce irrigated with untreated and treated WW was estimated. Disinfection by ozonation and sunlight/H₂O₂ processes were found to drastically decrease the associated microbiological risk (the mean risk of illness decreased from 0.10 (untreated) to 1.35 × 10^-4 (treated) for E. coli and from 0.03 to 2.21 × 10^-6 for Salmonella).

Assessment of biodegradable chelating agents in the phytoextraction of heavy metals from multi-metal contaminated soil

A pot incubation experiment under natural conditions was designed to investigate the effects of three biodegradable chelating agents, namely; the [S,S]-isomer of ethylenediamine disuccinate (EDDS), citric acid (CA), and tetrasodium N,N-Bis(carboxymethyl)-L-glutamate acid (GLDA), on two plant species (Brassica juncea and Brassica rapa) in terms of plant foliar growth, dry matter yield, and heavy metal (HM) accumulation. Both plant species exhibited diminished growth and symptoms of phytotoxicity under HM stress. The application of EDDS and CA affected plant foliar growth, biomass production, and led to the development of chlorotic lesions on leaves. EDDS and CA also decreased the shoot length by 38.5% and 45.2% in B. juncea, and 60.1% and 100% in B. rapa, respectively. In contrast, GLDA relieved HM stress by significantly increasing plant growth (P > 0.05) and was shown to be well tolerated (tolerance index [TI]; B. juncea = 99% and B. rapa = 123%). Among both plants, B. juncea displayed the ability to accumulate a wider range of HMs at higher concentrations. Amongst the three chelators, EDDS induced the highest bioconcentration (BCF) of Pb (2.45), Zn (2.68), and Cd (3.36) while CA achieved better results for Ni (4.01) and Cr (1.45). However, the current results showed that even with the application of chelating agents, HMs were predominantly accumulated in roots and translocation factor was generally <1. The findings of this investigation emphasize that chelate-assisted phytoextraction with Brassica spp. is highly limited in multi-metal settings, making it an unsuitable option for severely contaminated sites.

Simultaneous removal of contaminants of emerging concern and pathogens from urban wastewater by homogeneous solar driven advanced oxidation processes

Simultaneous removal of contaminants of emerging concern and bacteria inactivation in simulated municipal wastewater effluent (SMWW) through solar advanced oxidation processes, namely sunlight/H₂O₂ and solar photo-Fenton with Ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid (EDDS) at neutral pH was investigated. Process efficiency was evaluated in terms of (i) degradation of five contaminants of emerging concern (CECs, namely caffeine, carbamazepine, diclofenac, sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim) at the initial concentration of 100 μgL^-1 each and (ii) bacteria inactivation (E. coli, S. enteritidis and E. faecalis), at the initial concentration of 10³ CFU mL^-1 each. Solar photo-Fenton process was first investigated at lab scale in a solar simulator to evaluate the effect of iron concentration (0.1 mM and 0.05 mM) and Fe:EDDS ratio (1:2 and 1:1). Subsequently, sunlight/H₂O₂ and solar photo-Fenton with EDDS (molar ratio 1:1, Fe(III) 0.1 mM) at neutral pH were singularly and sequentially investigated at pilot scale in a raceway pond reactor. Sunlight/H₂O₂ (50 mg L^-1) tests resulted in total bacteria inactivation in 60 min (0.69 kJ L^-1) but low CECs removal efficiency. On the opposite, solar photo-Fenton was effective in the removal of the total CECs (87% removal after 20 min and 0.14 kJ L^-1) but not in E. faecalis inactivation (the initial concentration did not change even after 180 min). However, when the two processes were operated sequentially, a complete bacteria inactivation was observed in 15 min (0.17 kJ L^-1), 20 min (0.23 kJ L^-1) and 60 min (0.70 kJ L^-1) of treatment for E. coli, S. enteritidis and E. faecalis, respectively and 80% removal of total CECs was achieved after 10 min of Fe:EDDS addition. Sequential combination of sunlight/H₂O₂ and solar photo-Fenton would be an effective solution for simultaneous CECs removal and bacteria inactivation in the same photo-reactor.

Synergistic effects of EDDS and ALA on phytoextraction of cadmium as revealed by biochemical and ultrastructural changes in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) tissues

This study explored the phytoremediation potential of sunflower on cadmium (Cd) contaminated soils. We also studied the mechanisms through which a plant growth regulator, 5-aminolevolinic acid (ALA) protected sunflower plants from Cd-induced cellular injury. Six-leaf old sunflower plants were exposed to 0.3 g kg^-1 Cd for one week and then treated with chelating agents i.e. trisodium (S,S)-ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid (EDDS, 5 mmol kg^-1) and citric acid (CA,10 mmol kg^-1), and 10 mg L^-1 ALA. One week after chelators and ALA application, plants were harvested for further analyses. Results suggested that chelators EDDS/CA significantly increased Cd accumulation but inhibited plant growth of sunflower. In contrast, ALA promoted both Cd absorption and biomass accumulation, especially when applied in combination with EDDS. Bioaccumulation quantity and remove efficiency of Cd + EDDS + ALA treated plants was increased by 21.00% and 20.93% as compared with Cd + EDDS treatment. The qRT-PCR results revealed that increased Cd uptake by chelators EDDS/CA and ALA was associated with an increased expression of Cd transport genes e.g. OPT6, HMA3 and Nramp1 in sunflower leaves and roots. Our study suggested that ALA protects sunflower plants from Cd-induced cellular injury by immobilizing Cd ions, modulating activities of antioxidative enzymes and capturing reactive oxygen species.

Biodegradable chelating agent improves the survival of early larvae for shellfish aquaculture

The toxicity of heavy metals commonly impacts the survival of crustacean and bivalve larvae in hatchery culture, and this has led to the widespread use of EDTA to decrease this toxicity. Since EDTA has a very poor biodegradability leading to potential persistent environmental effects, alternative methods to prevent heavy metal toxicity to shellfish larvae are needed. EDDS is a biodegradable potential alternative to EDTA for this application and was tested as a treatment of the seawater used for rearing aquaculture Greenshell™ mussel (Perna canaliculus) larval embryos in this study. Mussel embryos reared with EDTA or EDDS had significantly better survival than without. The concentrations and spatial distributions of heavy metals in D-veliger larvae as determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) and X-ray Fluorescence Microscopy (XFM) suggested that chelating agents increased the levels of calcium in larvae while they reduced the concentration of zinc. In addition, where decreased accumulation of the other heavy metals was not observed, chelating agents affected their distribution within the larvae, especially for copper and arsenic. This is the first study to test the use of EDDS for aquaculture hatchery application and shows that EDDS is an effective biodegradable alternative to EDTA that can mitigate the effects of heavy metals for shellfish larval rearing.

Recent Applications of Carbon-Nitrogen Lyases in Asymmetric Synthesis of Noncanonical Amino Acids and Heterocyclic Compounds

Carbon-nitrogen (C-N) lyases are enzymes that normally catalyze the cleavage of C-N bonds. Reversing this reaction towards carbon-nitrogen bond formation can be a powerful approach to prepare valuable compounds that could find applications in everyday life. This review focuses on recent (last five years) applications of native and engineered C-N lyases, either as stand-alone biocatalysts or as part of multienzymatic and chemoenzymatic cascades, in enantioselective synthesis of noncanonical amino acids and dinitrogen-fused heterocycles, which are useful tools for neurobiological research and important synthetic precursors to pharmaceuticals and food additives.

EDDS as complexing agent for enhancing solar advanced oxidation processes in natural water: Effect of iron species and different oxidants

The main purpose of this pilot plant study was to compare degradation of five microcontaminants (MCs) (antipyrine, carbamazepine, caffeine, ciprofloxacin and sulfamethoxazole at 100 μg/L) by solar photo-Fenton mediated by EDDS and solar/Fe:EDDS/S₂O₈^2-. The effects of the Fe:EDDS ratio (1:1 and 1:2), initial iron species (Fe(II) or Fe(III) at 0.1 mM) and oxidizing agent (S₂O₈^2- or H₂O₂ at 0.25-1.5 mM) were evaluated. The higher the S₂O₈^2- concentration, the faster MC degradation was, with S₂O₈^2- consumption always below 0.6 mM and similar degradation rates with Fe(II) and Fe(III). Under the best conditions (Fe 0.1 mM, Fe:EDDS 1:1, S₂O₈^2- 1 mM) antipyrine, carbamazepine, caffeine, ciprofloxacin and sulfamethoxazole at 100 μg/L where 90% eliminated applying a solar energy of 2 kJ/L (13 min at 30 W/m² solar radiation <400 nm). Therefore, S₂O₈^2- promotes lower consumption of EDDS as Fe:EDDS 1:1 was better than Fe:EDDS 1:2. In photo-Fenton-like processes at circumneutral pH, EDDS with S₂O₈^2- is an alternative to H₂O₂ as an oxidizing agent.

Inactivation of E. coli and E. faecalis by solar photo-Fenton with EDDS complex at neutral pH in municipal wastewater effluents

Photo-Fenton is a solar disinfection technology widely demonstrated to be effective to inactivate microorganisms in water by the combined effect of photoactivated iron species and the direct action of solar photons. Nevertheless, the precipitation of iron as ferric hydroxide at basic pH is the main disadvantage of this process. Thus, challenge in photo-Fenton is looking for alternatives to iron salts. Polycarboxylic acids, such as Ethylendiamine-N',N'-disuccinic acid (EDDS), can form strong complex with Fe³⁺ and enhance the dissolution of iron in natural water through photochemical process. The aim of this study was to evaluate the disinfection effectiveness of solar photo-Fenton with and without EDDS in water. Several reagent concentrations were assessed, best bacterial (Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis) inactivation was obtained with 0.1:0.2:0.3 mM (Fe³⁺:EDDS:H₂O₂) in isotonic water. The benefit of using EDDS complexes to increase the efficiency of kept dissolved iron in water at basic pH was proven. Solar disinfection and H₂O₂/solar with and without EDDS, and Fe³⁺:EDDS complexes were also investigated. Bacterial inactivation results in municipal wastewater effluents (MWWE) demonstrated that the competitive role of organic matter and inorganic compounds strongly affect the efficacy of Fe³⁺:EDDS at all concentrations tested, obtaining the fastest inactivation kinetics with H₂O₂/solar (0.3 mM).

A critical review of the application of chelating agents to enable Fenton and Fenton-like reactions at high pH values

To overcome the drawback of low pH requirement of the classical Fenton reaction, researchers have applied chelating agents to form complexes with Fe and enable Fenton reaction at high pHs, which is reviewed in this article. The chelating agents reviewed include humic substances, polycarboxylates, aminopolycarboxylic acids, and polyoxometalates. Ligands affect the reactivity of Fe-complexes by changing their redox potentials, promoting their reaction with H₂O₂, and competing with target contaminants for the oxidative species. Fe(III)-complexes are reduced to Fe(II)-complexes by O₂^- not H₂O₂, as indicated by their redox potentials. The stability constants of Fe-complexes increase with increasing pK_a values of the corresponding ligands and also with increasing charge density of the metal ions. A higher stability constant of Fe(III)-complex indicates higher reaction rate of corresponding Fe(II)-complex with H₂O₂ and lower reduction rate of Fe(III)-complex to Fe(II)-complex. OH, O₂^-, and ferryl species were reported to be the reactive species on the contaminant removal in the chelate-modified Fenton process. The generation of these species depends on the chelating agents and reaction conditions. The process is very efficient in degrading contaminants, indicating a potential treatment approach for the pollution remediation at natural pH.

Identification of a novel aminopolycarboxylic acid siderophore gene cluster encoding the biosynthesis of ethylenediaminesuccinic acid hydroxyarginine (EDHA)

The mechanism of siderophore-mediated iron supply enhances fitness and survivability of microorganisms under iron limited growth conditions. One class of naturally occurring ionophores is the small aminopolycarboxylic acids (APCAs). Although they are structurally related to the most famous anthropogenic chelating agent, ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA), they have been largely neglected by the scientific community. Here, we demonstrate the detection of APCA gene clusters by a computational screening of a nucleotide database. This genome mining approach enabled the discovery of a yet unknown APCA gene cluster in well-described actinobacterial strains, either known for their potential to produce valuable secondary metabolites (Streptomyces avermitilis) or for their pathogenic lifestyle (Streptomyces scabies, Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, Corynebacterium ulcerans and Nocardia brasiliensis). The herein identified gene cluster was shown to encode the biosynthesis of APCA, ethylenediaminesuccinic acid hydroxyarginine (EDHA). Detailed and comparatively performed production and transcriptional profiling of EDHA and its biosynthesis genes showed strict iron-responsive biosynthesis.

Structural Basis for the Catalytic Mechanism of Ethylenediamine- N, N'-disuccinic Acid Lyase, a Carbon-Nitrogen Bond-Forming Enzyme with a Broad Substrate Scope

The natural aminocarboxylic acid product ethylenediamine-N,N′-disuccinic acid [(S,S)-EDDS] is able to form a stable complex with metal ions, making it an attractive biodegradable alternative for the synthetic metal chelator ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), which is currently used on a large scale in numerous applications. Previous studies have demonstrated that biodegradation of (S,S)-EDDS may be initiated by an EDDS lyase, converting (S,S)-EDDS via the intermediate N-(2-aminoethyl)aspartic acid (AEAA) into ethylenediamine and two molecules of fumarate. However, current knowledge of this enzyme is limited because of the absence of structural data. Here, we describe the identification and characterization of an EDDS lyase from Chelativorans sp. BNC1, which has a broad substrate scope, accepting various mono- and diamines for addition to fumarate. We report crystal structures of the enzyme in an unliganded state and in complex with formate, succinate, fumarate, AEAA, and (S,S)-EDDS. The structures reveal a tertiary and quaternary fold that is characteristic of the aspartase/fumarase superfamily and support a mechanism that involves general base-catalyzed, sequential two-step deamination of (S,S)-EDDS. This work broadens our understanding of mechanistic diversity within the aspartase/fumarase superfamily and will aid in the optimization of EDDS lyase for asymmetric synthesis of valuable (metal-chelating) aminocarboxylic acids.

Applicability of alkaline precipitation for the recovery of EDDS spent solution

This paper presents an innovative procedure for the recovery of SS-ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid (EDDS) solution used for soil washing processes. The procedure is derived from that applied for the recovery of ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid (EDTA), modifying and optimizing the choice of the chemical agents used for the protonation of the chelant, the exchange of the metals, and the final precipitation of the unwanted compounds. To select the reagents and test the proposed approach, an experimental study was conducted on real EDDS spent solutions, obtained washing a Cu and Zn real contaminated soil. According to the results obtained, the precipitation ranges from 30% to more than 90% for both Cu and Zn, depending on the adopted reagent sequence, and on the molar ratio between the salt and the chelant contained in the spent solution. Data were in agreement with chemical equilibrium predicted in ideal conditions. The recovered solutions had a reduced ability to remove the contaminants when applied in a new soil washing cycle (15% less for Cu and 30% less for Zn) because of the high concentration of alkaline metal ions required for the precipitation. At the same time, they were more biodegradable compared to non-treated solutions, confirming that EDDS-metal chelates may represent a threat for biological wastewater processes.

Advances in the treatment of problematic industrial biofilms

In nature, microorganisms tend to form biofilms that consist of extracellular polymeric substances with embedded sessile cells. Biofilms, especially mixed-culture synergistic biofilm consortia, are notoriously difficult to treat. They employ various defense mechanisms against attacks from antimicrobial agents. Problematic industrial biofilms cause biofouling as well as biocorrosion, also known as microbiologically influenced corrosion. Biocides are often used to treat biofilms together with scrubbing or pigging. Unfortunately, chemical treatments suppress vulnerable microbial species while allowing resistant species to take over. Repeated treatment cycles are typically needed in biofilm mitigation. This leads to biocide dosage escalation, causing environmental problems, higher costs and sometimes operational problems such as scale formation. New treatment methods are being developed such as enhanced biocide treatment and bacteriophage treatment. Special materials such as antibacterial stainless steels are also being created to combat biofilms. This review discussed some of the advances made in the fight against problematic industrial biofilms.

Kinetics study on the degradation of a model naphthenic acid by ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid-modified Fenton process

Naphthenic acids (NAs) are reported to be the main species responsible for the oil sands process-affected water (OSPW) toxicity. In this study, the degradation of cyclohexanoic acid (CHA) as a model compound for NAs by an ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid (EDDS)-modified Fenton process was investigated at pH 8. Optimum dose for Fe-EDDS (EDDS:Fe=2:1) was 0.45mM, and 2.94mM for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The time profiles of the main species in the process were studied, including CHA, H2O2, Fe(II), total Fe, and Fe-EDDS (in the main form of Fe(III)EDDS). The second-order rate constant between EDDS and hydroxyl radical (OH) at pH 8 was obtained as 2.48±0.43×10(9)M(-1)s(-1). OH was proved to be the main species responsible for the CHA degradation, while superoxide radical (O2(-)) played a minor role. The consecutive addition of H2O2 and Fe-EDDS led to a higher removal of CHA compared to that achieved by adding the reagents at a time. The half-wave potential of Fe(III/II)EDDS was measured at pH 7-9. The EDDS-modified Fenton process is a promising alternative to degrade NAs.

Comparison of Nitrilotriacetic Acid and [S,S]-Ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic Acid in UV-Fenton for the Treatment of Oil Sands Process-Affected Water at Natural pH

The application of UV-Fenton processes with two chelating agents, nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) and [S,S]-ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid ([S,S]-EDDS), for the treatment of oil sands process-affected water (OSPW) at natural pH was investigated. The half-wave potentials of Fe(III/II)NTA and Fe(III/II)EDDS and the UV photolysis of the complexes in Milli-Q water and OSPW were compared. Under optimum conditions, UV-NTA-Fenton exhibited higher efficiency than UV-EDDS-Fenton in the removal of acid extractable organic fraction (66.8% for the former and 50.0% for the latter) and aromatics (93.5% for the former and 74.2% for the latter). Naphthenic acids (NAs) removals in the UV-NTA-Fenton process (98.4%, 86.0%, and 81.0% for classical NAs, NAs + O (oxidized NAs with one additional oxygen atom), and NAs + 2O (oxidized NAs with two additional oxygen atoms), respectively) under the experimental conditions were much higher than those in the UV-H₂O₂ (88.9%, 48.7%, and 54.6%, correspondingly) and NTA-Fenton (69.6%, 35.3%, and 44.2%, correspondingly) processes. Both UV-NTA-Fenton and UV-EDDS-Fenton processes presented promoting effect on the acute toxicity of OSPW toward Vibrio fischeri. No significant change of the NTA toxicity occurred during the photolysis of Fe(III)NTA; however, the acute toxicity of EDDS increased as the photolysis of Fe(III)EDDS proceeded. NTA is a much better agent than EDDS for the application of UV-Fenton process in the treatment of OSPW.

Fast removal of tetracycline from wastewater by reduced graphene oxide prepared via microwave-assisted ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid induction method

A green reagent of ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid (EDDS) was reported herein for reduction of graphene oxide (GO) with microwave assistance. The characteristics of EDDS reduced graphene oxide (ERG), and the tetracycline (TC) adsorption behavior of ERG was investigated. The results showed that the deoxygenation efficiency of GO strongly depended on the EDDS amount and the ERG can be successively obtained by recycled EDDS. The ERG obtained at EDDS/GO ratio of 5 (ERG5) exhibited a maximum capacity of 558.66 mg/g for TC adsorption, which is superior to GO and ERGs obtained at other EDDS/GO ratio. The adsorption reached equilibrium within 10 min, and the driving forces are likely the van der Waals forces, π-π electron-donor-acceptor (EDA) interaction and cation-π bonding between TC and the ERG surface. The adsorbent dose, pH, temperature, initial TC concentration, and ionic strength significantly affect the TC adsorption. The pseudo-second-order kinetics describes TC adsorption process very well, with correlation coefficients (R (2) ) greater than 0.99. The adsorption isotherm was best fitted by Freundlich equation, followed by Langmuir, Temkin, and Hill model equations. Analysis on adsorption thermodynamics shows that the adsorption is a spontaneous endothermic process. The ERG could be a cost-effective and promising sorbent for TC wastewater treatment due to its high-efficiency performance in real river water, medical wastewater, and municipal wastewater.

Understanding the bioavailability and sequestration of different metal cations in the presence of a biodegradable chelant S,S-EDDS in biological fluids and natural waters

Ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid is a biodegradable alternative to EDTA, therefore its use for the sequestration of Ca(2+), Sn(2+), Cu(2+), Zn(2+) and Fe(3+) is analyzed. New data on its binding ability towards these cations were obtained with potentiometric, voltammetric and calorimetric measurements at different ionic strengths and at T = 298.15 K. Real multi-component fluids, namely fresh water, urine, sea water, saliva and blood plasma were chosen as case studies to evaluate the sequestering ability of EDDS in comparison with EDTA. Speciation diagrams were drawn in selected conditions, considering all interactions among the "natural" components of the fluid and those studied in this work, EDDS and EDTA (cL = 1 mmol dm(-3)) as sequestering agents and the cited metal cations (cM ∼ 10(-5) mol dm(-3)). The comparison of the sequestering ability of EDDS and EDTA is done using pM and pL0.5. In blood plasma the plasma mobilizing index was adopted. It was found that EDDS is a good alternative to EDTA, which tends to bind Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) more than EDDS. In particular, EDTA cannot be used as a sequestrant for Sn(2+) when cCa > cEDTA. EDDS is more efficient than EDTA at pH < 8, particularly in urine, where carbonate is absent. In sea water, the sequestering ability of EDDS towards Fe(3+) is higher than that of EDTA. In blood plasma, the PMI of EDDS towards Cu(2+) is higher than that of EDTA. Thermodynamic information, in terms of ΔH and ΔS, for the protonation and metal complex formation reactions are reported.

Assessment of amendments for the immobilization of Cu in soils containing EDDS leachates

In this study, the effectiveness of six soil amendments (ferrihydrite, manganese dioxide, gibbsite, calcium carbonate, biochar, and organic fertilizer) was investigated to assess the feasibility of minimizing possible environmental contaminant leaching during S,S-ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (EDDS)-enhanced phytoextraction process based on 0.01-M CaCl2 extraction. Results showed that the application of EDDS could significantly increase Cu concentrations in the leaching solution. Compared with control, incorporation of six amendments (excluding organic fertilizer) significantly decreased CaCl2-extractable Cu concentrations in both soils. When EDDS-containing solutions leached from the soil columns (mimicking the upper soil layers) were added to soils with different amendments (mimicking the subsoil), CaCl2-extractable Cu in the soils amended with ferrihydrite, manganese dioxide, gibbsite, and calcium carbonate was significantly lower than that in the control soil (no amendments) and remained relatively constant during the first 14 days. Incorporation of biochar or organic fertilizer had no positive effect on the immobilization of Cu in EDDS leachates in soils. After 14 days, CaCl2-extractable Cu concentration decreased rapidly in soils incorporated with various amendments. Integrating soil washing with biodegradable chelating agents or chelant-enhanced phytoextraction and immobilization of heavy metals in subsoil could be used to rapidly reduce the concentration of bioavailable metal fractions in the upper soil layers and minimize environmental risks of secondary pollution.

Metal partitioning in plant-substrate-water compartments under EDDS-assisted phytoextraction of pyrite waste with Brassica carinata A. Braun

Soil amendment with chelating agents can increase metal uptake and translocation in biomass species through increased metal bioavailability together with possible increases in metal leaching. In this study, we assessed the efficiency and environmental risk of the fast-degradable [S,S]-EDDS. Cu, Pb and Zn uptake in pot-cultivated Brassica carinata A. Braun, residual substrate metal bioavailability and leaching were investigated after one cycle of EDDS-assisted phytoextraction in mixed metal-contaminated pyrite waste, which is characterised by high Fe content. The chelator was supplied at doses of 2.5 and 5 mmol EDDS kg(-1) waste 1 week before harvest and 1 mmol EDDS kg(-1) waste repeated five times at 5- and 10-day intervals during the growing cycle. Here we demonstrate that EDDS generally increases shoot metal concentrations-especially of Cu-but only seldom improves removals because of markedly impaired growth. Considerable phytotoxicity and Cu leaching occurred under repeated EDDS treatments, although environmental risks may also arise from the single, close-to-harvest applications as Cu bioavailability in waste at plant harvest still remained very high (up to +67 % at 5 mmol EDDS kg(-1) vs. untreated controls). The residual bioavailability of Zn and Pb was instead generally reduced, perhaps due to shifts in cation exchange, whereas Fe mobility was not apparently affected. The amount of metals removed by plants represented a small fraction of the bioavailable pool (<1 %), and mobilised metals quickly reached deep layers in the substrate. We conclude that EDDS assistance can provide only some limited opportunities for improving phytoremediation of pyrite waste, major benefits being achieved by low doses to be traditionally applied shortly before harvest, with due attention to limiting groundwater pollution.

Removal of heavy metal species from industrial sludge with the aid of biodegradable iminodisuccinic acid as the chelating ligand

High level of heavy metals in industrial sludge was the obstacle of sludge disposal and resource recycling. In this study, iminodisuccinic acid (IDS), a biodegradable chelating ligand, was used to remove heavy metals from industrial sludge generated from battery industry. The extraction of cadmium, copper, nickel, and zinc from battery sludge with aqueous solution of IDS was studied under various conditions. It was found that removal efficiency greatly depends on pH, chelating agent's concentration, as well as species distribution of metals. The results showed that mildly acidic and neutral systems were not beneficial to remove cadmium. About 68 % of cadmium in the sample was extracted at the molar ratio of IDS to heavy metals 7:1 without pH adjustment (pH 11.5). Copper of 91.3 % and nickel of 90.7 % could be removed by IDS (molar ratio, IDS: metals = 1:1) with 1.2 % phosphoric acid effectively. Removal efficiency of zinc was very low throughout the experiment. Based on the experimental results, IDS could be a potentially useful chelant for heavy metal removal from battery industry sludge.

Biodegradable chelating agents for industrial, domestic, and agricultural applications--a review

Aminopolycarboxylates, like ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), are chelating agents widely used in several industrial, agricultural, and domestic applications. However, the fact that they are not biodegradable leads to the presence of considerable amounts in aquatic systems, with serious environmental consequences. The replacement of these compounds by biodegradable alternatives has been the object of study in the last three decades. This paper reviews the most relevant studies towards the use of environmentally friendly chelating agents in a large number of applications: oxidative bleaching, detergents and cleaning compositions, scale prevention and reduction, remediation of soils, agriculture, electroplating, waste treatment, and biocides. Nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (EDDS), and iminodisuccinic acid (IDS) are the most commonly suggested to replace the nonbiodegradable chelating agents. Depending on the application, the requirements for metal complexation might differ. Metal chelation ability of the most promising compounds [NTA, EDDS, IDS, methylglycinediacetic acid (MGDA), L-glutamic acid N,N-diacetic acid (GLDA), ethylenediamine-N,N'-diglutaric acid (EDDG), ethylenediamine-N,N'-dimalonic acid (EDDM), 3-hydroxy-2,2-iminodisuccinic acid (HIDS), 2-hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid (HEIDA), pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (PDA)] with Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn, Ca, and Mg was simulated by computer calculations. The advantages or disadvantages of each compound for the most important applications were discussed.

Effect of EDTA and citric acid on phytoremediation of Cr- B[a]P-co-contaminated soil

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals in the environment are a concern, and their removal to acceptable level is required. Phytoremediation, the use of plants to treat contaminated soils, could be an interesting alternative to conventional remediation processes. This work evaluates the role of single and combined applications of chelates to single or mixed Cr + benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P)-contaminated soil. Medicago sativa was grown in contaminated soil and was amended with 0.3 g citric acid, 0.146 g ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), or their combination for 60 days. The result shows that in Cr-contaminated soil, the application of EDTA + citric acid significantly (p<0.05) decreased the shoot dry matter of M. sativa by 55 % and, as such, decreased the Cr removal potential from the soil. The soluble Cr concentration in single Cr or Cr + B[a]P-contaminated soil was enhanced with the amendment of all chelates; however, only the application of citric acid in Cr-contaminated soil (44 %) or EDTA and EDTA + citric acid in co-contaminated soil increased the removal of Cr from the soil (34 and 54 %, respectively). The dissipation of B[a]P in single B[a]P-contaminated soil was effective even without planting and amendment with chelates, while in co-contaminated soil, it was related to the application of either EDTA or EDTA + citric acid. This suggests that M. sativa with the help of chelates in single or co-contaminated soil can be effective in phytoextraction of Cr and promoting the biodegradation of B[a]P.

Application of a new generation of complexing agents in removal of heavy metal ions from different wastes

Complexing agents are extensively applied in many fields of industry. They are used to provide effective controlling trace metal ions in cleaning industries, textile, pulp and paper production, water treatment, agriculture, food industries, etc. Recently, the low biodegradability of these ligands and their accumulation in the environment has become a cause for concern. Therefore, replacement of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid by more environmentally friendly chelating agents is highly desirable. So far, these acids and their salts have been applied as components of household chemistry, cosmetics, modern microelement fertilizers and agrochemicals. This paper reviews the sorption of heavy metal ions such as Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II) in the presence of the above-mentioned complexing agents on commercially available anion exchangers of different matrix. The obtained sorption results were fitted using the Langmuir and Freundlich sorption isotherm models. The kinetic data were also analysed using the Lagergren, Ho and McKay sorption kinetic equations. The studies were carried out considering the effects of such important parameters as phase contact time, initial concentration, pH and temperature.

Isolation of Burkholderia cepacia JB12 from lead- and cadmium-contaminated soil and its potential in promoting phytoremediation with tall fescue and red clover

Phytoremediation combined with suitable microorganisms and biodegradable chelating agents can be a means of reclaiming lands contaminated by toxic heavy metals. We investigated the ability of a lead- and cadmium-resistant bacterial strain (JB12) and the biodegradable chelator ethylenediamine-N,N′-disuccinic acid (EDDS) to improve absorption of these metals from soil by tall fescue and red clover. Strain JB12 was isolated from contaminated soil samples, analysed for lead and cadmium resistance, and identified as Burkholderia cepacia. Tall fescue and red clover were grown in pots to which we added JB12, (S,S)-EDDS, combined JB12 and EDDS, or water only. Compared with untreated plants, the biomass of plants treated with JB12 was significantly increased. Concentrations of lead and cadmium in JB12-treated plants increased significantly, with few exceptions. Plants treated with EDDS responded variably, but in those treated with combined EDDS and JB12, heavy metal concentrations increased significantly in tall fescue and in the aboveground parts of red clover. We conclude that JB12 is resistant to lead and cadmium. Its application to the soil improved the net uptake of these heavy metals by experimental plants. The potential for viable phytoremediation of lead- and cadmium-polluted soils with tall fescue and red clover combined with JB12 was further enhanced by the addition of EDDS.

Enhancing radium solubilization in soils by citrate, EDTA, and EDDS chelating amendments

The effect of three chelating agents (citrate, EDTA, and EDDS) on the solubilization of radium from a granitic soil was studied systematically, considering different soil pH values, chelating agent concentrations, and leaching times. For all the chelating agents tested, the amount of radium leached proved to be strongly dependent on the pH of the substrate: only for acidic conditions did the amount of radium released increase significantly relative to the controls. Under the best conditions, the radium released from the amended soil was greater by factors of 20 in the case of citrate, 18 for EDTA, and 14 for EDDS. The greatest improvement in the release of radium was obtained for the citrate amendment at the highest concentration tested (50 mmol kg(-1)). A slightly lower amount of radium was leached with EDTA at 5 mmol kg(-1) soil, but the solubilization over time was very different from that observed with citrate or EDDS. With EDTA, a maximum in radium leaching was reached on the first day after amendment, while with citrate, the maximum was attained on the fourth day. With EDDS, radium leaching increased slightly but steadily with time (until the sixth day), but the net effect for the period tested was the lowest of the three reagents.

Impact of a snail pellet on the phytoavailability of different metals to cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus L.)

FePO4 based molluscicides (snail pellets) also contain a chelating agent. The influence of the chelating agent, which is intrinsically present in the molluscicide, on the phytoavailability of other metals present in the growth medium was investigated in the present study. Cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus) were grown in a hydroponic nutrient solution and exposed for one week to different metals in combination with a chelating agent containing molluscicide. Oven dried roots and shoots of plants were HNO 3/H2O2 microwave digested and analysed regarding total Fe, stable isotopic (54)Fe, Cd, Pb, and Bi concentrations using ICP-MS. The results showed that the addition of a chelating agent enhances the Fe phytoavailability to the plant, whether as an intrinsic part of the molluscicide or added individually. Additionally, the chelating agent present in the pesticide mobilises externally added metals and thus increases their phytoavailability. In particular the significantly higher Cd concentration in shoots from plants exposed to chelating agents indicates a potentially detrimental environmental effect.

Residual effects of EDDS leachates on plants during EDDS-assisted phytoremediation of copper contaminated soil

In this study, a novel experimental setup (one pot placed above another) was used to investigate the residual effects of EDDS application on plant growth and metal uptake. Two plant species, garland chrysanthemum and ryegrass, were grown in the upper pots (mimicking the upper soil layers) and were harvested 7 days after EDDS application. During this period the upper pots were watered twice. The lower pots (mimicking the subsoil under the upper soil layers) served as leachate collectors. Thereafter, the two pots were separated, and the same plants were grown in the upper and lower pots in two continuous croppings. Results showed that EDDS application restrained the growth of the first crop and resulted in a dramatic enhancement of Cu accumulation in plants grown in the upper pots. However, no negative growth effects were identified for the second and third crops, which were harvested 81 and 204 days after the EDDS application, respectively. In the lower pots, the leachate from the upper pots after EDDS application exhibited the increased total and CaCl(2)-extractable Cu concentrations in the soil. However, the growth of garland chrysanthemum and ryegrass, and their shoot Cu concentrations were unaffected. These data suggest that the residual risk associated with EDDS application was limited, and that subsoil to which EDDS leachate was applied may exhibit reduced Cu bioavailability for plants due to the biodegradation of EDDS.

Metal leaching along soil profiles after the EDDS application--a field study

One concern about the chelant-enhanced phytoextraction is the potential metal leaching associated with chelant application. A field study was carried out and the metal leaching along the 60-cm depth soil profiles were evaluated within 36 days after the biodegradable chelant EDDS was applied. Results showed EDDS significantly increased soluble Cu in the top 5 cm soil layer 1 day after the application, and the increase of soluble metals was generally limited in the top 20 cm soil. Metal speciation analysis indicated all Cu and Zn were in forms of Cu-EDDS and Zn-EDDS complexes in soil solution, and Ca was the major competitor with trace metals to EDDS. The soluble metals decreased quickly with time, and no significant difference was observed in the extractable Cu between EDDS treatments and the controls 22 days after the EDDS addition. The potential leaching associated with biodegradable EDDS addition may be controlled under field conditions.

Simultaneous mobilization of trace elements and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds from soil with a nonionic surfactant and [S,S]-EDDS in admixture: metals

This study evaluated the efficacy of soil washing with a nonionic surfactant (Brij98) in combination with a complexing reagent (ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid, [S,S]-EDDS) for the simultaneous mobilization of macro- and trace elements (MTEs) and PAH compounds from a field-contaminated soil. Soil fractionation studies indicated that an appreciable fraction of the Al, Ca, Cu, Fe and Mn was associated with the residual fraction but that much of the other trace elements (As, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn) might be susceptible to soil washing. Ultrasonically aided mixing of the field contaminated soil with Brij98 and a sparing quantity (2 mmol) of [S,S]-EDDS, simultaneously mobilized virtually all of the benzo[α]pyrene {B(a)P} and chrysene (CRY) and appreciable quantities of the trace elements (Cd, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) burdens. The recovery of both PAHs and trace elements were increased from the soil organic matter (SOM)-rich soil. This report concerns the fate of MTEs during soil washing. Multiple ultra-sonically aided washes (five or nine) with the same dosage of reagents mobilized virtually all of PAHs and decreased the levels of Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn to comply with recommended maxima. By contrast, the levels of As and Cu remained excessive after the treatments.

A green triple biocide cocktail consisting of a biocide, EDDS and methanol for the mitigation of planktonic and sessile sulfate-reducing bacteria

Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) cause souring and their biofilms are often the culprit in Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC). The two most common green biocides for SRB treatment are tetrakis-hydroxymethylphosphonium sulfate (THPS) and glutaraldehyde. It is unlikely that there will be another equally effective green biocide in the market any time soon. This means more effective biocide treatment probably will rely on biocide cocktails. In this work a triple biocide cocktail consisting of glutaraldehyde or THPS, ethylenediaminedisuccinate (EDDS) and methanol was used to treat planktonic SRB and to remove established SRB biofilms. Desulfovibrio vulgaris (ATCC 7757), a corrosive SRB was used as an example in the tests. Laboratory results indicated that with the addition of 10-15% (v/v) methanol to the glutaraldehyde and EDDS double combination, mitigation of planktonic SRB growth in ATCC 1249 medium and a diluted medium turned from inhibition to a kill effect while the chelator dosage was cut from 2,000 to 1,000 ppm. Biofilm removal was achieved when 50 ppm glutaraldehyde combined with 15% methanol and 1,000 ppm EDDS was used. THPS showed similar effects when it was used to replace glutaraldehyde in the triple biocide cocktail to treat planktonic SRB.

Ethylenediamine-N,N'-diglutaric acid (EDDG) as a promising biodegradable chelator: quantification, complexation and biodegradation

[S,S]-ethylenediamine-N,N'-diglutaric acid (EDDG) has been gaining interest in the industrial sector as a promising chelator. In this study, the effective metal complexing capacity of EDDG over a wide pH range was modelled and its biodegradability assessed. Results showed that EDDG could effectively bind to several metallic ions in a wide pH range and was completely biodegraded after approximately 15 days by un-acclimatized sludge. To confirm its biodegradability, an accurate quantification method based on the combination of liquid chromatography and tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was developed. Good linearity of the detector response was found for EDDG at concentrations ranging from 0.15 to 1.2 mg/L.

Effects of iron(III)chelates on the solubility of heavy metals in calcareous soils

In this study I evaluated the effects of complexing agents on the solubility of heavy metals in an incubation experiment up to 56 days when complexing agents were applied as Fe-chelates (Fe-EDDS(S,S), Fe-EDDS(mix), Fe-EDTA and Fe-EDDHA) on calcareous soils at a level sufficient to correct Fe chlorosis (0.1 mmol kg(-1)). Of these ligands, EDDHA was the most efficient in keeping Fe in water-soluble form, and EDDS increased the solubility of Cu and Zn most, and only EDTA increased the solubility of Cd and Pb. EDTA increased the solubility of Ni steadily during the incubation period, equalling about 5-8% of the added EDTA concentration. [S,S]-EDDS was biodegraded within 56 days, whereas EDDS(mix) was less biodegradable. Ni-chelates were the most recalcitrant against biodegradation. The study shows that even a moderate input of chelates to soil increases the solubility of toxic heavy metals and their risk of leaching.