1
|
Fuller ME, Thakur N, Hedman PC, Zhao Y, Chiu PC. Combined sorption-biodegradation for removal of energetic compounds from stormwater runoff. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2025; 483:136595. [PMID: 39615382 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.136595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2024] [Revised: 10/02/2024] [Accepted: 11/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2025]
Abstract
Munition constituents (MC) in stormwater runoff have the potential to move these pollutants into receiving bodies at military installations. Here we present further evaluation of a passive and sustainable biofilter technology for removal of dissolved MC from simulated surface runoff by combined sorption-biodegradation processes under dynamic flow conditions. Columns were packed with MC sorbents Sphagnum peat moss and cationized (CAT) pine shavings with and without wood-based biochar. Some columns also received biodegradable polymers as a slow-release carbon source and MC degrading bacterial cultures. MC removal was greater under combined sorption-biodegradation conditions than under sorption only conditions, ranging from 2.5-fold for 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) to > 25-fold for hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-s-triazine (RDX). Biochar improved removal for some MC, which was attributed to it acting as a buffer by its ability to sorb/degrade these compounds, thus delaying their elution from the columns until the biodegradation activity increased. It was also found that labile carbon source availability, rather than microbial culture viability, was responsible for the apparent reduction in energetic removal over time. These results provide a foundation for further development of technologies for remediation of energetic compounds in military range stormwater runoff.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mark E Fuller
- Aptim Federal Services, 17 Princess Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648, USA.
| | - Nikita Thakur
- Aptim Federal Services, 17 Princess Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648, USA
| | - Paul C Hedman
- Aptim Federal Services, 17 Princess Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648, USA
| | - Yuwei Zhao
- Aptim Federal Services, 17 Princess Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648, USA
| | - Pei C Chiu
- University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Cornell CR, Bangala JI, Masiello CA, Alvarez PJJ. Beyond the Bench: Contextualizing the Impacts of Char Redox Properties on Biogeochemical Cycling and Microbial Ecosystem Services. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2025; 59:1080-1090. [PMID: 39772564 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c08883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2025]
Abstract
The electrochemical properties of chars have been recently described, positioning chars as active participants in microbial redox processes through functional groups, aromatic structures, redox-active metals, and radicals. While bench-scale studies have advanced mechanistic understanding of char's behavior and potential effects, translating these findings to complex ecosystems remains challenging. This is mainly due to the complexities of microbial communities and the unique properties of various ecosystems. Factors like char aging and patina formation, and environmental parameters including oxygen and moisture availability, pH, and organic matter content can significantly affect char electrochemical properties and microbial interactions. This highlights the need for a broader understanding of char redox processes to predict and effectively manage unintended environmental impacts or enhance beneficial effects. Long-term monitoring of complex systems amended with char is also needed to determine whether char accumulation has long-term redox effects on microbial ecosystem services, including biogeochemical cycling. Predictive understanding of these processes would inform the production of chars to enhance beneficial processes such as increased soil productivity, and provide new opportunities for engineered environmental remediation. Here, we summarize how char redox properties affect well-defined microbial systems and discuss key factors that determine whether the effects of char redox properties are enhanced or attenuated in complex systems. We also identify critical knowledge gaps about chars' role in microbial redox processes that are important for environmental sustainability and postulate that managing char's redox properties, such as electron donating, accepting, or conducting ability, is an emerging opportunity to influence microbial ecosystem services.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn R Cornell
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Johanna I Bangala
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Caroline A Masiello
- Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Carbon Hub, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Pedro J J Alvarez
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Tian W, Tang Y, Ducey TF, Khan E, Tsang DCW. Facilitating Intracellular Electron Bifurcation by Mediating Flavin-Based Extracellular and Transmembrane Electron Transfer: A Novel Role of Pyrogenic Carbon in Dark Fermentation for Hydrogen Production. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:17766-17776. [PMID: 39315852 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c05994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/25/2024]
Abstract
Pyrogenic carbon is considered an enhancer to H2-yielding dark fermentation (DF), but little is known about how it regulates extracellular electron transfer (EET) and influences transmembrane respiratory chains and intracellular metabolisms. This study addressed these knowledge gaps and demonstrated that wood waste pyrogenic carbon (biochar) could significantly improve the DF performance; e.g., addition of pyrogenic carbon produced by pyrolysis at 800 °C (PC800) increased H2 yield by 369.7%. Biochemical quantification, electrochemical analysis, and electron respiratory chain inhibition tests revealed that PC800 promoted the extracellular flavin-based electron transfer process and further activated the acceleration of the transmembrane electron transfer. Comparative metagenome/metatranscriptome analyses indicated that the flavin-containing Rnf complex was the potential transmembrane respiratory enzyme associated with PC800-mediated EET. Based on NADH/NAD+ circulation, the promoted Rnf complex could stimulate the functions of the electron bifurcating Etf/Bcd complex and startup of glycolysis. The promoted Etf/Bcd could further contribute to balance the NADH/NAD+ level for glycolytic reactions and meanwhile provide reduced ferredoxin for group A1 [FeFe]-hydrogenases. This proton-energy-linked mechanism could achieve coupling production of ATP and H2. This study verified the important roles of pyrogenic carbon in mediating EET and transmembrane/intracellular pathways and revealed the crucial roles of electron bifurcation in DF for hydrogen production.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Tian
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Yanfei Tang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Thomas F Ducey
- Coastal Plains Soil, Water, and Plant Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture, Florence, South Carolina 29501, United States
| | - Eakalak Khan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada 89154, United States
| | - Daniel C W Tsang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong 999077, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Lian F, Xing B. From Bulk to Nano: Formation, Features, and Functions of Nano-Black Carbon in Biogeochemical Processes. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:15910-15925. [PMID: 39189123 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c07027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/28/2024]
Abstract
Globally increasing wildfires and widespread applications of biochar have led to a growing amount of black carbon (BC) entering terrestrial ecosystems. The significance of BC in carbon sequestration, environmental remediation, and the agricultural industry has long been recognized. However, the formation, features, and environmental functions of nanosized BC, which is one of the most active fractions in the BC continuum during global climate change, are poorly understood. This review highlights the formation, surface reactivity (sorption, redox, and heteroaggregation), biotic, and abiotic transformations of nano-BC, and its major differences compared to other fractions of BC and engineered carbon nanomaterials. Potential applications of nano-BC including suspending agent, soil amendment, and nanofertilizer are elucidated based on its unique properties and functions. Future studies are suggested to develop more reliable detection techniques to provide multidimensional information on nano-BC in environmental samples, explore the critical role of nano-BC in promoting soil and planetary health from a one health perspective, and extend the multifield applications of nano-BC with a lower environmental footprint but higher efficiency.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fei Lian
- Institute of Pollution Control and Environmental Health, and School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China
| | - Baoshan Xing
- Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Niu S, Li C, Gao S, Tian J, Zhang C, Li L, Huang Y, Lyu H. Biochar, microbes, and biochar-microbe synergistic treatment of chlorinated hydrocarbons in groundwater: a review. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1443682. [PMID: 39091302 PMCID: PMC11291464 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1443682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Dehalogenating bacteria are still deficient when targeted to deal with chlorinated hydrocarbons (CHCs) contamination: e.g., slow metabolic rates, limited substrate range, formation of toxic intermediates. To enhance its dechlorination capacity, biochar and its composites with appropriate surface activity and biocompatibility are selected for coupled dechlorination. Because of its special surface physical and chemical properties, it promotes biofilm formation by dehalogenating bacteria on its surface and improves the living environment for dehalogenating bacteria. Next, biochar and its composites provide active sites for the removal of CHCs through adsorption, activation and catalysis. These sites can be specific metal centers, functional groups or structural defects. Under microbial mediation, these sites can undergo activation and catalytic cycles, thereby increasing dechlorination efficiency. However, there is a lack of systematic understanding of the mechanisms of dechlorination in biogenic and abiogenic systems based on biochar. Therefore, this article comprehensively summarizes the recent research progress of biochar and its composites as a "Taiwan balm" for the degradation of CHCs in terms of adsorption, catalysis, improvement of microbial community structure and promotion of degradation and metabolism of CHCs. The removal efficiency, influencing factors and reaction mechanism of the degraded CHCs were also discussed. The following conclusions were drawn, in the pure biochar system, the CHCs are fixed to its surface by adsorption through chemical bonds on its surface; the biochar composite material relies on persistent free radicals and electron shuttle mechanisms to react with CHCs, disrupting their molecular structure and reducing them; biochar-coupled microorganisms reduce CHCs primarily by forming an "electron shuttle bridge" between biological and non-biological organisms. Finally, the experimental directions to be carried out in the future are suggested to explore the optimal solution to improve the treatment efficiency of CHCs in water.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shixin Niu
- Shandong Provincial Geo-mineral Engineering Exploration Institute, Shandong Provincial Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources, Jinan, China
- Shandong Engineering Research Center for Environmental Protection and Remediation on Groundwater, Jinan, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Clean Energy and Pollution Control, School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Changsuo Li
- Shandong Provincial Geo-mineral Engineering Exploration Institute, Shandong Provincial Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources, Jinan, China
- Shandong Engineering Research Center for Environmental Protection and Remediation on Groundwater, Jinan, China
| | - Shuai Gao
- Shandong Provincial Geo-mineral Engineering Exploration Institute, Shandong Provincial Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources, Jinan, China
- Shandong Engineering Research Center for Environmental Protection and Remediation on Groundwater, Jinan, China
| | - Jingya Tian
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Clean Energy and Pollution Control, School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Chao Zhang
- Shandong Provincial Geo-mineral Engineering Exploration Institute, Shandong Provincial Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources, Jinan, China
- Shandong Engineering Research Center for Environmental Protection and Remediation on Groundwater, Jinan, China
| | - Lixia Li
- Shandong Provincial Geo-mineral Engineering Exploration Institute, Shandong Provincial Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources, Jinan, China
- Shandong Engineering Research Center for Environmental Protection and Remediation on Groundwater, Jinan, China
| | - Yao Huang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-Environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-Environmental and Soil Sciences, National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Honghong Lyu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Clean Energy and Pollution Control, School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Si D, Wu S, Wu H, Wang D, Fu QL, Wang Y, Wang P, Zhao FJ, Zhou D. Activated Carbon Application Simultaneously Alleviates Paddy Soil Arsenic Mobilization and Carbon Emission by Decreasing Porewater Dissolved Organic Matter. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:7880-7890. [PMID: 38670926 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c00748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Flooding of paddy fields during the rice growing season enhances arsenic (As) mobilization and greenhouse gas (e.g., methane) emissions. In this study, an adsorbent for dissolved organic matter (DOM), namely, activated carbon (AC), was applied to an arsenic-contaminated paddy soil. The capacity for simultaneously alleviating soil carbon emissions and As accumulation in rice grains was explored. Soil microcosm incubations and 2-year pot experimental results indicated that AC amendment significantly decreased porewater DOM, Fe(III) reduction/Fe2+ release, and As release. More importantly, soil carbon dioxide and methane emissions were mitigated in anoxic microcosm incubations. Porewater DOM of pot experiments mainly consisted of humic-like fluorophores with a molecular structure of lignins and tannins, which could mediate microbial reduction of Fe(III) (oxyhydr)oxides. Soil microcosm incubation experiments cospiking with a carbon source and AC further consolidated that DOM electron shuttling and microbial carbon source functions were crucial for soil Fe(III) reduction, thus driving paddy soil As release and carbon emission. Additionally, the application of AC alleviated rice grain dimethylarsenate accumulation over 2 years. Our results highlight the importance of microbial extracellular electron transfer in driving paddy soil anaerobic respiration and decreasing porewater DOM in simultaneously remediating As contamination and mitigating methane emission in paddy fields.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dunfeng Si
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Song Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Haotian Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Dengjun Wang
- School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849, United States
| | - Qing-Long Fu
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Yujun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Peng Wang
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Fang-Jie Zhao
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Dongmei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| |
Collapse
|