Influence of arsenate adsorption to ferrihydrite, goethite, and boehmite on the kinetics of arsenate reduction by Shewanella putrefaciens strain CN-32

Vanadium Accumulation and Reduction by Vanadium-Accumulating Bacteria Isolated from the Intestinal Contents of Ciona robusta

The sea squirt Ciona robusta (formerly Ciona intestinalis type A) has been the subject of many interdisciplinary studies. Known as a vanadium-rich ascidian, C. robusta is an ideal model for exploring microbes associated with the ascidian and the roles of these microbes in vanadium accumulation and reduction. In this study, we discovered two bacterial strains that accumulate large amounts of vanadium, CD2-88 and CD2-102, which belong to the genera Pseudoalteromonas and Vibrio, respectively. The growth medium composition impacted vanadium uptake. Furthermore, pH was also an important factor in the accumulation and localization of vanadium. Most of the vanadium(V) accumulated by these bacteria was converted to less toxic vanadium(IV). Our results provide insights into vanadium accumulation and reduction by bacteria isolated from the ascidian C. robusta to further study the relations between ascidians and microbes and their possible applications for bioremediation or biomineralization.

Manganese promotes stability of natural arsenic sinks in a groundwater system with arsenic-immobilization minerals: Natural remediation mechanism and environmental implications

Arsenic (As)-immobilizing iron (Fe)-manganese (Mn) minerals (AFMM) represent potential As sinks in As-enriched groundwater environments. The process and mechanisms governing As bio-leaching from AFMM through interaction with reducing bacteria, however, remain poorly delineated. This study examined the transformation and release of As from AFMM with varying Mn/Fe molar ratios (0:1, 1:5, 1:3, and 1:1) in the presence of As(V)-reducing bacteria specifically Shewanella putrefaciens CN32. Notably, strain CN32 significantly facilitated the bio-reduction of As(V), Fe(III), and Mn(IV) in AFMM. In systems with Mn/Fe molar ratios of 1:5, 1:3, and 1:1, As bio-reduction decreased by 28%, 34%, and 47%, respectively, compared to the system with a 0:1 ratio. This Mn-induced inhibition of Fe/As bio-reduction was linked to several concurrent factors: preferential Mn bio-reduction, reoxidation of resultant Fe(II)/As(III) due to Mn components, and As adsorption onto emergent Fe precipitates. Both the reductive dissolution of AFMM and the bio-reduction of As(V) predominantly controlled As bio-release. Structural equation models indicated that reducing bacteria destabilize natural As sinks more through As reduction than through Mn(II) release, Fe reduction, or Fe(II) release. Systems with Mn/Fe molar ratios of 1:5, 1:3, and 1:1 showed a decrease in As bio-release by 24%, 41%, and 59%, respectively, relative to the 0:1 system. The observed suppression of As bioleaching was ascribed to both the inhibition of As/Fe bio-reduction by Mn components and the immobilization of As by freshly generated Fe precipitates. These insights into the constraining effect of Mn on the biotransformation and bioleaching of As from AFMM are crucial for grasping the long-term stability of natural As sinks in groundwater, and enhance strategies for in-situ As stabilization in As-afflicted aquifers through Nature-Based Solutions.

How iron-bearing minerals affect the biological reduction of Sb(V): A newly discovered function of nitrate reductase

As a toxic element of global concern, the elevated concentration of antimony (Sb) in the environment has attracted increasing attention. Microorganisms have been reported as important driving forces for Sb transformation. Iron (Fe) is the most important metal associated element of Sb, however, how Fe-bearing minerals affect the biological transformation of Sb is still unclear. In this study, the effects of Fe-bearing minerals on biological Sb(V) reduction were investigated by employing a marine Shewanella sp. CNZ-1 (CNZ-1). Our results showed that the presence of hematite, magnetite and ferrihydrite (1 g/L) resulted in a decrease in Sb(III) concentration of ~19-31 % compared to the Fe(III)-minerals free system. The calculated Sb(V) reduction rates are 0.0256 (R2 0.71), 0.0389 (R2 0.87), 0.0299 (R2 0.96) and 0.0428 (R2 0.95) h-1 in the hematite-, magnetite-, ferrihydrite-supplemented and Fe(III)-minerals free systems, respectively. The cube-shaped Sb2O3 was characterized as a reductive product by using XRD, XPS, FTIR, TG and SEM approaches. Differential proteomic analysis showed that flagellar protein, cytochrome c, electron transfer flavoprotein, nitrate reductase and polysulfide reductase (up-regulation >1.5-fold, p value <0.05) were supposed to be included in the electron transport pathway of Sb(V) reduction by strain CNZ-1, and the key role of nitrate reductases was further highlighted during this reaction process based on the RT-qPCR and confirmatory experiments. Overall, these findings are beneficial to understand the environmental fate of Sb in the presence of Fe-bearing minerals and provide guidance in developing the bacteria/enzyme-mediated control strategy for Sb pollution.

Enhanced dissolution of arsenic in anaerobic soils upon organic amendment application: acid detergent-soluble organic matter as a potential indicator

Application of organic amendments (OAMs) often enhances arsenic (As) dissolution in paddy soils. Therefore, understanding the properties of OAMs that determine the extent of As dissolution is essential for appropriate soil management. Since As dissolution increases with decrease in soil redox potential caused by microbial respiration, the decomposability of OAMs might be a critical factor controlling As dissolution in amended soils. We hypothesized that contents of acid detergent-soluble organic matter (ADSOM, mainly composed of non-fiber organic matter and hemicellulose) in OAMs can help estimate the potential of OAMs in accelerating As dissolution in soils with added OAMs. Therefore, two contrasting soil types, Andosol and Fluvisol, were mixed with 24 different OAMs and subjected to anaerobic incubation for 14 weeks. Changes in soil Eh and dissolved As contents were monitored throughout the incubation period, and As species in solid phases and ferrous iron (Fe(II)) contents in soils were measured after 2 and 6 weeks of incubation. The higher the ADSOM content in soils with OAMs, the higher the dissolved As contents in soils and the lower the Eh values. Dissolved As also positively correlated with the proportion of As(III) in solid phases and Fe(II) content after 2 and 6 weeks of incubation, indicating that decomposition of ADSOM led to reducing soil conditions, thereby promoting the reduction of As(V) and As-bearing Fe oxides and subsequent As dissolution. The results were consistent between the two types of soils, despite dissolved As content in the Andosol being two orders lower than that in Fluvisol. This is the first study to demonstrate that ADSOM can be a prominent indicator of the potential of OAMs, for promoting As dissolution, when applied to paddy soils.

Enhanced oxidation and stabilization of arsenic in a soil-rice system by phytosynthesized iron oxide nanomaterials: Mechanistic differences under flooding and draining conditions

Despite arsenic (As) bioavailability being highly correlated with water status and the presence of iron (Fe) minerals, limited information is currently available on how externally applied Fe nanomaterials in soil-rice systems affect As oxidation and stabilization during flooding and draining events. Herein, the stabilization of As in a paddy soil by a phytosynthesized iron oxide nanomaterials (PION) and the related mechanism was investigated using a combination of chemical extraction and functional microbe analysis in soil at both flooding (60 d) and draining (120 d) stages. The application of PION decreased both specifically bound and non-specifically bound As. The As content in rice root, stem, husk and grain was reduced by 78.5, 17.3, 8.4 and 34.4%, respectively, whereas As(III) and As(V) in root declined by 96.9 and 33.3% for the 1% PION treatment after 120 d. Furthermore, the 1% PION treatment decreased the ratio of As(III)/As(V) in the rhizosphere soil, root and stem. Although PION had no significant effect on the overall Shannon index, the distribution of some specific functional microbes changed dramatically. While no As(III) oxidation bacteria were found at 60 d in any treatments, PION treatment increased As(III) oxidation bacteria by 3-9 fold after 120 d cultivation. Structural equation model analysis revealed that the ratio of Fe(III)/Fe(II) affected As stabilization directly at the flooding stage, whereas nitrate reduction and As(III) oxidation microbial groups played a significant role in the stabilization of As at the draining stage. These results highlight that PION exhibits a robust ability to reduce As availability to rice, with chemical oxidation, reduction inhibition and adsorption dominating at the flooding stage, while microbial oxidation, adsorption and coprecipitation dominant during draining.

Comparisons of four As(V)-respiring bacteria from contaminated aquifers: activities to respire soluble As(V) and to reductively mobilize solid As(V)

It was shown that dissimilatory arsenate[As(V)]-respiring prokaryotes (DARPs) play important roles in driving the formation of arsenic-contaminated groundwater. However, because it is tough to isolate cultivable DARPs, the physiological and functional features of DARPs have not been fully elucidated yet; this impedes a deep understanding of the mechanisms for the dynamic fluctuations of As concentrations in contaminated groundwater. Here, four new DARPs were isolated from As-contaminated aquifers using the microbial enrichment technique, which were referred to as Bacillus sp Z01, Bacillus sp. Z02. Achromobacter sp. Z03 and Intrasporangium sp. Z04. We found that the presence of As(V) significantly inhibited the growth of Z03 and Z04, but promoted the growth of Z01 and Z02. The four strains possess significant As(V)-, NO₃^-- and Fe(III)-respiring activities; however, their activities and preferred electron donors differ greatly. NO₃^- was finally reduced to NO₂^- by Z01 and Z02, and to N₂O and N₂ by Z03 and Z04. The optimal pH value for their As(V)-respiring activity was 5 for Z01, and 4 for Z02, Z03 and Z04, whereas their optimal temperature varied between 30 and 37 °C. Microcosm assays with As-contaminated sediments and scorodite suggested that the four DARP strains had highly differential activities to reduce and mobilize solid As(V) under anaerobic conditions. Although the four DARPs have high soluble As(V)-respiring activities, their activities to mobilize solid As are negligibly low, accounting for only 0.006-0.484% of their each corresponding soluble As(V)-respiring activity. Moreover, extreme inconsistency between the size orders of their activities to respire soluble As(V) and to catalyze As reductive mobilization was observed. It is interesting to see that Z04 had high As(V)-respiring activity, but had little ability to catalyze the reductive mobilization of As and Fe. These observations suggest that As(V)-respiring activity is required, but not enough to catalyze the reductive mobilization of solid As(V). These findings provide new knowledge about the physiological and functional features of DARPs, and are helpful for a better understanding of the roles of DARPs in reductive mobilization and release of As from solid phase into groundwater.

Significance of Shewanella Species for the Phytoavailability and Toxicity of Arsenic-A Review

Simple Summary

The availability of some toxic heavy metals, such as arsenic (As), is related to increased human and natural activities. This type of metal availability in the environment is associated with various health and environmental issues. Such problems may arise due to direct contact with or consumption of plant products containing this metal in some of their parts. A microbial approach that employs a group of bacteria (Shewanella species) is proposed to reduce the negative consequences of the availability of this metal (As) in the environment. This innovative strategy can reduce As mobility, its spread, and uptake by plants in the environment. The benefits of this approach include its low cost and the possibility of not exposing other components of the environment to unfavourable consequences.

Abstract

The distribution of arsenic continues due to natural and anthropogenic activities, with varying degrees of impact on plants, animals, and the entire ecosystem. Interactions between iron (Fe) oxides, bacteria, and arsenic are significantly linked to changes in the mobility, toxicity, and availability of arsenic species in aquatic and terrestrial habitats. As a result of these changes, toxic As species become available, posing a range of threats to the entire ecosystem. This review elaborates on arsenic toxicity, the mechanisms of its bioavailability, and selected remediation strategies. The article further describes how the detoxification and methylation mechanisms used by Shewanella species could serve as a potential tool for decreasing phytoavailable As and lessening its contamination in the environment. If taken into account, this approach will provide a globally sustainable and cost-effective strategy for As remediation and more information to the literature on the unique role of this bacterial species in As remediation as opposed to conventional perception of its role as a mobiliser of As.

Arsenic biotransformation and mobilization: the role of bacterial strains and other environmental variables

Over several decades, arsenic (As) toxicity in the biosphere has affected different flora, fauna, and other environmental components. The majority of these problems are linked with As mobilization due to bacterial dissolution of As-bearing minerals and its transformation in other reservoirs such as soil, sediments, and ground water. Understanding the process, mechanism, and various bacterial species involved in these processes under the influence of some ecological variables greatly contributes to a better understanding of the fate and implications of As mobilization into the environments. This article summarizes the process, role, and various types of bacterial species involved in the transformation and mobilization of As. Furthermore, insight into how Fe(II) oxidation and resistance mechanisms such as methylation and detoxification against the toxic effect of As(III) was highlighted as a potential immobilization and remediation strategy in As-contaminated sites. Furthermore, the significance and comparative advantages of some useful analytical tools used in the evaluation, speciation, and analysis of As are discussed and how their in situ and ex situ applications support assessing As contamination in both laboratory and field settings. Nevertheless, additional research involving advanced molecular techniques is required to elaborate on the contribution of these bacterial consortia as a potential agronomic tool for reducing As availability, particularly in natural circumstances. Graphical abstract. Courtesy of conceptual model: Aminu Darma.

The differential inhibitive effects and fates of As(III) and As(V) mediated by Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans grown on S0, Fe2+ and FeS2

Arsenic often coexists with metal sulfide minerals and occurs in different speciation and different toxicity in responding to Fe/S biooxidation. The differential inhibitive effects and fates of As(III) and As(V) during biooxidations of elemental sulfur (S⁰), ferrous ions (Fe²⁺) and pyrite (FeS₂) by Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans were studied. The results revealed that the arsenic species hardly changed for the biooxidation of S⁰, but dramatically changed for the biooxidation of Fe²⁺ and FeS₂. Different transformation degree between As(III) and As(V) occurred for biooxidation of FeS₂ in the presence of arsenic, where about 72% of As(III) was transformed to As(V) for the group with As(III) added, and 16% of As(V) was transformed to As(III) for that with As(V) added. Both formation and dissolution of amorphous ferric arsenate occurred during biooxidation of FeS₂ with the addition of As(III) or As(V) and for the group grown on Fe²⁺ with added As(V), which were controlled by the changes of Fe/As molar ratio and pH value in the solution. Jarosite was detected for the group grown on Fe²⁺ and could adsorb As(III) and As(V). The inhibitive effects of As(V) were higher than As(III) when the strain grew on FeS₂, which was contrary to those when the strain grew on S⁰ and Fe²⁺. The above results signify that the fates and inhibitive effects of arsenic are much related to each other, and such a relationship is significantly affected by the utilization of Fe/S energy substrates by the sulfur- and ferrous-oxidizing microorganisms.

Microbial mobilization of arsenic from iron-bearing clay mineral through iron, arsenate, and simultaneous iron-arsenate reduction pathways

Clay minerals are an important host for arsenic in many arsenic-affected areas. The role of bioreduction of structural Fe(III) in clay minerals in the mobilization of arsenic from clay minerals, however, still remains unclear. In this study, Fe(III) reducing bacterium, As(V) reducing bacterium, and Fe(III)-As(V) reducing bacterium were employed to investigate the possible bioreduction pathways for arsenic release from Nontronite NAu-2. Results demonstrated that microbial reduction controlled arsenic mobilization from NAu-2 through Fe(III), As(V), and simultaneous Fe(III)-As(V) reduction pathways. Although the bioreduction of structural Fe(III) led to a negligible dissolution of NAu-2, it triggered a significant release of arsenic from NAu-2. The bioreduction of tetrahedral Fe(III) initiated the release of As(V), and the further bioreduction of octahedral Fe(III) induced the release of As(III) in NAu-2. In addition, bioreduction of As(V) resulted in the desorption and transformation of As(V) from NAu-2. Simultaneous bioreduction of Fe(III) and As(V) led to an almost complete release of As(V) from NAu-2. These findings suggest that simultaneous Fe(III)-As(V) reduction was the dominant pathway governing As(V) release from NAu-2, while structural Fe(III) reduction controlled As(III) release from NAu-2. Therefore, the bioreduction of iron-bearing clay minerals has a great potential for arsenic mobilization in the subsurface environment.

Dissimilatory Fe(III) Reduction Controls on Arsenic Mobilization: A Combined Biogeochemical and NanoSIMS Imaging Approach

Microbial metabolism plays a key role in controlling the fate of toxic groundwater contaminants, such as arsenic. Dissimilatory metal reduction catalyzed by subsurface bacteria can facilitate the mobilization of arsenic via the reductive dissolution of As(V)-bearing Fe(III) mineral assemblages. The mobility of liberated As(V) can then be amplified via reduction to the more soluble As(III) by As(V)-respiring bacteria. This investigation focused on the reductive dissolution of As(V) sorbed onto Fe(III)-(oxyhydr)oxide by model Fe(III)- and As(V)-reducing bacteria, to elucidate the mechanisms underpinning these processes at the single-cell scale. Axenic cultures of Shewanella sp. ANA-3 wild-type (WT) cells [able to respire both Fe(III) and As(V)] were grown using ¹³C-labeled lactate on an arsenical Fe(III)-(oxyhydr)oxide thin film, and after colonization, the distribution of Fe and As in the solid phase was assessed using nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS), complemented with aqueous geochemistry analyses. Parallel experiments were conducted using an arrA mutant, able to respire Fe(III) but not As(V). NanoSIMS imaging showed that most metabolically active cells were not in direct contact with the Fe(III) mineral. Flavins were released by both strains, suggesting that these cell-secreted electron shuttles mediated extracellular Fe(III)-(oxyhydr)oxide reduction, but did not facilitate extracellular As(V) reduction, demonstrated by the presence of flavins yet lack of As(III) in the supernatants of the arrA deletion mutant strain. 3D reconstructions of NanoSIMS depth-profiled single cells revealed that As and Fe were associated with the cell surface in the WT cells, whereas for the arrA mutant, only Fe was associated with the biomass. These data were consistent with Shewanella sp. ANA-3 respiring As(V) in a multistep process; first, the reductive dissolution of the Fe(III) mineral released As(V), and once in solution, As(V) was respired by the cells to As(III). As well as highlighting Fe(III) reduction as the primary release mechanism for arsenic, our data also identified unexpected cellular As(III) retention mechanisms that require further investigation.

Stability of Fe-As composites formed with As(V) and aged ferrihydrite

During the aging process, ferrihydrite was transformed into mineral mixtures composed of different proportions of ferrihydrite, goethite, lepidocrocite and hematite. Such a transformation may affect the fixed ability of arsenic. In this study, the stability of Fe-As composites formed with As(V) and the minerals aged for 0, 1, 4, 10 and 30 days of ferrihydrite were systematically examined, and the effects of molar of ratios Fe/As were also clarified using kinetic methods combined with multiple spectroscopic techniques. The results indicated that As(V) was rapidly adsorbed on minerals during the initial polymerization process, which delayed both the ferrihydrite conversion and the hematite formation. When the Fe/As molar ratio was 1.875 and 5.66, the As(V) adsorbed by ferrihydrite began to release after 6 hr and 12 hr, respectively. The corresponding release amounts of As(V) were 0.55 g/L and 0.07 g/L, and the adsorption rates were 92.43% and 97.50% at 60 days, respectively. However, the As(V) adsorbed by the transformation products aged for 30 days of ferrihydrite began to release after adsorbed 30 days. The corresponding release amounts of As(V) were 0.25 g/L and 0.03 g/L, and the adsorption rates were 84.23% and 92.18% after adsorbed 60 days, for the Fe/As=1.875 and 5.66, respectively. Overall, the combination of As(V) with ferrihydrite and aged products transformed from a thermodynamically metastable phase to a dynamically stable state within a certain duration. Moreover, the aging process of ferrihydrite reduced the sorption ability of arsenate by iron (hydr)oxide but enhanced the stability of the Fe-As composites.

Determination of (Bio)-available mercury in soils: A review

Despite the mercury (Hg) control measures adopted by the international community, Hg still poses a significant risk to ecosystem and human health. This is primarily due to the ability of atmospheric Hg to travel intercontinentally and contaminating terrestrial and aquatic environments far from its natural and anthropogenic point sources. The issue of Hg pollution is further complicated by its unique physicochemical characteristics, most noticeably its multiple chemical forms that vary in their toxicity and environmental mobility. This meant that most of the risk evaluation protocols developed for other metal(loid)s are not suitable for Hg. Soil is a major reservoir of Hg and a key player in its global cycle. To fully assess the risks of soil Hg it is essential to estimate its bioavailability and/or availability which are closely linked to its toxicity. However, the accurate determination of the (bio)-available pools of Hg in soils is problematic, because the terms 'bioavailable' and 'available' are ill-defined. In particular, the term 'bioavailable pool', representing the fraction of Hg that is accessible to living organisms, has been consistently misused by interchanging with other intrinsically different terms e.g. mobile, labile, reactive and soluble pools. A wide array of physical, chemical, biological and isotopic exchange methods were developed to estimate the (bio)-available pools of Hg in soil in an attempt to offer a plausible assessment of its risks. Unfortunately, many of these methods do not mirror the (bio)-available pools of soil Hg and suffer from technical drawbacks. In this review, we discuss advantages and disadvantages of methods that are currently applied to quantify the (bio)-availability of Hg in soils. We recommended the most feasible methods and give suggestions how to improve the determination of (bio)-available Hg in soils.

Quantifying Microbially Mediated Kinetics of Ferrihydrite Transformation and Arsenic Reduction: Role of the Arsenate-Reducing Gene Expression Pattern

The behavior of arsenic (As) is usually coupled with iron (Fe) oxide transformation and mediated by both abiotic reactions and microbial processes in the environment. However, quantitative models for the coupled kinetic processes, which specifically consider the arsenate-reducing gene expression correspondent to different reaction conditions, are lacking. In this study, based on the pure cultured Shewanella putrefaciens incubation experiments, extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, and a suite of microbial analyses, we developed a coupled kinetics model for microbially mediated As reduction and Fe oxide transformation and specifically quantified the As(V) reduction rate coefficients based on the expression patterns of arrA genes. The model reasonably described the temporal changes of As speciation and distribution. The microbial reduction rates of As(V) varied dramatically during the reactions, which were well represented by the varying transcript abundances of arrA genes at different As concentrations. The contributions of biotic and abiotic reactions to the overall reaction rates were assessed. The results improved our quantitative understanding on the key role of As(V)-reducing genes in regulating the speciation and distribution of As. The kinetic modeling approaches based on microbial gene expression patterns are promising for developing comprehensive biogeochemical models of As involving multiple coupled reactions.

Microbial driven iron reduction affects arsenic transformation and transportation in soil-rice system

The microbe-driven iron cycle plays an important role in speciation transformation and migration of arsenic (As) in soil-rice systems. In this study, pot experiments were used to investigate the effect of bacterial iron (Fe) reduction processes in soils on As speciation and migration, as well as on As uptake in soil-rice system. During the rice growth period, pH and electrical conductivity (EC) in soil solutions initially increased and then decreased, with the ranges of 7.4-8.8 and 116.3-820 mS cm^-1, respectively. The concentrations of Fe, total As and As(III) showed an increasing trend in the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soil solutions with the increasing time. Fe concentrations were significantly positively correlated with total As and As(III) concentrations (***p < 0.001) in the soil solutions. The abundances of the arsenate reductase gene (arsC) and the As(III) S-adenosylmethionine methyltransferase gene (arsM) in rhizosphere soils were higher than those in non-rhizosphere soils, while the abundance of the Fe-reducing bacteria (Geo) showed an opposite trend. Moreover, it showed that the Geo abundance was significantly positively correlated with that of the arsC (***p < 0.001) and arsM (**p < 0.01) genes, respectively. The abundances of Geo, arsC and arsM genes were significantly positively correlated with the concentrations of Fe, total As and As(III) in the soil solutions (*p < 0.05). Moreover, the abundances of arsC and arsM genes were significantly negatively correlated with total As and As(III) in rice grains (*P < 0.05). These results showed that the interaction of bacterial Fe reduction process and radial oxygen loss from roots promoted the reduction and methylation of As, and then decreased As uptake by rice, which provided a theoretical basis for alleviating As pollution in paddy soils.

In Vitro Assessment of Arsenic Release and Transformation from As(V)-Sorbed Goethite and Jarosite: The Influence of Human Gut Microbiota

The importance of arsenic metabolism by gut microbiota has been evidenced in risk characterization from As exposures. In this study, we evaluated the metabolic potency of human gut microbiota toward As(V)-sorbed goethite and jarosite, presenting different behaviors of As release, and the solid-liquid transformation and partitioning. The release of As occurred mainly in the small intestinal phase for jarosite and in the colon phase for goethite, respectively. We found higher degree of As(V) and Fe(III) reduction by human gut microbiota in the colon digests of goethite than jarosite. Speciation analysis using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy, revealed that 43.2% and 8.5% of total As was present as As(III) in the liquid and solid phase, respectively, after goethite incubation, whereas almost all generated As(III) was in the colon digests of jarosite. Therefore, As bioaccessibility in human gastrointestinal tract was predominantly contributed to Fe(III) dissolution in jarosite, and to microbial reduction of Fe(III) and As(V) in goethite. It expanded our knowledge on the role of Fe minerals in human health risk assessment associated with soil As exposures.

Quantifying the Coupled Kinetic Reactions of Metals/Metalloids on Iron and Manganese Oxides

Quantifying the coupled kinetic reactions of metals/metalloids on iron and manganese oxides is essential for predicting the fate of contaminants in the environment. In this perspective, a few key issues related to developing the quantitative models for the coupled kinetic reactions of metal and metalloids are discussed, including adsorption/desorption processes, redox reactions, and mineral dissolution/transformation. Future research areas are also briefly discussed.

A review of arsenic interfacial geochemistry in groundwater and the role of organic matter

Recent discoveries on arsenic (As) biogeochemistry in aquifer-sediment system have strongly improved our understanding of As enrichment mechanisms in groundwater. We summarize here the research results since 2015 focusing on the As interfacial geochemistry including As speciation, transformation, and mobilization. We discuss the chemical extraction and speciation of As in environmental matrices, followed by As redox change and (im)mobilization in typical minerals and aquifer system. Then, the microbial-assisted reductive dissolution of Fe (hydr)oxides and As transformation and liberation are summarized from the aspects of bacterial isolates, microbial community and gene analysis by comparing As rich groundwater cases worldwide. Finally, the potential effect of organic matter on As interfacial geochemistry are addressed in the aspects of chemical interactions and microbial respiring activities for Fe and As reductive release.

Phosphate Induced Arsenic Mobilization as a Potentially Effective In-Situ Remediation Technique—Preliminary Column Tests

Arsenic (As) contamination of groundwater is commonly remediated by pump and treat. However, this technique is difficult to apply or maintain efficiently because the mobility of arsenic varies depending on the geochemical aquifer conditions. Arsenic interacting with the sediment can cause strong retardation, which is counteracted by ions competing for sedimentary sorption sites like silica, bicarbonate and phosphate. Phosphate competes most effectively with arsenic for sorption sites due to its chemical similarity. To accelerate an ongoing but ineffective pump and treat remediation, we examined the competitive effect of increasing phosphate doses on contaminated aquifer material of different depths and thus under distinct geochemical conditions. In the columns with phosphate addition, significant amounts of arsenic were released rapidly under oxic and anoxic conditions. In all tests, the grade of leaching was higher under anoxic conditions than under oxic conditions. As(III) was the dominant species, in particular during the first release peaks and the anoxic tests. Higher amounts of phosphate did not trigger the arsenic release further and led to a shift of arsenic species. We suggest that the competitive surface complexation is the major process of arsenic release especially when higher amounts of phosphate are used. Commonly arsenic release is described at iron reducing conditions. In contrast, we observed that a change in prevailing redox potential towards manganese reducing conditions in the oxic tests and iron reducing conditions in the anoxic column took place later and thus independently of arsenic release. The reduction of As(V) to As(III) under both redox conditions is presumed to be an effect of microbial detoxification. A loss of sulphate in all columns with phosphate indicates an increased microbial activity, which might play a significant role in the process of arsenic release. Preliminary tests with sediment material from a contaminated site showed that phosphate additions did not change the pH value significantly. Therefore, a release of other metals is not likely. Our results indicate that in-situ application of phosphate amendments to arsenic-contaminated sites could accelerate and enhance arsenic mobility to improve the efficiency of pump and treat remediation without negative side effects. The novelty of this approach is the use of only small amounts of phosphate in order to stimulate microbial activity in addition to surface complexation. Therefore, this method might become an innovative and cost-effective remediation for arsenic contaminated sites.

Coupled Kinetics Model for Microbially Mediated Arsenic Reduction and Adsorption/Desorption on Iron Oxides: Role of Arsenic Desorption Induced by Microbes

The dynamic behavior of arsenic (As) species is closely associated with iron mineral dissolution/transformation in the environment. Bacterially induced As(V) desorption from iron oxides may be another important process that facilitates As(V) release from iron oxides without significant reductive dissolution of iron oxides. Under the impact of bacterially induced desorption, As kinetic behavior is controlled by both the microbial reduction of As(V) and the As(III)&As(V) reactions on iron oxide surfaces. However, there is still a lack of quantitative understanding on the coupled kinetics of these processes in complex systems. We developed a quantitative model that integrated the time-dependent microbial reduction of As(V) with nonlinear As(III)&As(V) adsorption/desorption kinetics on iron oxides under the impact of bacterially induced As(V) desorption. We collected and modeled literature data from 11 representative studies, in which microbial reduction reactions occurred with minimal iron oxide dissolution/transformation. Our model highlighted the significance of microbially induced As(V) desorption and time-dependent changes of microbial reduction rates. The model can quantitatively assess the roles and the coupling of individual reactions in controlling the overall reaction rates. It provided a basis for developing comprehensive models for As cycling in the environment by coupling with other chemical, physical, and microbial processes.

Coupled Kinetics of Ferrihydrite Transformation and As(V) Sequestration under the Effect of Humic Acids: A Mechanistic and Quantitative Study

In natural environments, kinetics of As(V) sequestration/release is usually coupled with dynamic Fe mineral transformation, which is further influenced by the presence of natural organic matter (NOM). Previous work mainly focused on the interactions between As(V) and Fe minerals. However, there is a lack of both mechanistic and quantitative understanding on the coupled kinetic processes in the As(V)-Fe mineral-NOM system. In this study, we investigated the effect of humic acids (HA) on the coupled kinetics of ferrihydrite transformation into hematite/goethite and sequestration of As(V) on Fe minerals. Time-resolved As(V) and HA interactions with Fe minerals during the kinetic processes were studied using aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy, chemical extractions, stirred-flow kinetic experiments, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Based on the experimental results, we developed a mechanistic kinetics model for As(V) fate during Fe mineral transformation. Our results demonstrated that the rates of As(V) speciation changes within Fe minerals were coupled with ferrihydrite transformation rates, and the overall reactions were slowed down by the presence of HA that sorbed on Fe minerals. Our kinetics model is able to account for variations of Fe mineral compositions, solution chemistry, and As(V) speciation, which has significant environmental implications for predicting As(V) behavior in the environment.

Using Qmsax* to evaluate the reasonable As(V) adsorption on soils with different pH

As a toxic metalloid element, arsenic (As) derived from human activities can pose hazardous risks to soil and water. The bioavailability of arsenic is influenced by its behavior, in particular its adsorption-desorption in the soil environment. The maximum adsorption amount (Q_max) calculated from Langmuir equation is an important parameter to estimate the adsorption capacity of adsorbents. However, the soil is a more complicated system compared with specific adsorbents. Thus, in this study, we tried to find a more reasonable parameter (Q_max^*) to evaluate the adsorption capacity of soils. Eighteen Chinese soil samples with different pH were used for adsorption-desorption experiments. The maximum As(V) adsorption capacity calculated through Langmuir fitting for 18 samples were ranged from 50.25 (S13) to 312.50 (S4) mg kg^-1. Besides, Q_max was highly related with soil pH. Using the difference value of adsorption amount and desorption amount to indicate the amount of non-electrostatic adsorption of As(V) onto soils, calculated the maximum adsorption amount of non-electrostatic adsorption (Q_max^*). The average Q_max^* of acidic and neutral soils was 162.18 mg kg^-1 whereas that for alkaline soils it was only 79.52 mg kg^-1. The result from multiple linear regression analysis showed Q_max^* was strongly influenced by Fe_ox and clay contents. Furthermore, hysteresis index (HI) in the As(V) desorption varied from 0.83 (S13) to 1.82 (S6). The results further indicated the risk of secondary pollution originating from the desorption process cannot be ignored.

Characterising microbial reduction of arsenate sorbed to ferrihydrite and its concurrence with iron reduction

A series of model anoxic incubations were performed to understand the concurrence between arsenate and ferrihydrite reduction by Shewanella putrefaciens strain CN-32 at different concentrations of arsenate, ferrihydrite and lactate, and with given ΔG_rxn for arsenate and ferrihydrite reduction in non-growth conditions. The reduction kinetics of arsenate sorbed to ferrihydrite is predominately controlled by the availability of dissolved arsenate, which is measured by the integral of dissolved arsenate concentrations against incubation time and shown to correlate with the first order rate constants. High lactate concentrations slightly slowed down the rate of arsenate reduction due to the competition with arsenate for microbial contact. Under all experimental conditions, simultaneous arsenate and ferrihydrite reduction occurred following addition of S. putrefaciens inoculums and suggested no apparent competition between these two enzymatic reductions. Ferrous ions released from iron reduction might retard microbial arsenate reduction at high arsenate and ferrihydrite concentrations due to formation of ferrous arsenate. At high arsenate to ferrihydrite ratios, reductive dissolution of ferrihydrite shifted arsenate from sorption to dissolution and hence accelerated arsenate reduction. The interaction between microbial arsenate and ferrihydrite reduction did not correlate with ΔG_rxn, but instead was governed by other factors such as geochemical and microbial parameters.

Control of arsenic mobilization in paddy soils by manganese and iron oxides

Reductive mobilization of arsenic (As) in paddy soils under flooded conditions is an important reason for the relatively high accumulation of As in rice, posing a risk to food safety and human health. The extent of As mobilization varies widely among paddy soils, but the reasons are not well understood. In this study, we investigated As mobilization in six As-contaminated paddy soils (total As ranging from 73 to 122 mg kg^-1) in flooded incubation and pot experiments. Arsenic speciation in the solution and solid phases were determined. The magnitude of As mobilization into the porewater varied by > 100 times among the six soils. Porewater As concentration correlated closely with the concentration of oxalate-extractable As, suggesting that As associated with amorphous iron (oxyhydr)oxides represents the potentially mobilizable pool of As under flooded conditions. Soil containing a high level of manganese oxides showed the lowest As mobilization, likely because Mn oxides retard As mobilization by slowing down the drop of redox potential upon soil flooding and maintaining a higher arsenate to arsenite ratio in the solid and solution phases. Additions of a synthetic Mn oxide (hausmannite) to two paddy soils increased arsenite oxidation, decreased As mobilization into the porewater and decreased As concentrations in rice grain and straw. Consistent with previous studies using simplified model systems or pure mineral phases, the present study shows that Mn oxides and amorphous Fe (oxyhydr)oxides are important factors controlling reductive As mobilization in As-contaminated paddy soils. In addition, this study also suggests a potential mitigation strategy using exogenous Mn oxides to decrease As uptake by rice in paddy soils containing low levels of indigenous Mn oxides, although further work is needed to verify its efficacy and possible secondary effects under field conditions.

Reductive solubilization of arsenic in a mining-impacted river floodplain: Influence of soil properties and temperature

Mining activities have contaminated many riverine floodplains with arsenic (As). When floodplain soils become anoxic under water-saturated conditions, As can be released from the solid phase. Several microbially-driven As solubilization processes and numerous influential factors were recognized in the past. However, the interplay and relative importance of soil properties and the influence of environmental factors such as temperature remain poorly understood, especially considering the (co)variation of soil properties in a floodplain. We conducted anoxic microcosm experiments at 10, 17.5, and 25 °C using 65 representative soils from the mining-impacted Ogosta River floodplain in Bulgaria. To investigate the processes of As solubilization and its quantitative variation we followed the As and Fe redox dynamics in the solid and the dissolved phase and monitored a range of other solution parameters including pH, Eh, dissolved organic C, and dissolved Mn. We related soil properties to dissolved As observed after 20 days of microcosm incubation to identify key soil properties for As solubilization. Our results evidenced reductive dissolution of As-bearing Fe(III)-oxyhydroxides as the main cause for high solubilization. The availability of nutrients, most likely organic C as the source of energy for microorganisms, was found to limit this process. Following the vertical nutrient gradient common in vegetated soil, we observed several hundred μM dissolved As after 1-2 weeks for some topsoils (0-20 cm), while for subsoils (20-40 cm) with comparable total As levels only minor solubilization was observed. While high Mn contents were found to inhibit As solubilization, the opposite applied for higher temperature (Q₁₀ 2.3-6.1 for range 10-25 °C). Our results suggest that flooding of nutrient-rich surface layers might be more problematic than water-saturation of nutrient-poor subsoil layers, especially in summer floodings when soil temperature is higher than in winter or spring.

Reduction of adsorbed As(V) on nano-TiO2 by sulfate-reducing bacteria

Reduction of surface-bound arsenate [As(V)] and subsequent release into the aqueous phase contribute to elevated As in groundwater. However, this natural process is not fully understood, especially in the presence of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). Gaining mechanistic insights into solid-As(V)-SRB interactions motivated our molecular level study on the fate of nano-TiO₂ bound As(V) in the presence of Desulfovibrio vulgaris DP4, a strain of SRB, using incubation and in situ ATR-FTIR experiments. The incubation results clearly revealed the reduction of As(V), either adsorbed on nano-TiO₂ or dissolved, in the presence of SRB. In contrast, this As(V) reduction was not observed in abiotic control experiments where sulfide was used as the reductant. Moreover, the reduction was faster for surface-bound As(V) than for dissolved As(V), as evidenced by the appearance of As(III) at 45h and 75h, respectively. ATR-FTIR results provided direct evidence that the surface-bound As(V) was reduced to As(III) on TiO₂ surfaces in the presence of SRB. In addition, the As(V) desorption from nano-TiO₂ was promoted by SRB relative to abiotic sulfide, due to the competition between As(V) and bacterial phosphate groups for TiO₂ surface sites. This competition was corroborated by the ATR-FTIR analysis, which showed inner-sphere surface complex formation by bacterial phosphate groups on TiO₂ surfaces. The results from this study highlight the importance of indirect bacteria-mediated As(V) reduction and release in geochemical systems.

Analysis of adsorption processes of dissolved organic matter (DOM) on ferrihydrite using surrogate organic compounds

Ferrihydrite (Fh) has been recently used in water treatment for removing dissolved organic matter (DOM), but its governing interactions with low-molecular weight DOM are largely unknown. This study aimed to elucidate the influence of chemical structure of DOM on the interactions between functional groups of DOM and Fh using various surrogates representing DOM in natural waters. We tested four surrogate compounds: L-glutamic acid, resorcinol, L-serine, and tannic acid, which represent the main chemical groups of carboxylic and hydroxyl groups; and the Suwannee River NOM (SRNOM) that represents the composition of DOM in natural aquatic systems. Batch adsorption experiments revealed that the DOM adsorption onto Fh was significantly influenced by the steric arrangements of -COOH and -OH functional groups. Both L-serine with α-carboxyl group and resorcinol with hydroxyl groups in meta-position were marginally removed by Fh, indicating that the adsorption of DOM on Fh was determined by their chemical structures and the relative positions of carboxylate and hydroxyl groups. The adsorption of L-glutamic acid was controlled by the pH-dependent ligand exchange of γ-carboxyl groups, which was similar to the SRNOM adsorption. In contrast, adsorption of tannic acid was not affected by pH, which can be explained by a two-step adsorption, namely, ligand exchange followed by multi-layer adsorption to the partitioning phase. The results of kinetic experiments demonstrated that adsorption of DOM by Fh was significant and rapid. The kinetic adsorption data can be expressed by the pseudo-second-order equation, indicating that the adsorption step might be the rate-limiting step.

Modeling Fate and Transport of Arsenic in a Chlorinated Distribution System

Experimental and modeling studies were conducted to understand the fate and transport properties of arsenic in drinking water distribution systems. Pilot scale experiments were performed in a distribution system simulator by injecting arsenic and measuring both adsorption onto iron pipe material and the oxidation of arsenite by hypochlorite in tap water to form arsenate. A mathematical model describing these processes was developed and simulated using EPANET-MSX, a hydraulic and multi-species water quality software for pipe networks. Model parameters were derived from the pilot-scale experiments. The model was applied to both the distribution system simulator and EPANET example network #3, a real-world model of a drinking water system serving approximately 78,000 customers. The model can be applied to systems-level studies of arsenic fate and transport in drinking water resulting from natural occurrences, accidental spills, or intentional introduction into water.

In-situ mobilization and transformation of iron oxides-adsorbed arsenate in natural groundwater

Although reductive dissolution of Fe(III) oxides has been well accepted for As mobilization in alluvial aquifers, the key factors controlling this process are poorly understood. Arsenic(V)-adsorbing ferrihydrite, goethite and hematite were used to examine in-situ mobilization and transformation of adsorbed As(V) and Fe(III) oxides. In the Hetao basin, seven wells with wide ranges of groundwater As were selected to host As(V)-Fe(III) oxides sand. During 80 d experiments, As was firstly desorbed and then released via reductive dissolution of iron oxide from ferrihydrite, while only desorption was observed from goethite/hematite sand. Desorbed As was predominantly controlled by groundwater HCO₃^- and DOC, while reductive dissolution-related As release was mainly regulated by ORP values, DOC and Fe(II) concentrations. Mineral transformation from ferrihydrite to lepidocrocite and goethite/or mackinawite would also contribute to As release. Arsenic species was transformed from As(V) to As(III) on ferrihydrite, but remained unchanged on goethite and hematite. Arsenic partition between As-Fe(III) oxide sand and real groundwater ranged between 0.012 and 0.102L/g. K_d-sand between As-goethite sand/As-hematite sand and groundwater fell within the ranges observed between sediments and groundwater. This study suggests that As desorption, reductive dissolution and mineral transformation of ferrihydrite would be the major processes controlling As mobility.

Solid-solution partitioning and thionation of diphenylarsinic acid in a flooded soil under the impact of sulfate and iron reduction

Diphenylarsinic acid (DPAA) is a major organic arsenic (As) compound derived from abandoned chemical weapons. The solid-solution partitioning and transformation of DPAA in flooded soils are poorly understood but are of great concern. The identification of the mechanisms responsible for the mobilization and transformation of DPAA may help to develop effective remediation strategies. Here, soil and Fe mineral incubation experiments were carried out to elucidate the partitioning and transformation of DPAA in anoxic (without addition of sulfate or sodium lactate) and sulfide (with the addition of sulfate and sodium lactate) soil and to examine the impact of sulfate and Fe(III) reduction on these processes. Results show that DPAA was more effectively mobilized and thionated in sulfide soil than in anoxic soil. At the initial incubation stages (0-4weeks), 6.7-74.5% of the total DPAA in sulfide soil was mobilized likely by sorption competition with sodium lactate. At later incubation stage (4-8weeks), DPAA was almost completely released into the solution likely due to the near-complete Fe(III) reduction. Scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) results provide further direct evidence of elevated DPAA release coupled with Fe(III) reduction in sulfide environments. The total DPAA fraction decreased significantly to 24.5% after two weeks and reached 3.4% after eight weeks in sulfide soil, whereas no obvious elimination of DPAA occurred in anoxic soil at the initial two weeks and the total DPAA fraction decreased to 10.9% after eight weeks. This can be explained in part by the enhanced mobilization of DPAA and sulfate reduction in sulfide soil compared with anoxic soil. These results suggest that under flooded soil conditions, Fe(III) and sulfate reduction significantly promote DPAA mobilization and thionation, respectively, and we suggest that it is essential to consider both sulfate and Fe(III) reduction to further our understanding of the environmental fate of DPAA.

The Arsenite Oxidation Potential of Native Microbial Communities from Arsenic-Rich Freshwaters

Microorganisms play an important role in speciation and mobility of arsenic in the environment, by mediating redox transformations of both inorganic and organic species. Since arsenite [As(III)] is more toxic than arsenate [As(V)] to the biota, the microbial driven processes of As(V) reduction and As(III) oxidation may play a prominent role in mediating the environmental impact of arsenic contamination. However, little is known about the ecology and dynamics of As(III)-oxidizing populations within native microbial communities exposed to natural high levels of As. In this study, two techniques for single cell quantification (i.e., flow cytometry, CARD-FISH) were used to analyze the structure of aquatic microbial communities across a gradient of arsenic (As) contamination in different freshwater environments (i.e., groundwaters, surface and thermal waters). Moreover, we followed the structural evolution of these communities and their capacity to oxidize arsenite, when experimentally exposed to high As(III) concentrations in experimental microcosms. Betaproteobacteria and Deltaproteobacteria were the main groups retrieved in groundwaters and surface waters, while Beta and Gammaproteobacteria dominated the bacteria community in thermal waters. At the end of microcosm incubations, the communities were able to oxidize up to 95 % of arsenite, with an increase of Alphaproteobacteria in most of the experimental conditions. Finally, heterotrophic As(III)-oxidizing strains (one Alphaproteobacteria and two Gammaproteobacteria) were isolated from As rich waters. Our findings underlined that native microbial communities from different arsenic-contaminated freshwaters can efficiently perform arsenite oxidation, thus contributing to reduce the overall As toxicity to the aquatic biota.

Distribution patterns and possible influencing factors of As speciation in ornithogenic sediments from the Ross Sea region, East Antarctica

Ornithogenic sediments are rich in toxic As (arsenic) compounds, posing a potential threat to local ecosystems. Here we analyzed the distribution of As speciation in three ornithogenic sediment profiles (MB6, BI and CC) collected from the Ross Sea region, East Antarctica. The distributions of total As and total P (phosphorus) concentrations were highly consistent in all three profiles, indicating that guano input is a major factor controlling total As distribution in the ornithogenic sediments. The As found in MB6 and CC is principally As(V) (arsenate), in BI As(III) (arsenite) predominates, but the As in fresh guano is largely composed of DMA (dimethylarsinate). The significant difference of As species between fresh guano and ornithogenic sediment samples may be related to diagenetic processes after deposition by seabirds. Based on analysis of the sedimentary environment in the studied sediments, we found that the redox conditions have an obvious influence on the As speciation distribution. Moreover, the distributions of As(III) and chlorophyll a in the MB6 and BI profiles are highly consistent, demonstrating that aquatic algae abundance may also influence the distribution patterns of As speciation in the ornithogenic sediments.

The fate of arsenic adsorbed on iron oxides in the presence of arsenite-oxidizing bacteria

Arsenic (As) is a redox-active metalloid whose toxicity and mobility in soil depend on its oxidation state. Arsenite [As(III)] can be oxidized by microbes and adsorbed by minerals in the soil. However, the combined effects of these abiotic and biotic processes are not well understood. In this study, the fate of arsenic in the presence of an isolated As(III)-oxidizing bacterium (Pseudomonas sp. HN-1, 10(9) colony-forming units (CFUs)·ml(-1)) and three iron oxides (goethite, hematite, and magnetite at 1.6 g L(-1)) was determined using batch experiments. The total As adsorption by iron oxides was lower with bacteria present and was higher with iron oxides alone. The total As adsorption decreased by 78.6%, 36.0% and 79.7% for goethite, hematite and magnetite, respectively, due to the presence of bacteria. As(III) adsorbed on iron oxides could also be oxidized by Pseudomonas sp. HN-1, but the oxidation rate (1.3 μmol h(-1)) was much slower than the rate in the aqueous phase (96.2 μmol h(-1)). Therefore, the results of other studies with minerals only might overestimate the adsorptive capacity of solids in natural systems; the presence of minerals might hinder As(III) oxidation by microbes. Under aerobic conditions, in the presence of iron oxides and As(III)-oxidizing bacteria, arsenic is adsorbed onto iron oxides within the adsorption capacity, and As(V) is the primary form in the solid and aqueous phases.

The effect of microbial sulfidogenesis on the stability of As-Fe coprecipitate with low Fe/As molar ratio under anaerobic conditions

The effect of microbial sulfidogenesis on As transformation and mobilization in solid phase with low Fe/As ratio is still not well known. In this study, microbial transformation and mobilization of As in the As-Fe coprecipitate with different sulfate levels were investigated using chemical extraction and K-edge XANES of As and S. Results showed that approximately 2.7, 24.4, and 83.7 % of total As were released into the aqueous phase in the low-, mid-, and high-sulfate treatments, respectively, indicating that the presence of large amounts of sulfate could enhance microbial arsenic mobilization in the As-Fe coprecipitate. In the low-sulfate treatment, As mobilization was primarily attributed to the reductive dissolution of the Fe (oxy)hydroxides and the As reduction and desorption. In the mid- and high-sulfate treatments, the reduction of arsenate and ferric iron was significantly enhanced. Complete ferric iron reduction was observed in the solid phase, implying that Fe (oxy)hydroxide was transformed to secondary minerals and may be the one of the primary causes for the enhanced As mobilization. Thermodynamic calculations predicted the formation of thioarsenite species after 35 days of incubation based on the concentration of dissolved As(III) and S(-II). Since thioarsenic species is more mobile, its formation may be one of the most important factors enhancing the As release in the high-sulfate system. The result of this study is of significance to completely predict the environmental behavior of As associated with Fe (hydr)oxides in the presence of microbial sulfidogenesis under anoxic conditions.

Influence of clay minerals on sorption and bioreduction of arsenic under anoxic conditions

Adsorption of As(V) on various clay minerals including kaolinite (KGa-1), montmorillonite (SWy-1) and nontronites (NAU-1 and NAU-2), and subsequent bioreduction of sorbed As(V) to As(III) by bacterium Shewanella putrefaciens strain CN-32 were investigated. Nontronites showed relatively higher sorption capacity for As(V) primarily due to higher iron oxide content. Freundlich equation well described the sorption of As(V) on NAU-1, NAU-2 and SWy-1, while As(V) sorption isotherm with KGa-1 fitted well in the Langmuir model. The bacterium rapidly reduced 50% of dissolved As(V) to As(III) in 2 h, followed by its complete reduction (>ca. 98%) within 12 h. In contrast, sorption of As(V) to the mineral surfaces interferes with the activity of bacterium, resulting in low bioreduction of As(V) by 27% for 5 days of incubation. S. putrefaciens also promoted the reduction of Fe(III) present in the clay mineral to Fe(II). This study indicates that the sorption and subsequent bioreduction of As(V) on clay minerals can significantly influence the mobility of As(V) in subsurface environment.

Arsenic biotransformation in solid waste residue: comparison of contributions from bacteria with arsenate and iron reducing pathways

Arsenic- and iron-reducing bacteria play an important role in regulating As redox transformation and mobility. The motivation of this study was to compare the contributions of different As- and Fe-reducing bacteria to As biotransformation. In this work, three bacteria strains with different functional genes were employed including Pantoea sp. IMH with the arsC gene, Alkaliphilus oremlandii OhILAs possessing the arrA gene, and Shewanella oneidensis MR-1, an iron reducer. The incubation results showed that Pantoea sp. IMH aerobically reduced 100% of As(V) released from waste residues, though total As release was not enhanced. Similarly, strain OhILAs anaerobically reduced dissolved As(V) but could not enhance As release. In contrast, strain MR-1 substantially enhanced As mobilization because of iron reduction, but without changing the As speciation. The formation of the secondary iron mineral pyrite in the MR-1 incubation experiments, as evidenced by the X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) analysis, contributed little to the uptake of the freed As. Our results suggest that the arsC gene carriers mainly control the As speciation in the aqueous phase in aerobic environments, whereas in anaerobic conditions, the As speciation should be regulated by arrA gene carriers, and As mobility is greatly enhanced by iron reduction.

Arsenic(V) reduction in relation to Iron(III) transformation and molecular characterization of the structural and functional microbial community in sediments of a basin-fill aquifer in Northern Utah

Basin-fill aquifers of the Southwestern United States are associated with elevated concentrations of arsenic (As) in groundwater. Many private domestic wells in the Cache Valley Basin, UT, have As concentrations in excess of the U.S. EPA drinking water limit. Thirteen sediment cores were collected from the center of the valley at the depth of the shallow groundwater and were sectioned into layers based on redoxmorphic features. Three of the layers, two from redox transition zones and one from a depletion zone, were used to establish microcosms. Microcosms were treated with groundwater (GW) or groundwater plus glucose (GW+G) to investigate the extent of As reduction in relation to iron (Fe) transformation and characterize the microbial community structure and function by sequencing 16S rRNA and arsenate dissimilatory reductase (arrA) genes. Under the carbon-limited conditions of the GW treatment, As reduction was independent of Fe reduction, despite the abundance of sequences related to Geobacter and Shewanella, genera that include a variety of dissimilatory iron-reducing bacteria. The addition of glucose, an electron donor and carbon source, caused substantial shifts toward domination of the bacterial community by Clostridium-related organisms, and As reduction was correlated with Fe reduction for the sediments from the redox transition zone. The arrA gene sequencing from microcosms at day 54 of incubation showed the presence of 14 unique phylotypes, none of which were related to any previously described arrA gene sequence, suggesting a unique community of dissimilatory arsenate-respiring bacteria in the Cache Valley Basin.

Arsenite binding to sulfhydryl groups in the absence and presence of ferrihydrite: a model study

Binding of arsenite (As(III)) to sulfhydryl groups (Sorg(-II)) plays a key role in As detoxification mechanisms of plants and microorganisms, As remediation techniques, and reduced environmental systems rich in natural organic matter. Here, we studied the formation of Sorg(-II)-As(III) complexes on a sulfhydryl model adsorbent (Ambersep GT74 resin) in the absence and presence of ferrihydrite as a competing mineral adsorbent under reducing conditions and tested their stability against oxidation in air. Adsorption of As(III) onto the resin was studied in the pH range 4.0-9.0. On the basis of As X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) results, a surface complexation model describing the pH dependence of As(III) binding to the organic adsorbent was developed. Stability constants (log K) determined for dithio ((AmbS)2AsO(-)) and trithio ((AmbS)3As) surface complexes were 8.4 and 7.3, respectively. The ability of sulfhydryl ligands to compete with ferrihydrite for As(III) was tested in various anoxic mixtures of both adsorbents at pH 7.0. At a 1:1 ratio of their reactive binding sites, R-SH and ≡FeOH, both adsorbents possessed nearly identical affinities for As(III). The oxidation of Sorg(-II)-As(III) complexes in water vapor saturated air over 80 days, monitored by As and S XAS, revealed that the complexed As(III) is stabilized against oxidation (t1/2 = 318 days). Our results thus document that sulfhydryl ligands are highly competitive As(III) complexing agents that can stabilize As in its reduced oxidation state even under prolonged oxidizing conditions. These findings are particularly relevant for organic S-rich semiterrestrial environments subject to periodic redox potential changes such as peatlands, marshes, and estuaries.

Nanocasted synthesis of ordered mesoporous cerium iron mixed oxide and its excellent performances for As(v) and Cr(vi) removal from aqueous solutions

Ordered mesoporous cerium iron mixed oxide shows excellent adsorption performance for As(v) and Cr(vi) in aqueous solutions.

Arsenite binding to natural organic matter: spectroscopic evidence for ligand exchange and ternary complex formation

The speciation of As in wetlands is often controlled by natural organic matter (NOM), which can form strong complexes with Fe(III). Here, we elucidated the molecular-scale interaction of arsenite (As(III)) with Fe(III)-NOM complexes under reducing conditions. We reacted peat (40-250 μm size fraction, 1.0 g Fe/kg) with 0-15 g Fe/kg at pH <2, removed nonreacted Fe, and subsequently equilibrated the Fe(III) complexes formed with 900 mg As/kg peat at pH 7.0, 8.4, and 8.8. The solid-phase speciation of Fe and As was studied by electron paramagnetic resonance (Fe) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (As, Fe). Our results show that the majority of Fe in the peat was present as mononuclear Fe(III) species (RFe-C = 2.82-2.88 Å), probably accompanied by small Fe(III) clusters of low nuclearity (RFe-Fe = 3.25-3.46 Å) at high pH and elevated Fe contents. The amount of As(III) retained by the original peat was 161 mg As/kg, which increased by up to 250% at pH 8.8 and an Fe loading of 7.3 g/kg. With increasing Fe content of peat, As(III) increasingly formed bidentate mononuclear (RAs-Fe = 2.88-2.94 Å) and monodentate binuclear (RAs-Fe = 3.35-3.41 Å) complexes with Fe, thus yielding direct evidence of ternary complex formation. The ternary complex formation went along with a ligand exchange reaction between As(III) and hydroxylic/phenolic groups of the peat (RAs-C = 2.70-2.77 Å). Our findings thus provide spectroscopic evidence for two yet unconfirmed As(III)-NOM interaction mechanisms, which may play a vital role in the cycling of As in sub- and anoxic NOM-rich environments such as peatlands, peaty sediments, swamps, or rice paddies.

Fate of Arsenate adsorbed on Nano-TiO2 in the presence of sulfate reducing bacteria

Arsenic removal using nanomaterials has attracted increasing attention worldwide, whereas the potential release of As from spent nanomaterials to groundwater in reducing environments is presently underappreciated. This research investigated the fate of As(V) adsorbed on nano-TiO2 in the presence of sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) Desulfovibrio vulgaris strains DP4 and ATCC 7757. The incubation results demonstrated that As(V) was desorbed from nano TiO2, and subsequently reduced to As(III) in aqueous solution. The release of adsorbed As(V) was two to three times higher in biotic samples than that in abiotic controls. Reduction of As(V) to As(III) in biotic samples was coupled with the conversion of sulfate to sulfide, while no As(III) was observed in abiotic controls. STXM results provided the direct evidence of appreciable As(III) and As(V) on TiO2. XANES analysis indicated that As(V) was the predominant species for three As loads of 150, 300, and 5700 mg/g, whereas 15-28% As precipitated as orpiment for a high As load of 5700 mg/g. In spite of orpiment formation, As mobilized in higher amounts in the SRB presence than in abiotic controls, highlighting the key role of SRB in the fate of As in the presence of nanomaterials.

Polymerization of silicate on hematite surfaces and its influence on arsenic sorption

Iron oxides and oxyhydroxides are important sorbents for arsenic in soils, sediments, and water treatment systems, but their long-term potential for arsenic retention may be diminished by the formation of polymeric silicate on their surfaces. To study these interactions, we first investigated the sorption of silicate to colloidal hematite (α-Fe(2)O(3)) in short-term (48 h) and long-term (210 days) batch experiments. The polymerization of silicate on the hematite surface was monitored by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. The pH dependence of silicate sorption exhibited a maximum between pH 9.0 and 9.5. The condensation of silicate on hematite surfaces adsorbed from monomeric silicate solutions steadily continued over the 210 day period, whereby surface polymerization was slower at pH 3 than at pH 6. The effect of silicate surface polymerization on arsenate and arsenite sorption was studied by use of hematite pre-equilibrated with silicate for different time periods of up to 210 days. The competitive effect of silicate on arsenate and arsenite sorption increased with increasing silicate pre-equilibration time. Only under strongly acidic conditions (pH 3), where silicate sorption was weakest and surface polymerization was slowest, was arsenate and arsenite sorption not affected by the presence of silicate. We conclude that the long-term exposure to dissolved silicate can decrease the potential of natural iron (oxyhydr)oxides for adsorbing inorganic arsenic.

Simultaneous release of Fe and As during the reductive dissolution of Pb-As jarosite by Shewanella putrefaciens CN32

Jarosites are produced during metallurgical processing, on oxidized sulfide deposits, and in acid mine drainage environments. Despite the environmental relevance of jarosites, few studies have examined their biogeochemical stability. This study demonstrates the simultaneous reduction of structural Fe(III) and aqueous As(V) during the dissolution of synthetic Pb-As jarosite (PbFe(3)(SO(4),AsO(4))(2)(OH)(6)) by Shewanella putrefaciens using batch experiments under anaerobic circumneutral conditions. Fe(III) reduction occurred immediately in inoculated samples while As(V) reduction was observed after 72 h. XANES spectra showed As(III) (14.7%) in the solid phase at 168 h coincident with decreased aqueous As(V). At 336 h, XANES spectra and aqueous speciation analysis demonstrated 20.2% and 3.0% of total As was present as As(III) in the solid and aqueous phase, respectively. In contrast, 12.4% of total Fe was present as aqueous Fe(II) and was below the detection limits of XANES in the solid phase. TEM-EDS analysis at 336 h showed secondary precipitates enriched in Fe and O with minor amounts of As and Pb. Based on experimental data and thermodynamic modeling, we suggest that structural Fe(III) reduction was thermodynamically driven while aqueous As(V) reduction was triggered by detoxification induced to offset the high As(V) (328 μM) concentrations released during dissolution.

ATR-FTIR spectroscopy study of the influence of pH and contact time on the adhesion of Shewanella putrefaciens bacterial cells to the surface of hematite

Attachment of live cells of Shewanella putrefaciens strain CN-32 to the surface of hematite (α-Fe(2)O(3)) was studied with in situ ATR-FTIR spectroscopy at variable pH (4.5-7.7) and contact times up to 24 h. The IR spectra indicate that phosphate based functional groups on the cell wall play an important role in mediating adhesion through formation of inner-sphere coordinative bonds to hematite surface sites. The inner-sphere attachment mode of microbial P groups varies with pH, involving either a change in protonation or in coordination to hematite surface sites as pH is modified. At all pH values, spectra collected during the early stages of adhesion show intense IR bands associated with reactive P-groups, suggestive of preferential coordination of P-moieties at the hematite surface. Spectra collected after longer sorption times show distinct frequencies from cell wall protein and carboxyl groups, indicating that bacterial adhesion occurring over longer time scales is to a lesser degree associated with preferential attachment of P-based bacterial functional groups to the hematite surface. The results of this study demonstrate that pH and reaction time influence cell-mineral interactions, implying that these parameters play an important role in determining cell mobility and biofilm formation in aqueous geochemical environments.

Bisulfide reaction with natural organic matter enhances arsenite sorption: insights from X-ray absorption spectroscopy

Terrestrial ecosystems rich in natural organic matter (NOM) can act as a sink for As. Recently, the complexation of trivalent As by sulfhydryl groups of NOM was proposed as the main mechanism for As-NOM interactions in anoxic S- and NOM-rich environments. Here we tested the molecular-scale interaction of bisulfide (S(-II)) with NOM and its consequences for arsenite (As(III)) binding. We reacted 0.2 mol C/L peat and humic acid (HA) with up to 5.8 mM S(-II) at pH 7 and 5, respectively, and subsequently equilibrated the reaction products with 55 μM As(III) under anoxic conditions. The speciation of S and the local coordination environment of As in the solid phase were studied by X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Our results document a rapid reaction of S(-II) with peat and HA and the concomitant formation of reduced organic S species. These species were highly reactive toward As(III). Shell fits of As K-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectra revealed that the coordination environment of trivalent As was progressively occupied by S atoms. Fitted As-S distances of 2.24-2.34 Å were consistent with sulfhydryl-bound As(III). Besides As(III) complexation by organic monosulfides, our data suggests the formation of nanocrystalline As sulfide phases in HA samples and an As sorption process for both organic sorbents in which As(III) retained its first-shell oxygens. In conclusion, this study documents that S(-II) reaction with NOM can greatly enhance the ability of NOM to bind As in anoxic environments.

Additive and competitive effects of bacteria and Mn oxides on arsenite oxidation kinetics

Arsenic (As) is a redox-active metalloid whose toxicity and mobility in soil depend on oxidation state. Arsenite [As(III)] can be oxidized to arsenate [As(V)] by both minerals and microbes in soil however, the interaction between these abiotic and biotic processes is not well understood. In this study, the time dependency of As(III) oxidation by two heterotrophic soil bacteria (Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Pseudomonas fluorescens) and a poorly crystalline manganese (Mn) oxide mineral (δ-MnO(2)) was determined using batch experiments. The apparent rate of As(V) appearance in solution was greater for the combined batch experiments in which bacteria and δ-MnO(2) were oxidizing As(III) at the same time than for either component alone. The additive effect of the mixed cell- δ-MnO(2) system was consistent for short (<1 h) and long (24 h) term coincubation indicating that mineral surface inhibition by cells has little effect the As(III) oxidation rate. Surface interactions between cells and the mineral surface were indicated by sorption and pH-induced desorption results. Total sorption of As on the mineral was lower with bacteria present (16.1 ± 0.8% As sorbed) and higher with δ-MnO(2) alone (23.4 ± 1%) and As was more easily desorbed from the cell-δ-MnO(2) system than from δ-MnO(2) alone. Therefore, the presence of bacteria inhibited As sorption and decreased the stability of sorbed As on δ-MnO(2) even though As(III) was oxidized fastest in a mixed cell-δ-MnO(2) system. The additive effect of biotic (As-oxidizing bacteria) and abiotic (δ-MnO(2) mineral) oxidation processes in a system containing both oxidants suggests that mineral-only results may underestimate the oxidative capacity of natural systems with biotic and abiotic As(III) oxidation pathways.