Anaerobic treatment of groundwater co-contaminated by toluene and copper in a single chamber bioelectrochemical system.
Bioelectrochemistry
; 158: 108711, 2024 Aug.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38626620
ABSTRACT
Addressing the simultaneous removal of multiple coexisting groundwater contaminants poses a significant challenge, primarily because of their different physicochemical properties. Indeed, different chemical compounds may necessitate establishing distinct, and sometimes conflicting, (bio)degradation and/or removal pathways. In this work, we investigated the concomitant anaerobic treatment of toluene and copper in a single-chamber bioelectrochemical cell with a potential difference of 1 V applied between the anode and the cathode. As a result, the electric current generated by the bioelectrocatalytic oxidation of toluene at the anode caused the abiotic reduction and precipitation of copper at the cathode, until the complete removal of both contaminants was achieved. Open circuit potential (OCP) experiments confirmed that the removal of copper and toluene was primarily associated with polarization. Analogously, abiotic experiments, at an applied potential of 1 V, confirmed that neither toluene was oxidized nor copper was reduced in the absence of microbial activity. At the end of each experiment, both electrodes were characterized by means of a comprehensive suite of chemical and microbiological analyses, evidencing a highly selected microbial community competent in the biodegradation of toluene in the anodic biofilm, and a uniform electrodeposition of spherical Cu2O nanoparticles over the cathode surface.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Tolueno
/
Contaminantes Químicos del Agua
/
Agua Subterránea
/
Cobre
/
Electrodos
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Bioelectrochemistry
Asunto de la revista:
BIOQUIMICA
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Italia
Pais de publicación:
Países Bajos