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Spontaneous arsenic (III) oxidation with bioelectricity generation in single-chamber microbial fuel cells
Yunlong Li1, Baogang Zhang1, Ming Cheng1
1School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences Beijing, Beijing 100083, China; Key Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Evolution (China University of Geosciences Beijing), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100083, China.
Abstract:
Arsenic is one of the most toxic elements commonly found in groundwater. With initial concentration of 200μgL(-1), spontaneous As(III) oxidation is realized completely during 7 days operation in single-chamber microbial fuel cells (MFCs) in the present study, with the maximum power density of 752.6±17mWm(-2). The product is less toxic and mobile As(V), which can be removed from aqueous solution more easily. High-throughput 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing analysis indicates the existence of arsenic-resistant bacteria as Actinobacteria, Comamonas, Pseudomonas and arsenic-oxidizing bacteria as Enterobacter, with electrochemically active bacteria as Lactococcus, Enterobacter. They interact together and are responsible for As(III) oxidation and bioelectricity generation in MFCs. This study offers a potential attractive method for remediation of arsenic-polluted groundwater.
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