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Microbial electrochemical Cr(VI) reduction in a soil continuous flow system.

Gabriele Beretta1, Michela Sangalli1, Elena Sezenna1

  • 1Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy.

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Microbial electrochemical technology effectively remediates hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) in groundwater. This bioelectrochemical continuous flow system achieved over 99.9% Cr(VI) removal, offering a sustainable solution for contaminated sites.

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Contaminated soil and groundwater pose significant environmental risks.
  • Microbial electrochemical technologies (METs) integrate biological and electrochemical methods for contaminant remediation.
  • Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is a toxic contaminant requiring effective removal strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate Cr(VI) reduction using a bioelectrochemical continuous flow (BECF) system with soil-buried electrodes.
  • To simulate in situ microbial electrochemical treatment for groundwater plumes.
  • To compare the efficiency of the BECF system against abiotic and open-circuit controls.

Main Methods:

  • A bioelectrochemical continuous flow (BECF) system with soil-buried electrodes was employed.
  • Tests were conducted using chromium-contaminated solutions (20–50 mg Cr(VI)/L).
  • Bacterial communities in soil and planktonic samples were characterized using sequencing.

Main Results:

  • The BECF system achieved a Cr(VI) removal rate of 1.00 mg/(L·day) at 20 mg/L initial concentration, reaching 99.5% removal in nine days.
  • At 50 mg/L initial concentration, the BECF system achieved 99.9% Cr(VI) removal over 156 days, significantly outperforming the open-circuit control.
  • Distinct bacterial communities were identified in soil and planktonic samples, suggesting diverse microbial roles in Cr(VI) reduction.

Conclusions:

  • Microbial electrochemical removal of hexavalent chromium is highly efficient, especially in the absence of organic carbon.
  • The BECF system demonstrates a sustainable and innovative approach for soil and groundwater remediation.
  • The complexity of microbial communities indicates multifaceted biological processes contributing to chromium removal.