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2,4-DNT removal in intimately coupled photobiocatalysis: the roles of adsorption, photolysis, photocatalysis, and biotransformation

  • Environmental biotechnology
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Abstract

The removal of 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT) by simultaneous UV-photo(cata)lysis and biodegradation was explored using intimately coupled photolysis/photocatalysis and biodegradation (ICPB) with two novel porous carriers. First, a porous ceramic carrier was used to attach the photocatalyst (TiO2) on its exterior and accumulate biomass in its interior. UV irradiation alone decomposed 71% of the 2,4-DNT in 60 h, and TiO2 catalyst improved the photolysis to 77%. Second, a macroporous sponge carrier was used to strongly adsorb 2,4-DNT and protect microorganisms from 2,4-DNT inhibition and UV irradiation. The main photolytic reactions were reduction of the nitryl to amino and hydrolysis of the amino to release NH +4 . The main biodegradation reactions were oxidative release of NO −3 and accelerated reductive release of NH +4 . ICPB more thoroughly released inorganic N, with nearly equal amounts being oxidized to nitrate and reduced to ammonium. The genera Burkholderia and Bacillus were found inside the sponge carriers, and they are associated with biodegradation of DNT and its photolysis intermediates. Therefore, using an adsorbent and macroporous biofilm carrier enabled the effective removal of 2,4-DNT by ICPB.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the US National Science Foundation (Grant No. 0651794) and China Scholarship Council. We sincerely thank Prof. Yongming Zhang at Shanghai Normal University, China, for kindly providing the ceramic carriers and Samsung Engineering Co. Ltd, Korea, for kindly providing the sponge carriers. We also thank Bradley Lusk, who helped in DNA sequencing analysis, and Dr. Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown, who provided guidance and facilities for phylogenetic analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, People’s Republic of China

    Donghui Wen & Rui Xing

  2. Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-5701, USA

    Donghui Wen, Guozheng Li, Seongjun Park & Bruce E. Rittmann

  3. Research and Development Center, Samsung Construction and Trading, Seoul, 135-769, Republic of Korea

    Seongjun Park

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  1. Donghui Wen
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  2. Guozheng Li
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  5. Bruce E. Rittmann
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Correspondence to Donghui Wen.

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Wen, D., Li, G., Xing, R. et al. 2,4-DNT removal in intimately coupled photobiocatalysis: the roles of adsorption, photolysis, photocatalysis, and biotransformation. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 95, 263–272 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-011-3692-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-011-3692-6

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