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Toxicity assessment of copper by electrochemically active bacteria in wastewater

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Abstract

A bioelectrochemical sensor (BES) was constructed for toxicity assessment of copper in contaminated domestic sewage. Electrochemically active bacteria (EAB), whose growth was supported by the bioenergy generated from an in situ metallurgical process, functioned as the sensing elements. The external resistance of metallurgical BES was optimized based on linear sweep voltammetry analysis. The stabilized BES was utilized to monitor the copper toxicity in real wastewater. During the less than 1-h sensing period, copper concentration ranging from 1 to 5 mg L−1 could be detected. A power output of around 100 Wh (kg Cu)−1 and metallic copper resource were obtained simultaneously. This study demonstrated that the highly active EAB species enriched in metallurgical BES could be a promising candidate for rapid and reliable evaluation of copper toxicity in real domestic wastewater.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National University of Singapore, National Research Foundation and Economic Development Board (SPORE, COY-15-EWI-RCFSA/N197-1) and Ministry of Education (R-143-000-519-112).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Heavy Metal Treatment and Reutilization, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China

    Lijuan Zhang & Huchun Tao

  2. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore

    Sam Fong Yau Li

  3. NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117411, Singapore

    Sam Fong Yau Li

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  1. Lijuan Zhang
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  2. Sam Fong Yau Li
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  3. Huchun Tao
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Correspondence to Sam Fong Yau Li or Huchun Tao.

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Zhang, L., Li, S.F.Y. & Tao, H. Toxicity assessment of copper by electrochemically active bacteria in wastewater. Environ Geochem Health 41, 81–91 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-018-0105-0

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