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Redox Interactions of Organohalide-Respiring Bacteria (OHRB) with Solid-State Electrodes: Principles and Perspectives of Microbial Electrochemical Remediation

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Organohalide-Respiring Bacteria

Abstract

Recent studies have revealed that a number of organohalide-respiring bacteria (OHRB) are capable to establish redox interactions with solid-state electrodes by using them as direct or indirect electron donors in their energy metabolism. Although the biochemical, ecological, and evolutionary significance of electron transfer capabilities in OHRB remain largely unknown, they are increasingly being considered for bioremediation applications. In principle, bioelectrochemical remediation systems which use insoluble electrodes to drive the microbial reduction of chlorinated compounds offer numerous advantages compared to conventional approaches, such as the possibility to fine-tune the rate of electron delivery and consumption, avoid injection of chemicals to the subsurface environment and ultimately gain a more direct control over the biodegradation reactions taking place at the electrodes. In spite of that, however, the technology is still in its infancy and further research and extensive field testing is needed to prove its actual potential for site remediation.

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Abbreviations

AQDS:

Anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate

BES:

Bioelectrochemical systems

cis-DCE:

cis-Dichloroethene

DET:

Direct electron transfer

DIET:

Direct interspecies electron transfer

EET:

Extracellular electron transfer

ETH:

Ethene

MV:

Methyl viologen

OHRB:

Organohalide-respiring bacteria

PCE:

Tetrachloroethene

SHE:

Standard hydrogen electrode

TCE:

Trichloroethene

VC:

Vinyl chloride

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Water Research Institute (IRSA), National Research Council (CNR), Rome, Italy

    Federico Aulenta, Simona Rossetti, Bruna Matturro & Valter Tandoi

  2. Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    Roberta Verdini & Mauro Majone

Authors
  1. Federico Aulenta
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  2. Simona Rossetti
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  3. Bruna Matturro
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  4. Valter Tandoi
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  5. Roberta Verdini
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  6. Mauro Majone
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Federico Aulenta .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department Isotope Biogeochemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environ. Research Department Isotope Biogeochemistry, Leipzig, Germany

    Lorenz Adrian

  2. Department of Microbiology, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA

    Frank E. Löffler

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Aulenta, F., Rossetti, S., Matturro, B., Tandoi, V., Verdini, R., Majone, M. (2016). Redox Interactions of Organohalide-Respiring Bacteria (OHRB) with Solid-State Electrodes: Principles and Perspectives of Microbial Electrochemical Remediation. In: Adrian, L., Löffler, F. (eds) Organohalide-Respiring Bacteria. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-49875-0_21

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