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Enhanced refractory organics removal by sponge iron-coupled microbe technology: performance and underlying mechanism analysis

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Abstract

Sponge iron (SFe) is a zero-valent iron (Fe0) composite with a high-purity and porous structure. In this study, SFe was coupled with microorganisms that were gradually domesticated to form a Fe0/iron-oxidizing bacteria system (Fe0-FeOB system). The enhancement effect of the Fe0-FeOB system on refractory organics was verified, the mechanism of its strengthening action was investigated, and the relationship and influencing factors between the Fe0 and microorganisms were revealed. The average removal rates of the Fe0-FeOB system were 8.98%, 5.69%, and 40.67% higher than those of the SBR system for AF, AN, and NB wastewater treatment, respectively. With the addition of SFe, the microbial community structure was gradually enhanced with a large number of FeOB were detected. Moreover, the bacteria with strong iron corrosion and Fe(II) oxidation abilities plays a critical role in improving the Fenton-like effect. Interestingly, the variation trend of ⋅OH was fairly consistent with that of Fe(II). Thus, the main drivers of the Fenton-like effect are biological corrosion and metabolism. Consequently, microbial degradation and Fenton-like effect contributed to the degradation performance of the Fe0-FeOB system. Among them, the microbial degradation accounted for 96.09%, of which the biogenic Fenton effect accounted for 8.9%, and the microbial metabolic activity accounted for 87.19%. However, the augmentation of the Fe0-FeOB system was strongly dependent on SFe for the strengthening effect of microorganisms disappeared after leaving the SFe 35 days.

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Abbreviations

Fe0 :

Zero-valent iron

SFe:

Sponge iron

FeOB:

Iron-oxidizing bacteria

Fe0-FeOB system:

Fe0/iron-oxidizing bacteria system

TFe:

Total iron

Fe(II):

Ferrous iron

Fe(III):

Ferric iron

Fe(II)-M:

Fe(II)/biological iron method through submerging Fe(II) into the SBR reactor

Fe(III)-M:

Fe(III)/biological iron method through submerging Fe(III) into the SBR reactor

Fe0/O2 :

Fe0 can reductively activate molecular oxygen

H2O2 :

Hydrogen peroxide

OH:

Hydroxyl radicals

Na2S2O3 :

Sodium thiosulfate

COD:

Chemical oxygen demand

NB:

Nitrobenzene

AN:

Aniline

AF:

Acrylic fiber

TN:

Total nitrogen

CIP:

Ciprofloxacin

NC:

Nitrogen-containing

SBR:

Sequencing batch reactor

DO:

Dissolved oxygen

TOC:

Total organic carbon

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Acknowledgements

This project was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51768032).

Funding

This project was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51768032).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, 88 Anning West Road, Anning District, Lanzhou, 730070, Gansu, People’s Republic of China

    Jie Li, Yae Wang, Huina Xie, Wei Zhao, Lihong Zhang & Jing Li

  2. Gansu Membrane Science and Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd., Lanzhou, 730020, People’s Republic of China

    Lihong Zhang

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  1. Jie Li
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Li, J., Wang, Y., Xie, H. et al. Enhanced refractory organics removal by sponge iron-coupled microbe technology: performance and underlying mechanism analysis. Bioprocess Biosyst Eng 45, 117–130 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-021-02645-0

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