Contribution of redox-active properties of compost-derived humic substances in hematite bioreduction

Abstract

The compost-derived humic substances (HS) can function as electron mediators for promoting hematite bioreduction because of its redox capacity. Humification process can affect redox capacities of compost-derived HS by changing its intrinsic structure. However, the redox properties of compost-derived HS linking with hematite bioreduction during composting still remain unclear. Herein, we investigated the redox capacities of compost-derived HS, and assessed the responses of the redox capacities to the hematite bioreduction. The result showed that compost-derived HS (i.e., humic acids (HA) and fulvic acids (FA)) were able to accept electrons from Shewanella oneidensis MR-1, and the electron accepting capacity was increased during composting. Furthermore, it could be functioned as electron mediators for promoting the hematite bioreduction, achieving 1.19-2.15 times compared with the control experience. Not only the aromatic structures (quinone) but also the non-quinone structures such as nitrogen- and sulfur-containing functional moieties were served as the redox-active functional groups of compost-derived HS. Our work proved that the aromatic functional groups and the heteroatom structures (especially N) were important to the hematite bioreduction. This study highlights the redox-active properties of compost-derived HS and its impact on the microbial reduction of iron mineral. Redox capacity of compost-derived HS might mitigate the environmental risk of contaminants when the composting production was added into the contaminated soils as low-cost repair materials