Abstract
Hydrogen (H2) metabolism has attracted considerable interest because the activities of H2-producing and consuming microbes shape the global H2 cycle and may have vital relationships with the global cycling of other elements. There are many pathways of microbial H2 emission and consumption which may affect the structure and function of microbial communities. A wide range of microbial groups employ H2 as an electron donor to catalyze the reduction of pollutants such as organohalides, azo compounds, and trace metals. Syntrophy coupled mutualistic interaction between H2-producing and H2-consuming microorganisms can transfer H2 and be accompanied by the removal of toxic compounds. Moreover, hydrogenases have been gradually recognized to have a key role in the progress of pollutant degradation. This paper reviews recent advances in elucidating role of H2 metabolism involved in syntrophy and hydrogenases in environmental bioremediation. Further investigations should focus on the application of bioenergy in bioremediation to make microbiological H2 metabolism a promising remediation strategy.
Highlights
It is well established that the main sources of molecular hydrogen (H2) are geochemical and anthropogenic activities and the main sink is the biological consumption of H2 in soil ecosystems
Based on energy balance toward H2 production and consumption analysis, we propose that the energy-transforming reactions between H2 production and organohalide degradations might be involved in syntrophic H2 production and consumption microorganisms
Metabolism of H2 including H2 production and H2 consumption have been recognized as a potential driving force affecting the structure of microbial communities and may even change community functions
Summary
It is well established that the main sources of molecular hydrogen (H2) are geochemical and anthropogenic activities and the main sink is the biological consumption of H2 in soil ecosystems. The H2 cycle plays an important role in microbial metabolism due to numerous microbial processes that depend on H2 production and consumption (Vignais and Billoud, 2007; Greening et al, 2015b). Prokaryotic microorganisms with different metabolic processes such as hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria, methanogens and anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria can exploit H2 as an energy source and reductant (Schwartz et al, 2013). Under the impact of hydrogenases, microbial metabolic activities can influence the cycling of belowground minerals and organic matter and play a positive role in the bioremediation of both organic and inorganic pollutants (Lovley, 1993, 2008; Lovley and Coates, 2000; Vignais and Billoud, 2007). In this review we attempt to integrate our understanding of the role of H2 metabolism in environment and environmental bioremediation processes and summarize the knowledge of H2 metabolism and hydrogenases involved in bioremediation
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