Abstract
Biochar is redox-active and can function as a sustainable electron shuttle in catalyzing relevant redox reactions. It plays a crucial role in environmental remediation. In this work, we used different-nickel (Ni)-level biochars produced by the pyrolysis of plant biomass with correspondingly different Ni levels as extracellular electron shuttles for microbial reduction of ferrihydrite by Shewanella oneidensis MR-1. A high Ni level of the precursor considerably enhanced the conductor mechanism of the produced biochar and thus enabled the biochar to catalyze increased microbial reductions of the Fe(III) mineral, but it did not promote the charging and discharging capacities of the produced biochar. This study can aid in the search for natural biomass with high Ni content to establish low-cost biochars with wide-ranging applications in catalyzing the redox-mediated reactions of pollutants.
Highlights
Biochar is a highly aromatized refractory solid polymer produced from the thermal decomposition of diverse biomass species under completely or partially anaerobic conditions [1]
When S. oneidensis MR-1 was incubated with lactate and ferrihydrite, we observed about 50% of Fe(II)
When biochars were added to S. oneidensis MR-1 inoculated with ferrihydrite and lactate, the Fe(II) formation rates and extents increased remarkably beyond the additive values of biochar with ferrihydrite and S. oneidensis
Summary
Biochar is a highly aromatized refractory solid polymer produced from the thermal decomposition of diverse biomass species under completely or partially anaerobic conditions [1]. In the past few years, the great application potential of biochar has elicited increasing attention. Research has demonstrated that biochar plays crucial roles in plant growth, pollutant removal, catalytic reactions, energy storage, CO2 capture, and climate warming mitigation [1]. Recent studies have revealed that biochar has a new, potentially significant function. A study has shown that biochar is redox-active and can reversibly accept and donate electrons [3], which is crucial in catalyzing relevant redox reactions. The redox-active property of biochar is mirrored by its redox and conductor mechanisms [3,4]. The redox mechanism of biochar involves the electron flux through charging and discharging cycles of surface functional
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