Removal Of Organic Contaminants Research Articles

A comprehensive review of the challenges and opportunities in microalgae-based wastewater treatment for eliminating organic, inorganic, and emerging pollutants

This review addresses the critical issue of illegal discharge of partially or untreated wastewater effluents, resulting in the accumulation of various inorganic and organic contaminants in the environment. Numerous industries release these toxins into the atmosphere, posing significant threats to wildlife and human health. Consequently, there is an increasing need to mitigate these harmful pollutants through innovative research initiatives. Traditional physicochemical methods for pollutant management are often energy-intensive and can lead to secondary pollution. In contrast, microalgae bioremediation has emerged as an effective and environmentally friendly method for reducing the impact of both organic and inorganic pollutants. Microalgae can decompose complex organic compounds into simpler, less harmful substances without producing additional secondary pollutants. Moreover, certain organic pollutants can serve as carbon sources for the growth of mixotrophic microalgae. The bioremediation potential of microalgae can be further enhanced through advanced modification techniques. This review employs descriptive analysis to explore the application of bioremediation technologies for the removal of organic and inorganic contaminants, assessing their viability and applicability for emerging organic pollutants. It underscores the potential of microalgae to provide cost-effective and ecological solutions for the remediation of various contaminants and outlines successful bioremediation methods. This review effectively elucidates the nature of harmful contaminants, current challenges in industrial-scale water purification, and potential future solutions.

Advances in the process-based models of constructed wetlands and a way forward for integrating emerging organic contaminants.

This research examines advancements in the development of process-based models of constructed wetlands (CWs) tailored for simulating conventional water quality parameters (CWQPs). Despite the promising potential of CWs for emerging organic contaminant (EOC) removal, the available CW models do not yet integrate EOC removal processes. This study explores the need and possibility of integrating EOCs into existing CW models. Nevertheless, a few researchers have developed process-based models of other wastewater treatment systems (e.g., activated sludge systems) to simulate certain EOCs. The EOC removal processes observed in other wastewater treatment systems are analogous to those in CWs. Therefore, the corresponding equations governing these processes can be tailored and integrated into existing CW models, similarly to what was done successfully in the past for CWQPs. This study proposed the next generation of CW models, which outlines 12 areas for future work: integrating EOC removal processes; ensuring data availability for model calibration and validation; considering quantitative and sensitive parameters; quantifying microorganisms in CWs; modifying biofilm dynamics models; including pH, aeration, and redox potential; integrating clogging and plant sub-models; modifying hydraulic sub-model; advancing computer technology and programming; and maintaining a balance between simplicity and complexity. These suggestions provide valuable insights for enhancing the design and operational features of current process-based models of CWs, facilitating improved simulation of CWQPs, and integration of EOCs into the modelling framework.

Enhanced activation of persulfate by bimetal and nitrogen co-doped biochar for efficient degradation of refractory organic contaminants：the role of the second metal

The leaching of metal ions limits the application of Fe-biochar catalyst in activating persulfate (PS). In this work, Fe-M (M=Co, Cu) and nitrogen co-doped biochar (Fe-M@N-BC) were synthesized through impregnating bio-waste soybean straw to activate PS for the removal of various refractory organic contaminants (tetracycline (TC), oxytetracycline (OTC), methyl orange (MO) and rhodamine B (RhB)). The catalysts were characterized by XRD, XPS, Raman, BET, TEM, SEM, and the degradation mechanism was investigated through quenching experiments and EPR. The results indicated that the doping of second metal (Co, Cu) has a strong promoting effect on catalytic activity with the order of Co > Cu. Surprisingly, the removal rates of TC, OTC, RhB, MO by Fe-Co@N-BC reached 84.7%, 90.3%, 89.4%, and 91%, respectively. The excellent catalytic performance of Fe-Co@N-BC was mainly attributed to abundant pyridinic-N, larger specific surface area (270 m2·g−1) and the Co(II)/Co(III) redox cycle promoting the regeneration of Fe(II). Notably, the formation of Co7Fe3 alloy could inhibit the leaching of iron ions and Fe-Co@N-BC possessed excellent reusability. Additionally, non-radical (1O2) was the main active species in the Fe-Co@N-BC/PS system. Finally, the degradation pathway of MO was proposed by HPLC-MS analysis. This research work provided an insight into how to reasonably utilize biological waste to construct highly efficient and stable catalysts for pollutants degradation.

Accelerated peroxymonosulfate activation over defective perovskite with anchored cobalt nanoparticles for organic contaminant removal

In this study, a novel perovskite oxide (Co@D-PBSC) for activation peroxymonosulfate (PMS) to degrade organic pollutants in wastewater was developed. Cobalt nanoparticles (Co NPs) and oxygen vacancies (OVs) were introduced to the perovskite oxide lattice via a non-stoichiometric ratio and separate-out strategy. The OVs and Co NPs provided abundant active sites for the activation of PMS and the generation of reactive oxygen species. The Co metal-OVs bridge promote the adsorption of PMS, meanwhile, Co nanoparticles accelerate the Co2+/Co3+ redox cycle, resulting in the production of the main reactive substance, sulfate radicals (SO4•−). The results of catalytic experiments showed that 85 % of ofloxacin (OFX) degradation efficiency was obtained within 1 min at 0.1 g/L Co@D-PBSC, 0.3 g/L PMS, 20 mg/L OFX (150 mL), and solution pH 7.0, which indicated that Co@D-PBSC/PMS system exhibits excellent performance. This work demonstrated an efficient perovskite catalyst for PMS activation in wastewater treatment and provided a useful catalyst design strategy for the advanced oxidation processes (AOPs).

Nanostructured Mn@NiO composite for addressing multi-pollutant challenges in petroleum-contaminated water

Efficient catalysts play a pivotal role in advancing eco-friendly water treatment strategies, particularly in the removal of diverse organic contaminants found in water-petroleum sources. This study addresses the multifaceted challenges posed by contaminants, encompassing a spectrum of heavy metals such as As, Cd, Cr, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, and Zn alongside pollutants like oily water (OIW), total suspended solids (TSS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), dyes, and pharmaceuticals, posing threats to both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Herein, we present the synthesis of biogenically derived Mn@NiO nanocomposite (NC) photocatalysts, a sustainable methodology employing an aqueous Rosmarinus officinalis L. extract, yielding particles with a size of 36.7 nm. The catalyst demonstrates exceptional efficacy in removing heavy metals, achieving rates exceeding 99–100% within 30 min, alongside notable removal efficiencies for OIW (98%), TSS (87%), and COD (98%). Furthermore, our photodegradation experiments showed remarkable efficiencies, with 94% degradation for Rose Bengal (RB) and 96% for methylene blue (MB) within 120 min. The degradation kinetics adhere to pseudo-first-order behavior, with rate constants of 0.0227 min−1 for RB and 0.0370 min−1 for MB. Additionally, the NC exhibits significant antibiotic degradation rates of 97% for cephalexin (CEX) and 96% for amoxicillin (AMOX). The enhanced photocatalytic performance is attributed to the synergistic interplay between the Mn and NiO nanostructures, augmenting responsiveness to sunlight while mitigating electron-hole pair recombination. Notably, the catalyst demonstrates outstanding stability and reusability across multiple cycles, maintaining its stable nanostructure without compromise.Graphical

Ultra-small cesium silver bismuth bromide quantum dots fabricated by modified hot-injection method for highly efficient degradation of contaminants in organic solvent

Lead-free halide perovskite material has drawn fast-growing interest due to its superior solar-conversion efficiency and nontoxic nature. In this work, we have successfully fabricated cesium silver bismuth bromide (Cs2AgBiBr6) quantum dots utilizing the hot injection method. The as-synthesized quantum dots were characterized by combined techniques, which showed remarkable visible-light photocatalytic activity for organic dyes and antibiotic degradation in ethanol. Specifically, about 97% of rhodamine B and methyl orange may be removed within 10 min and 30 min, respectively. Additionally, 60% of antibiotic residue of tetracycline hydrochloride is degraded in 30 min which is 7 times more than that on commercial titania (P25). The reactive species for the photodegradation are determined through capture experiments, and a reaction mechanism is proposed accordingly. This work provides a novel photocatalyst for the selective removal of diverse organic contaminants in ethanol and an alternative for the potential application of lead-free halide perovskites.

Chitosan/polyvinyl acetate/manganese ferrite as a eco-friendly adsorbent for separation of methyl orange dye from aqueous solution

This study presents a novel approach in the field of wastewater treatment, focusing on the development of an eco-friendly magnetic adsorbent, CS/PVAc/MnFe2O4, for the efficient removal of methyl orange (MO) from aqueous solutions. The combination of chitosan, polyvinyl acetate, and manganese ferrite demonstrated a remarkable MO removal efficiency of 96.7 % in just 75 min at a pH = 3, utilizing only 0.03 g of adsorbent and 50 mg/L of MO. The material was thoroughly characterized using FT-IR, XRD, SEM, and VSM techniques, confirming its effectiveness. The study successfully applied the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetics models to describe the adsorption isotherms and kinetics, revealing a maximum adsorption capacity of 80.58 mg/g. The findings underscore the potential of CS/PVAc/MnFe2O4 as a cost-effective and efficient solution for wastewater treatment, particularly in the removal of organic contaminants. This research contributes to the advancement of adsorbent materials and recommends further exploration for industrial applications and development.

β-Lactoglobulin-based aerogels: Facile preparation and sustainable removal of organic contaminants from water

Economically and efficiently removing organic pollutants from water is still a challenge in wastewater treatment. Utilizing environmentally friendly and readily available protein-based natural polymers to develop aerogels with effective removal performance and sustainable regeneration capability is a promising strategy for adsorbent design. Here, a robust and cost-effective method using inexpensive β-lactoglobulin (BLG) as raw material was proposed to fabricate BLG-based aerogels. Firstly, photocurable BLG-based polymers were synthesized by grafting glycidyl methacrylate. Then, a cross-linking reaction, including photo-crosslinking and salting-out treatment, was applied to prepared BLG-based hydrogels. Finally, the BLG-based aerogels with high porosity and ultralight weight were obtained after freeze-drying. The outcomes revealed that the biocompatible BLG-based aerogels exhibited effective removal performance for a variety of organic pollutants under perfectly quiescent conditions, and could be regenerated and reused many times via a simple and rapid process of acid washing and centrifugation. Overall, this work not only demonstrates that BLG-based aerogels are promising adsorbents for water purification but also provides a potential way for the sustainable utilization of BLG.

Effectiveness of cigarette butt filters as eco-friendly cellulose acetate membranes for organic contaminant removal

Abstract Cigarette waste is a persistent environmental problem that requires innovative solutions due to the inadequacy of traditional recycling methods. This paper explores the conversion of cigarette butt filters (CBFs) into raw material for cellulose acetate (CA) membrane production. This study prepared two types of membranes: 12% CBF and 12% CA as a control variable. The resulting material was evaluated for its properties and performance as an ultrafiltration membrane for organic contaminant removal. The result demonstrates that the CBF-based membrane exhibits superior characteristics to a CA-based membrane. This improvement is evident in the increased presence of hydroxyl (-OH) groups and enhanced porosity CA 18,37% and CBF 19,66%. Furthermore, the permeability of the CBF membrane has also increased, making it an efficient tool for maintaining humic acid removal CBF 79,02% and CA 66,18% while achieving a high flux ratio recovery CA 65,25 % and CBF 87,97%. The findings in this paper emphasize the promising potential of reusing cigarette waste as an eco-friendly membrane with high humic acid rejection and good antifouling properties.

Effectiveness of cigarette butt filters as eco-friendly cellulose acetate membranes for organic contaminant removal

Abstract Cigarette waste is a persistent environmental problem that requires innovative solutions due to the inadequacy of traditional recycling methods. This paper explores the conversion of cigarette butt filters (CBFs) into raw material for cellulose acetate (CA) membrane production. This study prepared two types of membranes: 12% CBF and 12% CA as a control variable. The resulting material was evaluated for its properties and performance as an ultrafiltration membrane for organic contaminant removal. The result demonstrates that the CBF-based membrane exhibits superior characteristics to a CA-based membrane. This improvement is evident in the increased presence of hydroxyl (-OH) groups and enhanced porosity CA 18,37% and CBF 19,66%. Furthermore, the permeability of the CBF membrane has also increased, making it an efficient tool for maintaining humic acid removal CBF 79,02% and CA 66,18% while achieving a high flux ratio recovery CA 65,25 % and CBF 87,97%. The findings in this paper emphasize the promising potential of reusing cigarette waste as an eco-friendly membrane with high humic acid rejection and good antifouling properties.

Kinetics of Obtaining Microalgal Biomass and Removal of Organic Contaminants in Photobioreactors Operated with Microalgae—Study Case: Treatment of Wastewater from a Poultry Slaughterhouse

Increases in poultry industry production have resulted in the generation of more hazardous effluents with high nitrogen and chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentrations. It is necessary to develop more efficient technologies in terms of water purification without the need to increase the volumes of commonly used reactors. This work analyzed the addition of micronutrients (Mo, Zn, Cu, and Mn) for the cultivation of the microalgae Chlorella spp. and Spirulina maxima in poultry wastewater. The effects of micronutrients on the production of biomass and algal cells were also assessed. For the Chlorella species, removal efficiencies of up to 99.14% for COD and 99.33% for nitrogen were achieved; for the Spirulina strain, these efficiencies were 98% for COD and 99% for nitrogen. The modified Gompertz equation was used to analyze the kinetic parameters. For both microalgae, the R2 values were greater than 98%. The results indicated that the dose with the highest algal cell generation rate was dose 2 for Chlorella spp., at 4.35 days, and dose 1 for Spirulina maxima, at 6.26 days. Microalgae are biological alternatives suitable for wastewater treatment, and their pollutant removal efficiency can increase with the addition of micronutrients, which has additional benefits for the production of valuable biomasses for industrial applications.

Sustainable electro-Fenton simultaneous reduction of Cr (VI) and degradation of organic pollutants via dual-site porous carbon cathode driving uncoordinated molybdenum sites conversion

Simultaneous removal of heavy metals and organic contaminants remains a substantial challenge in the electro-Fenton (EF) system. Herein, we propose a facile and sustainable “iron-free” EF system capable of simultaneously removing hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI)) and para-chlorophenol (4-CP). The system comprises a nitrogen-doped and carbon-deficient porous carbon (dual-site NPC-D) cathode coupled with a MoS2 nanoarray promoter (MoS2 NA). The NPC-D/MoS2 NA system exhibits exceptional synergistic electrocatalytic activity, with removal rates for Cr (VI) and 4-CP that are 20.3 and 4.4 times faster, respectively, compared to the NPC-D system. Mechanistic studies show that the dual-site structure of NPC-D cathode favors the two-electron oxygen reduction pathway with a selectivity of 81 %. Furthermore, an electric field-driven uncoordinated Mo valence state conversion of MoS2 NA enchances the generation of dynamic singlet oxygen and hydroxyl radicals. Notably, this system shows outstanding recyclability, resilience in real wastewater, and sustainability during a 3 L scale-up operation, while effectively mitigating toxicity. Overall, this study presents an effective approach for treating multiple-component wastewater and highlights the importance of structure-activity correlation in synergistic electrocatalysis.

When covalent organic frameworks meet zeolites: Enhancing rhodamine B removal through the synergy in the emerging organic–inorganic nanoadsorbents

The development of new porous materials has attracted intense attention as adsorbents for removing pollutants from wastewater. However, pure inorganic and organic porous materials confront various problems in purifying the wastewater. In this work, we integrated a covalent organic framework (TpPa-1) with an inorganic zeolite (TS-1) for the first time via a solvothermal method to fabricate new-type nanoadsorbents. The covalent organic framework/zeolite (TpPa-1/TS-1) nanoadsorbents combined the merits of the zeolite and COF components and possessed efficient adsorptive removal of organic contaminants from solution. Structural morphology and chemical composition characterization by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated the successful preparation of TpPa-1/TS-1 composite nanoadsorbents. The resultant composite adsorbent TpPa-1/TS-1 removed rhodamine B at 1.7 and 2.6 times the efficiency of TpPa-1 and TS-1, respectively. Additional investigation revealed that the Freundlich adsorption isotherm and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model could be employed to represent the adsorption process more appropriately. Thermodynamic calculation analysis showed that the adsorption process proceeded spontaneously and exothermically. Besides, the effects of pH, absorbent mass and ionic strength on the adsorption performance were systematically investigated. The prepared composite adsorbent showed a slight decrease in removal efficiency after eight cycles of repeated use, and real water environment experiments also showed the high stability of the adsorbent. The enhanced performance can be attributed to electrostatic interaction, acid-base interaction, hydrogen bonding and π–π interactions.

Flow rate and kinetics of trace organic contaminants removal in black carbon-amended engineered media filters for improved stormwater runoff treatment

Urban stormwater runoff is considered a key component of future water supply portfolios for water-stressed cities. Beneficial use of runoff, such as capture for recharge of drinking water aquifers, relies on improved stormwater treatment. Many dissolved constituents, including metals and trace organic contaminants (TrOCs) such as hydrophilic pesticides and poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), are of concern due to their toxicity, persistence, prevalence in stormwater runoff, and poor removal in conventional stormwater control measures. This study explores the operational flow rate limitations of black carbon (BC)-amended engineered media filters for removal of a wide suite of dissolved metals and TrOCs and provides validation for a previously developed predictive TrOC transport model. Column experiments were conducted with face velocities of 40 and 60 cm h−1 to assess Douglas Fir-based biochar and regenerated activated carbon (RAC) filter performance in light of media-contaminant removal kinetic limitations. This study found that increasing the face velocity in BC-amended filters to 40 and 60 cm h−1, which are representative of field conditions, decreased the removal of total suspended solids, turbidity, dissolved hydrophilic TrOCs, and PFASs when expressed as volume treated relative to previous studies conducted at 20 cm h−1. Dissolved metals and hydrophobic TrOCs removal were not substantially affected by the increased flow rates. A predictive 1-d intraparticle pore diffusion-limited sorption model with sorption and effective tortuosity parameters determined previously from experiments conducted at 20 cm h−1 was validated for these higher flow rates. This work provides insights to the kinetic limitations of contaminant removal within biochar and RAC filters and implications for stormwater filter design and operation.

Engineered design of MnFe2O4/CoNiFe-LTH/g-C3N4 heterocatalyst for doxycycline degradation via Fenton oxidation process: Optimization and mechanism

The removal of organic contaminants from waterways is vital to the ecosystem. A novel MnFe2O4/CoNiFe-LTH/g-C3N4 catalyst was synthesized via self-assembly preparation, and linked with H2O2 for the Fenton degradation of doxycycline (DXY). The MnFe2O4/CoNiFe-LTH/g-C3N4 was characterized using FTIR, XRD, XPS, VSM, SEM, TOC, GC–MS, and ICP-OES. Interestingly, the magnetically separable and high-stability catalyst achieved 89.11 % DXY degradation, and 69.30 % TOC removal efficiency within 60 and 120 min, respectively (at pH = 7.5, catalyst dosage= 0.01 g, H2O2 = 400 ppm, T = 20 °C, and DXY concentration= 100 ppm). In addition, the synergistic effect of metal cations (Co, Ni, Fe, and Mn) triggered Fenton degradation through a continuous closed cycle of electrons. A pseudo-first-order kinetic model also fitted DXY degradation with MnFe2O4/CoNiFe-LTH/g-C3N4. Furthermore, the radical pathway mechanism was confirmed with XPS before and after degradation, and with radical scavenging tests. The DXY degradation pathway was speculated by GC–MS analysis. Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) was applied to assess intermediates for developmental toxicity. The MnFe2O4/CoNiFe-LTH/g-C3N4 catalytic activity on H2O2 decomposition was determined via titrimetric analysis. Recycling tests and ICP-OES measurements were further used to investigate the catalyst's resilience and reusability. Besides, MnFe2O4/CoNiFe-LTH/g-C3N4 demonstrated a performance of 70 % over eight catalytic degradation runs with minimal metal leaching. Eventually, MnFe2O4/CoNiFe-LTH/g-C3N4 is a viable catalyst for breaking down organic contaminants in wastewater.

2D Cobalt-carbon–nitrogen loaded 3D Prussian blue analogues enhances peroxymonosulfate activation for bisphenol A Degradation: Singlet oxygen dominated nonradical pathway

Singlet oxygen (1O2) dominated peroxymonosulfate (PMS)-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) is an effective technology for the removal of electron-rich organic contaminants. However, the highly selective generation of 1O2 is limited by the development of catalysts. Herein, a two-dimensional (2D) cobalt-carbon–nitrogen loaded three-dimensional (3D) Prussian blue analogue (CoCN@PBA-P) material was synthesized by the one-step method using hematite with different morphologies as the precursor. The two atomically dispersed Co sites in three CoCN@PBA-P were demonstrated that could effectively activate PMS to degrade bisphenol A (BPA) in different and complex environmental backgrounds. The quenching, probe quantitative, and EPR results indicated the dominant role of 1O2 in CoCN@PBA-P/PMS system, and the steady-state concentration of 1O2 can achieve 4.0 × 10-9-1.3 × 10-8 M. Importantly, the role of Co as the active site was verified by screening experiments, and the mechanism of CoCN@PBA-P activate PMS was revealed by experimentally and theoretically, and the pathway to generate 1O2 is *HSO5→*SO4+OH–→*SO4+*OH→*O→1O2 (* represents that the species is bound to the active site). Finally, the analysis of degradation intermediates and their toxicity showed that the whole process is harmless to the environment. This work provides a new perspective to the design of 2D@3D materials and their application in PMS-based AOPs.

Bamboo leaf-derived biochar/iron silicate composite for an adsorption-degradation synergistic removal of ciprofloxacin

Antibiotics pose significant risks to both the environment and human health. Herein, we develop a collaborative strategy for the enhanced removal of a typical antibiotic, Ciprofloxacin (CIP), by using a bamboo leaf-derived biochar/iron silicate composite (BL-FeSi) with the assistance of peroxymonosulfate (PMS). The rationale behind the design is the construction of composited material with synergistic adsorption-catalysis functions, based on covalent bonding networks of the biochar and specific Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox chemistry of iron silicate in PMS activation system. H2 reduction of pristine BL-FeSi increases Fe(II) content and thus improves catalytic activity. Batch experiments demonstrate that the preferred BL-FeSi400 (H2 treatment at 400 °C) exhibits superior efficiency in activating PMS. The CIP removal efficiency is highly dependent on pH value of reaction solution. A remarkable 97% removal is achieved at pH = 5.5 (CIP: 60 mL, 20 mg/L; BL-FeSi400: 0.2 g/L, PMS: 0.2 g/L), and the pH increase to 11 results in 100% CIP removal. The BL-FeSi400 shows robust resistance to inorganic ions (NO3−, SO42−, HCO3−, and H2PO4−), and the catalytic activity remains consistently high (>82%) even after four consecutive cycles, making it highly promising for practical applications. It is found that both radical pathway (•OH and SO4•−) and non-radical pathway (1O2) contribute to CIP degradation in the BL-FeSi400/PMS system, while the active •OH dominates the oxidization process. The coupling of adsorption and degradation holds great potentials for effective removal of more organic contaminants.

Mixed (organic and inorganic) contaminants removal ability of water fern biomass-based biochar on starch industry wastewater

Mixed (organic and inorganic) contaminants removal ability of water fern biomass-based biochar on starch industry wastewater

Predicting removal efficiency of organic pollutants by soil vapor extraction based on an optimized machine learning method

Soil vapor extraction (SVE) was a cost-effective technology for remediating volatile and semi-volatile organic contaminated soils. Many factors, including SVE parameters, soil properties, and contaminant characteristics, significantly influenced the remediation efficiency of SVE. The optimal conditions for organic pollutants removal efficiency were site-specific and varied among studies. Therefore, a generalized model was needed to predict the remediation efficiency of SVE in organic contaminated soils. This study employed machine learning to predict the removal efficiency of organic pollutants by SVE. The model's development was based on a trainset, and its predictive capabilities were evaluated using a testset. An XGBoost (XGB) model was derived from literature data (R2 = 0.9728). Time, pollutant type, and temperature were identified as the three most important features affecting SVE remediation efficiency. The accuracy (R2 = 0.9799) and universality of the model were enhanced through an optimization scheme. The developed XGB model demonstrated the ability to predict the removal efficiency of organic pollutants by considering all collected influential factors. The mechanism of multi-factor interaction on remediation efficiency was clarified. Overall, this study would contribute to evaluating the remediation potential of SVE for specific organic contaminated soils, aiding in maximizing the removal efficiency of organic pollutants under optimal conditions.

Substrate promiscuity of xenobiotic-transforming hydrolases from stream biofilms impacted by treated wastewater

Organic contaminants enter aquatic ecosystems from various sources, including wastewater treatment plant effluent. Freshwater biofilms play a major role in the removal of organic contaminants from receiving water bodies, but knowledge of the molecular mechanisms driving contaminant biotransformations in complex stream biofilm (periphyton) communities remains limited. Previously, we demonstrated that biofilms in experimental flume systems grown at higher ratios of treated wastewater (WW) to stream water displayed an increased biotransformation potential for a number of organic contaminants. We identified a positive correlation between WW percentage and biofilm biotransformation rates for the widely-used insect repellent, N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) and a number of other wastewater-borne contaminants with hydrolyzable moieties. Here, we conducted deep shotgun sequencing of flume biofilms and identified a positive correlation between WW percentage and metagenomic read abundances of DEET hydrolase (DH) homologs. To test the causality of this association, we constructed a targeted metagenomic library of DH homologs from flume biofilms. We screened our complete metagenomic library for activity with four different substrates, including DEET, and a subset thereof with 183 WW-related organic compounds. The majority of active hydrolases in the metagenomic library preferred aliphatic and aromatic ester substrates while, remarkably, only a single reference enzyme was capable of DEET hydrolysis. Of the 626 total enzyme-substrate combinations tested, approximately 5% were active enzyme-substrate pairs. Metagenomic DH family homologs revealed a broad substrate promiscuity spanning 22 different compounds when summed across all enzymes tested. We biochemically characterized the most promiscuous and active enzymes identified based on metagenomic analysis from uncultivated Rhodospirillaceae and Planctomycetaceae. In addition to characterizing new DH family enzymes, we exemplified a framework for linking metagenome-guided hypothesis generation with experimental validation. Overall, this study expands the scope of known enzymatic contaminant biotransformations for metagenomic hydrolases from WW-receiving stream biofilm communities.