Remediation Of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Research Articles

Application of sulfidated nano zero-valent iron to enhance fluoranthene degradation by Fe(III) activated sodium percarbonate process in aqueous and soil media

Iron sludge generation poses a challenge to the application of Fenton/Fenton-like processes in wastewater treatment. In this study, sulfidated nano zero-valent iron (S-nZVI) was introduced to enhance the activation of sodium percarbonate (SPC) by Fe(III), mitigating the generation of iron sludge by promoting the Fe(III)/Fe(II) cycle. The proposed technique efficiently removed 94.3% fluoranthene (FLT) in which HO• acted as the major reactive oxygen species responsible for FLT degradation. Toxicity analysis revealed phthalic acid and 1-phenylnaphthalene as FLT degradation intermediates which finally converted to CO2 and H2O. Similarly, the luminous bacteria experiment also showed that the FLT degradation process was environmentally benign. The support of S-nZVI to the Fe(III)/Fe(II) cycle was determined by analyzing the morphology and characterization of S-nZVI. The removal of FLT reached more than 80% at pH ranging from 3.0 to 10.0, and the detrimental effects of low concentrations of Cl− were mitigated. SPC/S-nZVI/Fe(III) process showed good removal of FLT (90%) in both real groundwater and river simulation experiments. Furthermore, SPC/S-nZVI/Fe(III) process was successfully applied in soil slurry media with around 90% FLT degradation in 12h. The influence of the soil/water ratio on FLT removal was found to be negligible. SPC/S-nZVI/Fe(III) process was superior for the removal of mixed FLT, naphthalene, and phenanthrene contamination. In conclusion, the SPC/S-nZVI/Fe(III) system exhibits enormous potential in the remediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contaminated sites.

Naphthalene-Degrading Bacteria with Potential for Remediating Marine Environments

Brazil is one of the largest oil producers in the world, and petroleum exploration is predominant in marine environments, mainly in the city of Rio de Janeiro. These environments become vulnerable to oil spills, which can be remedied by petroleum hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria. To better understand the distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-degrading bacteria in these marine environments, water samples were collected from eight beaches (Arpoador, Grumari, Vermelha, Sahy, Itacuruçá, Itaipuaçu, Ferradura, and Itaipu) along the Rio de Janeiro coastline and further contaminated with 0.1% naphthalene, used as a PAH model. Naphthalene-enriched bacteria were isolated in marine agar, identified using 16S rRNA sequencing, and tested for emulsification and naphthalene degradation. Thirty-five different genera were observed among the 231 isolates, most belonging to Proteobacteria. Some genera were found in at least half of the studied beaches, such as Mesoflavibacter, Muricauda, Alteromonas, Salipiger, Pseudooceanicola, and Celeribacter, while others were found in only a few water samples. Seventeen and 18 strains were considered to be positive for naphthalene degradation and emulsification, respectively, making them the most promising strains for naphthalene bioremediation. Five of these strains were positive for both degradation and emulsification. This study contributes to the selection of potential candidates for further studies on the remediation of PAHs in tropical marine environments worldwide.

PAHs removal by soil washing with thiacalix[4]arene tetrasulfonate

Remediating soil contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) presents a significant environmental challenge due to their toxic and carcinogenic properties. Traditional PAHs remediation methods—chemical, thermal, and bioremediation—along with conventional soil-washing agents like surfactants and cyclodextrins face challenges of cost, ecological harm, and inefficiency. Here we show an effective and environmentally friendly calixarene derivative for PAHs removal through soil washing. Thiacalix[4]arene tetrasulfonate (TCAS) has a unique molecular structure of a sulfonate group and a sulfur atom, which enhances its solubility and facilitates selective binding with PAHs. It forms host-guest complexes with PAHs through π-π stacking, OH-π interactions, hydrogen bonding, van der Waals forces, and electrostatic interactions. These interactions enable partial encapsulation of PAH molecules, aiding their desorption from the soil matrix. Our results show that a 0.7% solution of TCAS can extract approximately 50% of PAHs from contaminated soil while preserving soil nutrients and minimizing adverse environmental effects. This research unveils the pioneering application of TCAS in removing PAHs from contaminated soil, marking a transformative advancement in resource-efficient and sustainable soil remediation strategies.

Remediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons polluted soil by biochar loaded humic acid activating persulfate: performance, process and mechanisms

The remediation for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons contaminated soil with cost-effective method has received significant public concern, a composite material, therefore, been fabricated by loading humic acid into biochar in this study to activate persulfate for naphthalene, pyrene and benzo(a)pyrene remediation. Experimental results proved the hypothesis that biochar loaded humic acid combined both advantages of individual materials in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons adsorption and persulfate activation, achieved synergistic performance in naphthalene, pyrene and benzo(a)pyrene removal from aqueous solution with efficiency reached at 98.2%, 99.3% and 90.1%, respectively. In addition, degradation played a crucial role in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons remediation, converting polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons into less toxic intermediates through radicals of ·SO4-, ·OH, ·O2–, and 1O2 generated from persulfate activation process. Despite pH fluctuation and interfering ions inhibited remediation efficiency in some extent, the excellent performances of composite material in two field soil samples (76.7% and 91.9%) highlighted its potential in large-scale remediation.

A systematic review on enhancement strategies in biochar-based remediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are pervasive ecological pollutants produced essentially during the inadequate burning of organic materials. PAHs are a group of different organic compounds that are made out of various aromatic rings. PAHs pose a serious risk to humans and aquatic ecosystems because of their mutagenic and carcinogenic properties. In this way, there is a critical prerequisite to utilizing successful remediation strategies and methods to limit the dangerous effect of these pollutants on the ecosystem. Biochar has believed of intriguing properties such as simple manufacturing operations and more affordable and more productive materials. Biochar is a sustainable carbonaceous material that has an enormous surface area with bountiful functional groups and pore structure, which has huge potential for the remediation of toxic pollutants. This review emphasizes the occurrence, development, and fate of toxic PAHs in the environment. In the present review, the properties and role of biochar in the removal of PAHs were illustrated, and the influencing factors and an efficient key mechanism of biochar for the remediation of PAHs were discussed in detail. Various surface modification methods can be utilized to improve the biochar properties with the magnetization process; the advancements of modified biochar are pointed out in this review. Finally, the constraints and prospects for the large-scale application of biochar in the remediation of toxic pollutants are highlighted.

PAH bioremediation with Rhodococcus rhodochrous ATCC 21198: Impact of cell immobilization and surfactant use on PAH treatment and post-remediation toxicity

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are prevalent environmental contaminants that are harmful to ecological and human health. Bioremediation is a promising technique for remediating PAHs in the environment, however bioremediation often results in the accumulation of toxic PAH metabolites. The objectives of this research were to demonstrate the cometabolic treatment of a mixture of PAHs by a pure bacterial culture, Rhodococcus rhodochrous ATCC 21198, and investigate PAH metabolites and toxicity. Additionally, the surfactant Tween ® 80 and cell immobilization techniques were used to enhance bioremediation. Total PAH removal ranged from 70–95% for fluorene, 44–89% for phenanthrene, 86–97% for anthracene, and 6.5–78% for pyrene. Maximum removal was achieved with immobilized cells in the presence of Tween ® 80. Investigation of PAH metabolites produced by 21198 revealed a complex mixture of hydroxylated compounds, quinones, and ring-fission products. Toxicity appeared to increase after bioremediation, manifesting as mortality and developmental effects in embryonic zebrafish. 21198′s ability to rapidly transform PAHs of a variety of molecular structures and sizes suggests that 21198 can be a valuable microorganism for catalyzing PAH remediation. However, implementing further treatment processes to address toxic PAH metabolites should be pursued to help lower post-remediation toxicity in future studies.

Efficiency of Hydrogen Peroxide and Fenton Reagent for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Degradation in Contaminated Soil: Insights from Experimental and Predictive Modeling

This study investigates the degradation kinetics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in contaminated soil using hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and the Fenton process (H2O2/Fe2+). The effect of oxidant concentration and the Fenton molar ratio on PAH decomposition efficiency is examined. Results reveal that increasing H2O2 concentration above 25 mmol/samples leads to a slight increase in the rate constants for both first- and second-order reactions. The Fenton process demonstrates higher efficiency in PAH degradation compared to H2O2 alone, achieving decomposition yields ranging from 84.7% to 99.9%. pH evolution during the oxidation process influences PAH degradation, with alkaline conditions favoring lower elimination rates. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis indicates significant elimination of PAHs after treatment, with both oxidants showing comparable efficacy in complete hydrocarbon degradation. The mechanisms of PAH degradation by H2O2 and the Fenton process involve hydroxyl radical formation, with the latter exhibiting greater efficiency due to Fe2+ catalysis. Gaussian process regression (GPR) modeling accurately predicts reduced concentration, with optimized ARD-Exponential kernel function demonstrating superior performance. The Improved Grey Wolf Optimizer algorithm facilitates optimization of reaction conditions, yielding a high degree of agreement between experimental and predicted values. A MATLAB 2022b interface is developed for efficient optimization and prediction of C/C0, a critical parameter in PAH degradation studies. This integrated approach offers insights into optimizing the efficiency of oxidant-based PAH remediation techniques, with potential applications in contaminated soil remediation.

The remediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contaminated soil by immobilized microorganisms using distiller's grains.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are a persistent organic pollutant, and their biodegradation in the soil is often limited due to the limited degradation ability of indigenous bacteria and the low activity of exogenous PAH degrading bacteria. Immobilized microbial technology can protect microorganisms from the impact of harsh environments, and distiller's grains have the potential as carriers for microbial immobilization. This study aims to use distiller's grains as a microbial carrier, investigate the feasibility of immobilized microorganisms using distiller's grains for remediation of PAH contaminated soil; explore the relationship between soil nutrient content, consumption, and PAH degradation rate; and reveal the mechanism of bioremediation from the perspective of soil enzyme activity and microbial community composition. The results showed that after 72 days of remediation, the removal rates of phenanthrene and pyrene in the treatment of immobilized microorganisms in distiller grains reached 91.78% and 58.59%, respectively. Distiller grains can serve as a carrier for microorganisms, providing them with shelter and nutrients to enhance their chance of survival. Additionally, they can regulate the composition of soil particles and improve aeration, thereby increasing the efficiency of PAH degradation in soil.

Removal of PAHs in paddy fields: How natural periphytic biofilm enhances the removal process and the mechanisms involved

Previous studies on the removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from farmland have mostly relied on anthropogenic biotic or abiotic amendments. Here, an indigenous paddy periphytic biofilm (PB) composed of complex symbolic communities was enriched, and its essential role, as well as the potential mechanisms of PAHs dissipation, was investigated. A pot experiment revealed that PB achieved 92.87% and 92.76% removal of the USEPA priority PAHs from the overlying water and soil of a heavily PAHs-contaminated paddy field, respectively. This subsequently decreased ΣPAHs accumulation in rice shoots to 4.12 ± 1.08 ng g-1, under the thresholds based on food safety standards. The physiology of PB in an aquatic culture with PAHs was assessed to understand the toxicity and removal mechanism. Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) adsorption occurred in the early stage, followed by late biodegradation, which was considered the primary mechanism for removing PAHs. In this process, the PB contributed more to the high molecular weight PAHs compared to the low molecular weight. Furthermore, 16S-rRNA sequencing demonstrated specific functional phyla (Proteobacteria, Ascomycota, and Chloroplastida) with significantly higher relative abundances in periphytic communities with PAHs, which facilitated PAHs degradation. The predicted synergetic metabolic pathway involved 33 PAHs-degrading genes as inferred by PICRUSt. These findings suggest that PB could provide a promising strategy for target PAHs remediation in situ and food safety in contaminated paddy fields.

Enhancing Anaerobic Biodegradation of Phenanthrene in Polluted Soil by Bioaugmentation and Biostimulation: Focus on the Distribution of Phenanthrene and Microbial Community Analysis

The remediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-contaminated soils has received much attention in recent years, and most of the contaminated sites are in anaerobic environments, such as deep soils and flooded soils. We simulated the natural flooded soil environment, selected phenanthrene (PHE) as a model PAH contaminant, and designed batch experiments run for 63 days to comprehensively investigate the effects of the combined addition of anaerobic sludge and granular biochar on microbial community and function and the anaerobic biodegradation of PHE. Firstly, the residue, distribution, and removal of PHE in the flooded soil environment were quantified for each group. Secondly, the effects of bioaugmentation of soil indigenous microorganisms by the addition of anaerobic activated sludge and biostimulation of biochar on the removal of PHE from the soil were analyzed against each other. Lastly, the changes in the structure of the microbial community under the effect of bioaugmentation and biostimulation were illustrated by sequencing analyses. The results of this study showed that the removal efficiency of PHE reached 72.0% after the addition of anaerobic activated sludge. The incorporation of anaerobic activated sludge and biochar resulted in a 25.3% increase in PHE removal compared to a single soil, suggesting that the combination of bioaugmentation and biostimulation can have a synergistic effect on the anaerobic biodegradation of PHE in contaminated soils. The results of sequencing analysis further indicated that the introduction of an exogenous microbial community changed the dominant genera associated with PHE degradation and introduced methanogenic archaea, which enriched the metabolic pathways of the carbon cycle in the system. On this basis, the addition of biochar resulted in higher anaerobic microbial community diversity, functional dominant species were enriched, and the direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) process between electroactive bacteria (Bacteroides, f_Geobacteraceae) and Methanosaeta was facilitated, which accelerated the degradation of PHE by anaerobic microbial communities. The results of this study provide regulatory tools and basic data support for enhanced bioremediation of PAHs in flooded soils.

Important role of cosolvent addition and soil permeability on electrokinetic-persulfate remediation of benzo(a)pyrene

Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) is a common soil pollutant that is difficult to remove from low-permeability soil. The effects of cosolvent and soil permeability on electrokinetic (EK) + persulfate (PS) remediation of BaP are not well understood. This study investigated BaP removal in two soil types of different low permeabilities (low: Soil-L; much lower: Soil-ML) under different types and concentrations of cosolvent-enhanced EK+PS remediation. In Soil-ML, BaP removal varied significantly, reaching up to 86.6% under EK+PS+ 5% hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HPCD) treatment. Compared to EK+PS alone, the promoting effect of HPCD on EK+PS increased with increased concentrations of HPCD; however, adding 1% Tween 80 (TW 80) suppressed BaP removal by 2.5–10.5% in the soil compared with that under EK+PS alone. The inhibition was further enhanced at 10% TW 80, with an average BaP removal of 36.2%. In contrast, in Soil-L, BaP removal was higher than in Soil-ML under EK+PS alone (additional 4.4–22.5%). Adding HPCD slightly inhibited BaP removal and adding 1% TW 80 had a slightly positive effect. PS migration (measured S2O82-) was impeded because of the low electroosmotic flow generated in Soil-ML, with higher clay, silt, and bound water contents. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the EK remediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in low-permeability soils.

Evaluating the potential of wax impregnated reactive components for long-term acenaphthene removal

The catalytic oxidation of acenaphthene (ANA) was investigated using a controlled-release persulfate candle (PSC) and Fe(II) candle (Fe(II)C) to provide long-lasting oxidation conditions during groundwater remediation. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first attempt to compare the pseudo-first-order rate constant (kobs) and % removal of ANA oxidation using PSC/Fe(II)C, PS solution (PSaq)/Fe(II) solution (Fe(II)aq), PSC/Fe(II)aq, and PSaq/Fe(II)C systems. The kobs and % removal of ANA in the PSC/Fe(II)C system exceeded those in the other systems. The optimal degradation conditions used were 0.1 mM ANA; 3.08 mM equilibrium concentration of PS (Ce,PS) released from PSC (controlled-release rate constant, kcr = 7.731 day−1); 5.673 mM equilibrium concentration of Fe(II) (Ce,Fe(II)) released from Fe(II)C (kcr = 3.796 day−1); unadjusted pH (~7.0); and 25 °C. Radical scavenger studies and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra showed that sulfate (SO4•−) and hydroxyl (•OH) radicals were involved in the ANA oxidation, but •OH was the dominant radical species in the PSC/Fe(II)C system. Cl−, SO42−, and HCO3− acted as radical scavengers. The introduction of hydroxylamine (HA) into the PSC/Fe(II)C system resulted in a notable enhancement of ANA removal efficiency, increasing it from 51.8 % to 82.6 % within 10 min. Additionally, the PSC/Fe(II)C + HA system exhibited a higher Fe(II) consumption efficiency of 96.6 %, surpassing that of the PSC/Fe(II)aq + HA system, which registered an efficiency of 88.6 %. Intermediate byproducts after 24 h of reaction were detected as non-toxic byproducts by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The PSC/Fe(II)C system would be beneficial for the remediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in groundwater due to the continuous supply of Fe(II) and PS for a long time.

Remediation of PAHs contaminated soil enhanced by nano-zero-valent iron combined with white rot fungi Peniophora incarnata

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are hazardous organic contaminants commonly found in soils. This study investigated an integrated remediation approach combining white rot fungal augmentation and nano-zero-valent iron (nZVI) activated persulfate oxidation to enhance the degradation of PAHs in soil. The white rot fungus Peniophora incarnata demonstrated efficient degradation of lower molecular weight PAHs including phenanthrene (91% removal) and anthracene (71% removal) in liquid culture, but had limited degradation of high molecular weight benzo[a]pyrene (35% removal). Inoculation of P. incarnata in non-sterilized soil led to 54% phenanthrene and 46% anthracene removal after 42 days. Co-inoculation with Pseudomonas aeruginosa slightly improved the degradation by 15% and 13%, respectively. However, benzo[a]pyrene removal was negligible through bioremediation alone. Direct nZVI/persulfate oxidation removed 55–75% of lower molecular weight PAHs and 68% of benzo[a]pyrene in soil. Integrated treatment combining nZVI/persulfate oxidation followed by P. incarnata inoculation resulted in 92–96% degradation of phenanthrene, anthracene and benzo[a]pyrene after 42 days, which was significantly higher than either approach alone. The enhanced PAH removal was attributed to the coupled effects of chemical oxidation and microbial degradation. P. aeruginosa is capable of directly metabolizing and mineralizing lower molecular weight PAHs such as phenanthrene and anthracene. The presence of this additional PAH-degrading bacterium likely contributed to the increased degradation observed. Overall, the sequential nZVI/persulfate and fungal treatment provides an effective and sustainable option for remediating soils co-contaminated with PAHs and other persistent organics. Further research should optimize treatment parameters and evaluate long-term impacts on soil quality.

Sepiolite promotes photodegradation of pyrene under visible light

Mechanochemistry and photocatalysis are emergent technologies for the remediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soils. In this work, mechanochemistry and photocatalysis are combined for pyrene degradation. The photodegradation of pyrene, when in contact with sepiolite under pressure application, is studied. The mechanical treatment leads to a pyrene crystal phase transformation. In this new phase, pyrene undergoes a fast photodegradation in the 320–420 nm range. We show that sepiolite is superior as a photocatalyst in pyrene degradation to TiO2, the most exploited photocatalyst. A broad physicochemical characterization is carried out to propose a mechanism in which the photoexcitation of mechanically altered pyrene leads to an electron transfer to sepiolite matrix, which triggers the PAH degradation. Finally, we want to highlight that the pyrene/sepiolite combination is a simplified system to shed light on how PAH photodegradation may occur in soils.

Exploring the bioremediation capability of petroleum-contaminated soils for enhanced environmental sustainability and minimization of ecotoxicological concerns.

The bioremediation of soils contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs) has emerged as a promising approach, with its effectiveness contingent upon various types of PHCs, i.e., crude oil, diesel, gasoline, and other petroleum products. Strategies like genetically modified microorganisms, nanotechnology, and bioaugmentation hold potential for enhancing remediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination. The effectiveness of bioremediation relies on factors such as metabolite toxicity, microbial competition, and environmental conditions. Aerobic degradation involves enzymatic oxidative reactions, while bacterial anaerobic degradation employs reductive reactions with alternative electron acceptors. Algae employ monooxygenase and dioxygenase enzymes, breaking down PAHs through biodegradation and bioaccumulation, yielding hydroxylated and dihydroxylated intermediates. Fungi contribute via mycoremediation, using co-metabolism and monooxygenase enzymes to produce CO2 and oxidized products. Ligninolytic fungi transform PAHs into water-soluble compounds, while non-ligninolytic fungi oxidize PAHs into arene oxides and phenols. Certain fungi produce biosurfactants enhancing degradation of less soluble, high molecular-weight PAHs. Successful bioremediation offers sustainable solutions to mitigate petroleum spills and environmental impacts. Monitoring and assessing strategy effectiveness are vital for optimizing biodegradation in petroleum-contaminated soils. This review presents insights and challenges in bioremediation, focusing on arable land safety and ecotoxicological concerns.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) remediation during vermicomposting and composting: Mechanistic insights through PAH-budgeting.

Knowledge on the mechanism of earthworm-induced removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in vermicomposting systems and interaction with nutrient mineralization and microbial growth is scarce in literature. Moreover, the PAH accumulation capacity of Eudrilus eugeniae has not been studied. This research, therefore, investigates the apportionment dynamics of 13 PAH compounds in aerobic composting and vermicomposting (Eisenia fetida and E. eugeniae) systems using novel budget equations. The PAH removal efficiency of vermicomposting was significantly higher (2-threefold) than composting with concurrent microbial augmentation (p < 0.01). However, the 4-6 ring compounds reduced more significantly (30-50%) than the 3-ring PAHs (p < 0.01), and E. eugeniae was an equally competitive PAH-accumulator compared to E. fetida. The budget equations revealed that although the bioaccumulation capabilities of earthworms were retarded due to PAH exposure, earthworms facilitated PAH-immobilization in decomposed feedstock. A marked increase in bacterial, fungal, and actinomycetes proliferation in PAH-spiked vermibeds with parallel removal of the PAHs indicated that earthworm-induced microbial enrichment plays a vital role in PAH detoxification during vermicomposting. Correlation analyses strongly implied that earthworm-driven mineralization-humification balancing and microbial enrichment could be the critical mechanism of PAH remediation under vermicomposting.

Insights into ecotoxicity effects of PAHs and ecosystem responses of remediation strategies under cold stress: From PAHs degradation to ecological restoration regulated by signal molecular

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) known as persistent contaminants have been detected in soils worldwide, especially in cryogenic environment. Although researchers have conducted lots of researches on PAHs, the ecological toxicity of PAHs and the remediation mechanism of PAHs polluted soils under low temperature are still unclear. Herein, we attempted to characterize remediation of PAHs polluted environment by coupling the PAH degradation with ecological restoration. PAHs could not degrade completely in natural and multiple metabolites accumulate in soil under low temperature. Long-term accumulation of pollutants could cause severe oxidative stress, inhibit the growth of plants and normal process and transformation of substances of microorganisms, while increased the relative abundance of PAHs degrading bacteria (Sphingobacterium, Pseudomonas, Rhodococcus and Massilia etc) and degradation genes (nidA nidB, nahAa, nahAb, nahAc, nidD, phdJ and phdG). As soil amendents, biochar, microbial agent, biochar together with microbial agent could remove 75%, 83%, and 93% of PAHs from soil, and 47%, 50%, and 58% of PAHs from plants, respectively. Under the bioaugmentation of soil amendments, soil microorganisms played an important role in PAHs degradation and ecological restoration. Meanwhile, we identified three signal molecules related to ecological restoration which play a crucial role in regulating pollution removal and ecological restoration by indigenous microorganisms. OOHL and C10-HSL are involved in environmental resistance, degradation of PAHs and transformation of nutrients. 3-oxo-C14-HSL promoted the degradation of PAHs and cold adaption of microorganism. Our study provided an innovative strategy for controlling PAHs degradation and ecological restoration from the perspective of microbial transboundary informatics.

Phenanthrene removal from soil washing eluent by Bacillus subtilis embedded in alginate-carboxymethyl cellulose-diatomite beads

ABSTRACT The processes of surfactant-enhanced soil washing have been widely applied to the remediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-contaminated soil, accompanied by the production of soil washing eluent. In this study, novel composite materials of beads containing alginate, carboxymethyl cellulose and diatomite (SCD) were used to encapsulate Bacillus subtilis to remove phenanthrene (PHE) from simulated soil washing eluent with rhamnolipid. The effects of dosage, pH and temperature on the PHE removal performance were explored, and the optimal PHE removal conditions [SCD bead dose 16.2% (w:v), pH 7.1 and 30.6°C] were determined using response surface methodology. After incubation in simulated soil washing eluent for 7 d, SCD beads removed 84.92% of PHE, which was 49.18% higher than by free bacteria. In addition, SCD beads mainly removed PHE through biodegradation processes, and the degradation rate (1.38 mg L−1 d−1) was higher than that of free bacteria (0.64 mg L−1 d−1). Characterization results revealed that the immobilized substrate provided the micro-environment for bacteria and reduced the intense effect of high rhamnolipid concentration. Reusability results showed that SCD beads could be recycled four times to remove 80.05% of PHE. Collectively, SCD beads have great prospects for the decontamination of soil-washing eluent containing complex components.

Insights into the removal of fluoranthene by sodium percarbonate activation with pyrite: Performance, mechanism, and degradation pathways

Sodium percarbonate (SPC) induced advanced oxidation processes have been used for the remediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contamination, however, the feasibility studies of SPC and pyrite (FeS2) process are scarce. In this work, FeS2 served as a catalyst and reductant to activate SPC for fluoranthene (FLT) removal. 100% FLT removal was obtained at an initial solution pH of 5.90 with FeS2 and SPC dosages of 0.5 g/L and 0.02 mM, respectively, and the influences of initial aqueous solution pH, dissolved oxygen, and various aqueous solution matrixes on FLT degradation were explored. Based on the results of electron paramagnetic resonance detection and scavenging experiments, it was demonstrated that HO•, 1O2, and O2−• played dominant roles in the removal of FLT, whereas CO3−• could only be involved in the ROS proliferative reaction in FeS2/SPC process due to the weak oxidizing capacity. Additionally, three FLT degradation pathways were proposed based on the detected degradation intermediates 1-phenylnaphthalene, indane, and phthalic acid. Finally, the desorption of FLT in soil was investigated by employing surfactants and organic acids, with organic acids being less effective than surfactants. Since the majority of organic acids can be utilized as advanced oxidation process promoters, their practical application is advantageous.

Low-temperature thermally enhanced bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-contaminated soil: Effects on fate, toxicity and bacterial communities

Remediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-contaminated soil using thermal desorption technology typically requires very high temperatures, necessitating coupled microbial treatment for energy and cost reduction. This study investigated the fate and toxicity of PAHs as well as the responses of microbial communities following thermal treatment within a low temperature range. The optimal temperature for PAH mineralization was 20–28 °C, within the growth range of most mesophilic microorganisms. By contrast, 50 °C treatment almost completely inhibited PAH mineralization but resulted in the greatest detoxification effect particularly for cardiotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. A potential increase in toxicity was observed at 28 °C. Co-metabolism and non-extractable residue formation may play an interdependent role in thermally enhanced bioremediation. Moreover, alterations in bacterial communities were strongly associated with PAH mineralization and zebrafish toxicity, revealing that soil microorganisms play a direct role in PAH mineralization and served as ecological receptors reflecting changes in toxicity. Network analysis revealed that Firmicutes formed specific ecological communities at high temperature, whereas Acidobacteria and Proteobacteria act as primary PAH degraders at moderate temperature. These findings will enable better integration of strategies for thermal and microbial treatments in soil remediation.