title: Microbial reduction of nitrate in the presence of zero-valent iron and biochar.
abstract: The denitrification of nitrate (NO3(-)) by mixed cultures in the presence of zero-valent iron [Fe(0)] and biochar was investigated through a series of batch experiments. It was hypothesized that biochar may provide microbes with additional electrons to enhance the anaerobic biotransformation of nitrate in the presence of Fe(0) by facilitating electron transfer. When compared to the anaerobic transformation of nitrate by microbes in the presence of Fe(0) alone, the presence of biochar significantly enhanced anaerobic denitrification by microbes with Fe(0). Graphite also promoted the anaerobic microbial transformation of nitrate with Fe(0), and it was speculated that electron-conducting graphene moieties were responsible for the improvement. The results obtained in this work suggest that nitrate can be effectively denitrified by microbes with Fe(0) and biochar in natural and engineered systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Ulsan, Ulsan 44610, South Korea. Electronic address: quartzoh@ulsan.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Seok-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Ulsan, Ulsan 44610, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yong-Deuk
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA.
authors.forename: Beomseok
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA.
authors.forename: In Young
authors.initials: IY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Cha
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental / Q000187:drug effects; D002606:Charcoal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D058440:Denitrification / Q000187:drug effects*; D007501:Iron / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009566:Nitrates / Q000378:metabolism*; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D009566:Nitrates; C540010:biochar; D002606:Charcoal; D007501:Iron
keywords: Anaerobic denitrification; Biochar; Microbes; Nitrate; Zero-valent iron