| Title | Electrolysis-driven bioremediation of crude oil-contaminated marine sediments |
| Abstract | Bioremediation is an effective technology to tackle crude oil spill disasters, which takes advantage of the capacity of naturally occurring microorganisms to degrade petroleum hydrocarbons under a range of environmental conditions. The enzymatic process of breaking down oil is usually more rapid in the presence of oxygen. However, in contaminated sediments, oxygen levels are typically too low to sustain the rapid and complete biodegradation of buried hydrocarbons. Here, we explored the possibility to electrochemically manipulate the redox potential of a crude oil-contaminated marine sediment in order to establish, in situ, conditions that are conducive to contaminants biodegradation by autochthonous microbial communities. The proposed approach is based on the exploitation of low-voltage (2. V) seawater electrolysis to drive oxygen generation (while minimizing chlorine evolution) on Dimensionally Stable Anodes (DSA) placed within the contaminated sediment. Results, based on a laboratory scale setup with chronically polluted sediments spiked with crude oil, showed an increased redox potential and a decreased pH in the vicinity of the anode of 'electrified' treatments, consistent with the occurrence of oxygen generation. Accordingly, hydrocarbons biodegradation was substantially accelerated (up to 3-times) compared to 'non-electrified' controls, while sulfate reduction was severely inhibited. Intermittent application of electrolysis proved to be an effective strategy to minimize the energy requirements of the process, without adversely affecting degradation performance. Taken as a whole, this study suggests that electrolysis-driven bioremediation could be a sustainable technology for the management of contaminated sediments. |
| Source | New biotechnology (Print) |
| Keywords | bioelectrochemical remediationoil spill |
| Journal | New biotechnology (Print) |
| Editor | Elsevier Life Science, Amsterdam, Paesi Bassi |
| Year | 2016 |
| Type | Articolo in rivista |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.nbt.2016.03.003 |
| Authors | Bellagamba, Marco; Cruz Viggi, Carolina; Ademollo, Nicoletta; Rossetti, Simona; Aulenta, Federico |
| Text | 372303 2016 10.1016/j.nbt.2016.03.003 Scopus 2 s2.0 84963959935 ISI Web of Science WOS WOS 000406180200006 bioelectrochemical remediation oil spill Electrolysis driven bioremediation of crude oil contaminated marine sediments Bellagamba, Marco; Cruz Viggi, Carolina; Ademollo, Nicoletta; Rossetti, Simona; Aulenta, Federico Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche Bioremediation is an effective technology to tackle crude oil spill disasters, which takes advantage of the capacity of naturally occurring microorganisms to degrade petroleum hydrocarbons under a range of environmental conditions. The enzymatic process of breaking down oil is usually more rapid in the presence of oxygen. However, in contaminated sediments, oxygen levels are typically too low to sustain the rapid and complete biodegradation of buried hydrocarbons. Here, we explored the possibility to electrochemically manipulate the redox potential of a crude oil contaminated marine sediment in order to establish, in situ, conditions that are conducive to contaminants biodegradation by autochthonous microbial communities. The proposed approach is based on the exploitation of low voltage 2. V seawater electrolysis to drive oxygen generation while minimizing chlorine evolution on Dimensionally Stable Anodes DSA placed within the contaminated sediment. Results, based on a laboratory scale setup with chronically polluted sediments spiked with crude oil, showed an increased redox potential and a decreased pH in the vicinity of the anode of electrified treatments, consistent with the occurrence of oxygen generation. Accordingly, hydrocarbons biodegradation was substantially accelerated up to 3 times compared to non electrified controls, while sulfate reduction was severely inhibited. Intermittent application of electrolysis proved to be an effective strategy to minimize the energy requirements of the process, without adversely affecting degradation performance. Taken as a whole, this study suggests that electrolysis driven bioremediation could be a sustainable technology for the management of contaminated sediments. Published version http //www.scopus.com/record/display.url eid=2 s2.0 84963959935 origin=inward Electrolysis driven bioremediation of crude oil contaminated marine sediments paper Electrolysis driven bioremediation of crude oil contaminated marine sediments.pdf Articolo in rivista Elsevier Life Science 1871 6784 New biotechnology Print New biotechnology Print New biotechnology. Print carolina.cruzviggi CRUZ VIGGI CAROLINA BELLAGAMBA MARCO simona.rossetti ROSSETTI SIMONA federico.aulenta AULENTA FEDERICO nicoletta.ademollo ADEMOLLO NICOLETTA |
