| Title | Bridging spatially segregated redox zones with a microbial electrochemical snorkel triggers biogeochemical cycles in oil-contaminated River Tyne (UK) sediments. |
| Abstract | Marine sediments represent an important sink for a number of anthropogenic organic contaminants, including petroleum hydrocarbons following an accidental oil spill. Degradation of these compounds largely depends on the activity of sedimentary microbial communities linked to biogeochemical cycles, in which abundant elements such as iron and sulfur are shuttled between their oxidized and reduced forms. Here we show that introduction of a small electrically conductive graphite rod ("the electrochemical snorkel") into an oil-contaminated River Tyne (UK) sediment, so as to create an electrochemical connection between the anoxic contaminated sediment and the oxygenated overlying water, has a large impact on the rate of metabolic reactions taking place in the bulk sediment. The electrochemical snorkel accelerated sulfate reduction processes driven by organic contaminant oxidation and suppressed competitive methane-producing reactions. The application of a comprehensive suite of chemical, spectroscopic, biomolecular and thermodynamic analyses suggested that the snorkel served as a scavenger of toxic sulfide via a redox interaction with the iron cycle. Taken as a whole, the results of this work highlight a new strategy for controlling biological processes, such as bioremediation, through the manipulation of the electron flows in contaminated sediments. |
| Source | Water research (Oxf.) 127, pp. 11–21 |
| Keywords | contaminated sedimentsiron cycleelectrochemical snorkeloil spill remediationpetroleum hydrocarbonssulfate reductionsulfide scavengingsulfur cycle |
| Journal | Water research (Oxf.) |
| Editor | Pergamon Press., New York, Regno Unito |
| Year | 2017 |
| Type | Articolo in rivista |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.watres.2017.10.002 |
| Authors | Viggi, Carolina Cruz; Matturro, Bruna; Frascadore, Emanuela; Insogna, Susanna; Mezzi, Alessio; Kaciulis, Saulius; Sherry, Angela; Mejeha, Obioma K; Head, Ian M; Vaiopoulou, Eleni; Rabaey, Korneel; Rossetti, Simona; Aulenta, Federico |
| Text | 376966 2017 10.1016/j.watres.2017.10.002 ISI Web of Science WOS WOS 000418219000002 Scopus 2 s2.0 85030665166 contaminated sediments iron cycle electrochemical snorkel oil spill remediation petroleum hydrocarbons sulfate reduction sulfide scavenging sulfur cycle Bridging spatially segregated redox zones with a microbial electrochemical snorkel triggers biogeochemical cycles in oil contaminated River Tyne UK sediments. Viggi, Carolina Cruz; Matturro, Bruna; Frascadore, Emanuela; Insogna, Susanna; Mezzi, Alessio; Kaciulis, Saulius; Sherry, Angela; Mejeha, Obioma K; Head, Ian M; Vaiopoulou, Eleni; Rabaey, Korneel; Rossetti, Simona; Aulenta, Federico Water Research Institute IRSA , National Research Council CNR , Italy. ISMN CNR, Rome, Italy Marine sediments represent an important sink for a number of anthropogenic organic contaminants, including petroleum hydrocarbons following an accidental oil spill. Degradation of these compounds largely depends on the activity of sedimentary microbial communities linked to biogeochemical cycles, in which abundant elements such as iron and sulfur are shuttled between their oxidized and reduced forms. Here we show that introduction of a small electrically conductive graphite rod the electrochemical snorkel into an oil contaminated River Tyne UK sediment, so as to create an electrochemical connection between the anoxic contaminated sediment and the oxygenated overlying water, has a large impact on the rate of metabolic reactions taking place in the bulk sediment. The electrochemical snorkel accelerated sulfate reduction processes driven by organic contaminant oxidation and suppressed competitive methane producing reactions. The application of a comprehensive suite of chemical, spectroscopic, biomolecular and thermodynamic analyses suggested that the snorkel served as a scavenger of toxic sulfide via a redox interaction with the iron cycle. Taken as a whole, the results of this work highlight a new strategy for controlling biological processes, such as bioremediation, through the manipulation of the electron flows in contaminated sediments. 127 Published version https //www.scopus.com/record/display.uri eid=2 s2.0 85030665166 origin=resultslist Bridging spatially segregated redox zones with a microbial electrochemical snorkel triggers biogeochemical cycles in oil contaminated River Tyne... paper Bridging spatially segregated redox zones with a microbial electrochemical snorkel triggers biogeochemical cycles in oil contaminated River Tyne....pdf Articolo in rivista Pergamon Press. 0043 1354 Water research Oxf. Water research Oxf. Water res. Oxf. Water research. Oxf. saulius.kaciulis KACIULIS SAULIUS alessio.mezzi MEZZI ALESSIO bruna.matturro MATTURRO BRUNA carolina.cruzviggi CRUZ VIGGI CAROLINA |
