Benzene Biodegradation under Anaerobic Conditions Coupled with Metal Oxides Reduction

• Published in: Water, air, and soil pollution Vol. 192; no. 1-4; pp. 165 - 172
• Main Authors: VILLATORO-MONZON, Wilverth R, MORALES-IBARRIA, Marcia G, VELAZQUEZ, Elia K, RAMIREZ-SAAD, Hugo, RAZO-FLORES, Elias
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Dordrecht : Springer Netherlands 01-07-2008; Springer Netherlands; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anaerobic conditions; Applied sciences; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Benzene; Biodegradation; bioreactors; Carbon; Carbon dioxide; Climate Change/Climate Change Impacts; Contamination; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environment; Environmental monitoring; Exact sciences and technology; Experiments; Fluvial sediments; Global environmental pollution; Hydrocarbons; Hydrogeology; Inoculum; Iron; iron oxides; manganese oxides; Metal oxides; Metals; Nitrates; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; reduction; rivers; sediment contamination; Sediments; Sensors; Soil Science & Conservation; Stoichiometry; Studies; Water Quality/Water Pollution; Europe, Rhine R; Reduction; Sediment; Aromatic compounds; Column; Iron(III); Benzene degradation; Manganese(IV); Biodegradation; Microbial activity; Hydrocarbon; Iron II; Manganese II; Persistent organic pollutant; Carcinogen; Pollution; Decontamination; Benzene; Environment; Poison; Aromatic compound; Bioremediation; Electron acceptor; Organic compounds
• ISSN: 0049-6979; 1573-2932
• DOI: 10.1007/s11270-008-9643-x

Anaerobic benzene biodegradation was performed in batch experiments using Rhine River sediment as inoculum and amorphous Mn(IV) or Fe(III) as independent final electron acceptors. Benzene (4.5 μmol) was degraded in 80 and 710 days in batch experiments under Mn(IV) and Fe(III) reducing conditions, respectively. Highest benzene degradation rate, 0.07 μmol/day, was obtained under Mn (IV) reducing conditions, with soluble Mn(II) and CO₂ recoveries of 71.5% and 93% regarding to the stoichiometric values, respectively. Likewise, benzene biodegradation was performed in a continuous column coupled to the reduction of Mn(IV). Efficiency of benzene biodegradation was up to 97% under steady state operation in a sediment column operated continuously for more than 160 days. The carbon dioxide and Mn(II) recoveries were 88% and 77%, respectively, of the theoretical ratio according to the stoichiometry for benzene biodegradation.