Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) may be used to biologically sufidate reactive zero valent iron surfaces, which may lead to improvements in the rates of the surface-mediated dechlorination of trichloroethene (TCE) and tetrachloroethene (PCE). This work examines the influence of reactive iron particles upon the sulfate reducing bacteria used during sulfidation. Previous work has shown that nanoscale zero valent iron (nZVI) particles may inhibit SRB, but the influence of surface-sulfidated iron, nanoscale or otherwise, on indigenous SRB is unknown. To address this knowledge gap, batch experiments were setup to compare the impact of sulfidated and non-sulfidated ZVI (as nanoparticles or macroscale iron granules) on a sulfate reducing culture enriched from contaminated sediments. Results with nZVI show significant enrichment of methanogens when enrichment cultures are exposed to non-sulfidated nZVI particles, presumably due to H<sub>2</sub> production from nZVI. In contrast, microbial communities exposed to sulfidated nZVI showed loss of diversity and richness but suppressed methanogenic growth. Systems containing sulfidated macroscale ZVI also showed suppression of methanogens but maintained overall richness and diversity. These preliminary data show that biological sulfur amendments, in addition to promoting abiotic dechlorination activity, may shift microbial communities towards populations that promote biological dechlorination.

Influence of surface-sulfidated iron particles on sulfate reducing microbial communities

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.