Quinone group modified sludge‐based biochar as electron shuttle to enhance the biodegradation of naphthalene in petrochemical contaminated soil

From the paper

Abstract

In this study, an electron shuttle, anthraquinone‐2,6‐disulfonate (AQDS), was employed to construct quinone group modified sludge‐based biochar (AQDS‐SBC). The graft of quinone functional groups brought a higher level of aromatic structure and the effect of AQDS‐SBC on the biodegradation of naphthalene was explored. The removal of naphthalene was improved by 80.67% with the addition of AQDS‐SBC, and the degradation of naphthalene follows the pseudo‐first‐order kinetic. Furthermore, the results of electrochemical measurements suggested that the presence of quinone‐like groups in AQDS‐SBC as redox‐active centers might play an important role in mediating extracellular electron transfer (EET), thereby accelerating the degradation of naphthalene. The microbial community analysis indicated that naphthalene‐degrading bacteria (Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Pleurotus ostreatus) and EET‐functional bacteria (Geobacter) were enriched in the presence of AQDS‐SBC, which promoted the synergistic effect of multiple microorganisms and provided multiple modes of electron transfer to degrade naphthalene. In conclusion, this experiment verified that EET mediated by AQDS‐SBC enhanced the degradation of naphthalene and provided a reference for the bioremediation of petrochemical‐contaminated soil.