Biochar accelerates microbial reductive debromination of 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47) in anaerobic mangrove sediments.

A common congener of polybrominated diphenyl ethers, 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47), is a prevalent, persistent and toxic pollutant. It could be removed by reduction debromination by microorganisms but the rate is often slow. The study hypothesized that spent mushroom substrate derived biochar amendment could accelerate the microbial reductive debromination of BDE-47 in anaerobic mangrove sediment slurries and evaluated the mechanisms behind. At the end of 20-week experiment, percentages of residual BDE-47 in slurries amended with biochar were significantly lower but debromination products were higher than those without biochar. Such stimulatory effect on debromination was dosage-dependent, and debromination was coupled with iron (Fe) reduction. Biochar amendment significantly enhanced the Fe(II):Fe(III) ratio, Fe(III) reduction rate and the abundance of iron-reducing bacteria in genus Geobacter, thus promoting bacterial iron-reducing process. The abundances of dehalogenating bacteria in genera Dehalobacter, Dehalococcoides, Dehalogenimonas and Desulfitobacterium were also stimulated by biochar. Biochar as an electron shuttle might increase electron transfer from iron-reducing and dehalogenating bacteria to PBDEs for their reductive debromination. More, biochar shifted microbial community composition in sediment, particularly the enrichment of potential PBDE-degrading bacteria including organohalide-respiring and sulfate-reducing bacteria, which in turn facilitated the reductive debromination of BDE-47 in anaerobic mangrove sediment slurries.