Enhanced Feammox activity and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) degradation by Acidimicrobium sp. Strain A6 using PAA-coated ferrihydrite as an electron acceptor.

Acidimicrobium sp. Strain A6 (A6) can degrade perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) by oxidizing NH while reducing Fe(Ⅲ). However, supplying and distributing Fe(III) phases in sediments is challenging since surface charges of Fe(III)-phases are typically positive while those of sediments are negative. Therefore, ferrihydrite particles were coated with polyacrylic acid (PAA) with four different molecular weights, resulting in a negative zeta potential on their surface. Zeta potential was determined as a function of pH and PAA loading, with the lowest value observed when the PAA/ferrihydrite ratio was > 1/5 (w/w) at a pH of 5.5. Several 50-day incubations with an A6-enrichment culture were conducted to determine the effect of PAA-coated ferrihydrite as the electron acceptor of A6 on the Feammox activity and PFOA degradation. NH oxidation, PFOA degradation, production of shorter-chain PFAS, and F were observed in all PAA-coated samples. The 6 K and 450 K treatments exhibited significant reductions in PFOA concentration and substantial F production compared to incubations with bare ferrihydrite. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showed lowered charge transfer resistance in the presence of PAA-coated ferrihydrite, indicating that PAAs facilitated electron transfer to ferrihydrite. This study highlights the potential of PAA-coated ferrihydrite in accelerating PFAS defluorination, providing novel insights for A6-based bioremediation strategies.