Localized intensification of arsenic methylation within landfill leachate-saturated zone

Leachate-saturated zone (LSZ) of landfills is a complicated biogeochemical hotspot due to the continuous input of electron donors and acceptors from the top refuse layer with leachate migration. In this study, the methylation behavior of the arsenic (As) was investigated. The results indicate that As-methylation processes are influenced by temperature fields in LSZ. The dimethylarsinic acid biotransformation capability can be enhanced with an increase in temperature. Microbial diversity, quantification of functional gene (arsM), and co-occurrence network analysis further characterized the drivers of As methylation in LSZ. As-biogeochemical cycle pathways, as well as As-functional gene distribution among different temperature fields, were modeled on the basis of KEGG annotation. Binning analysis was further employed to assemble As-methylated metagenomes, enabling the identification of novel species for As methylation in landfills. Then, 87 high-quality draft metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) were reconstructed from LSZ refuse samples; nearly 15 % (13 of 87) belonged to putative As-methylates functional MAGs. Combined with the model of the As-biogeochemical cycle, nine putative functional species could complete methylation processes alone. The findings of this study highlighted the temperature influence on the As-methylation behavior in LSZ and could facilitate the management of As contamination in landfills.

Automated summary

This study reveals the temperature influence on arsenic methylation behavior in the leachate-saturated zone (LSZ) of landfills. By analyzing microbial diversity and functional gene quantification, nine potential species that can independently complete methylation processes were identified. These findings have significant implications for the management of arsenic contamination in landfills.