Kinetics during the redox biotransformation of pollutants mediated by immobilized and soluble humic acids

The aim of this study was to elucidate the kinetic constraints during the redox biotransformation of the azo dye, Reactive Red 2 (RR2), and carbon tetrachloride (CT) mediated by soluble humic acids (HA(s)) and immobilized humic acids (HA(i)), as well as by the quinoid model compounds, anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AQDS) and 1,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulfonate (NQS). The microbial reduction of both HA(s) and HA(i) by anaerobic granular sludge (AGS) was the rate-limiting step during decolorization of RR2 since the reduction of RR2 by reduced HA(i) proceeded at more than three orders of magnitute faster than the electron-transferring rate observed during the microbial reduction of HA(i) by AGS. Similarly, the reduction of RR2 by reduced AQDS proceeded 1.6- and 1.9-fold faster than the microbial reduction of AQDS by AGS when this redox mediator (RM) was supplied in soluble and immobilized form, respectively. In contrast, the reduction of NQS by AGS occurred 1.6- and 19.2-fold faster than the chemical reduction of RR2 by reduced NQS when this RM was supplied in soluble and immobilized form, respectively. The microbial reduction of HA(s) and HA(i) by a humus-reducing consortium proceeded 1,400- and 790-fold faster than the transfer of electrons from reduced HA(s) and HA(i), respectively, to achieve the reductive dechlorination of CT to chloroform. Overall, the present study provides elucidation on the rate-limiting steps involved in the redox biotransformation of priority pollutants mediated by both HA(s) and HA(i) and offers technical suggestions to overcome the kinetic restrictions identified in the redox reactions evaluated.