Tong Liu paper accepted by Water Science and Engineering
This study develops a microbial-mineral-biomass composite strategy to improve Cr(VI) bioreduction under continuous flow.
Authors: Tong Liu, Lin-lin Ma, Yu-tian Hu, Nan Chen, Chuan-ping Feng
Journal: Water Science and Engineering, 2026
Microbial Cr(VI) reduction is a cost-effective remediation approach, but its continuous-flow application is often limited by toxicity inhibition and unstable nutrient supply. This study developed an integrated microbial-phosphorus mineral-corncob composite that encapsulates Cr(VI)-reducing bacteria with slow-release nutrients in a hydrogel matrix.
The composite system sustained complete Cr(VI) removal at influent concentrations up to 160 mg/L in synthetic wastewater and 120 mg/L in actual groundwater. Reactive transport modeling showed that diffusion limitations create protective intraparticle concentration gradients, while density functional theory calculations confirmed strong Cr(III) sequestration and sustained phosphorus bioavailability.
The work demonstrates that engineering a protected and self-sufficient microbial microenvironment can improve the stability of Cr(VI) bioremediation under continuous-flow conditions.