Bioelectrochemical system for dehalogenation: A review

Halogenated organic compounds are persistent pollutants, whose persistent contamination and rapid spread seriously threaten human health and the safety of ecosystems. It is difficult to remove them completely by traditional physicochemical techniques. In-situ remediation utilizing bioelectrochemical technology represents a promising strategy for degradation of halogenated organic compounds, which can be achieved through potential modulation. In this review, we summarize the reactor configuration of microbial electrochemical dehalogenation systems and relevant organohalide-respiring bacteria. We also highlight the mechanisms of electrode potential regulation of microbial dehalogenation and the role of extracellular electron transfer in dehalogenation process, and further discuss the application of bioelectrochemical technology in bioremediation of halogenated organic compounds. Therefore, this review summarizes the status of research on microbial electrochemical dehalogenation systems from macroscopic to microscopic levels, providing theoretical support for the development of rapid and efficient in situ bioremediation technologies for halogenated organic compounds contaminated sites, as well as insights for the removal of refractory fluorides.