Microbial Reduction of Solid-Phase Humin by Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 and its Potential Effect on Contaminant Transformation

Insoluble humic substances-humin (HM) are ubiquitous in the environment and often coexist with iron reducers. Previous research has focused on the electron-donating process from HM to iron reducers; however, the reduction process of HM by iron reducers and its impact on the fate of typical contaminants are still poorly understood. In this study, Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 was selected as a model iron reducer, and its ability to reduce HM and the potential environmental impact of bioreduced HM were investigated. The results showed that S. oneidensis MR-1 reduced HMs extracted from different sources to different extents. This process is highly dependent on lactate concentration, salinity, pH, and dissolved oxygen concentration. Alginate bead experiments indicated that the indirect pathway accounted for 40% of the total electrons transferred from S. oneidensis MR-1 to HM. Electrochemical and spectrochemical analyses further revealed that in addition to flavin, c-type cytochrome may mediate electron transfer. The quinone and iron components may be the main functional groups of HM that accept electrons. Finally, we showed that after being reduced by S. oneidensis MR-1, HM can act as an electron donor for microbial nitrate reduction and the chemical reduction of Cr(VI), with electron-mediation efficiencies of 93% and 56%, respectively.