Enhanced biodegradation of perchlorate in the presence of FeCl2 and FeCl3

Abstract BACKGROUND Bioreduction of perchlorate (ClO 4 − ) faces challenges such as slow degradation rates and long start‐up periods, greatly limiting their practical application. This study investigated the effects of Fe(II) and Fe(III) at concentrations of 0, 0.1, 0.5, and 1 mmol L −1 on the bioreduction characteristics of ClO 4 − . RESULTS Compared to the control group, the reduction rates of ClO 4 − in the Fe(II)‐0.1 and Fe(III)‐0.1 systems increased by 7.46‐fold and 7.24‐fold, respectively. Complete degradation of ClO 4 − up to 1586.32 ± 18.60 mg L −1 could be achieved within 96 h. CONCLUSION The results demonstrate that the addition of Fe(II) and Fe(III) effectively improves issues such as long start‐up periods and slow degradation rates in the bioreduction of ClO 4 − . The presence of Fe enhances the secretion of cytochrome c on the cell membrane, and the reversible redox reaction between Fe(II) and Fe(III) enhances electron transfer during the ClO 4 − reduction process. Furthermore, increased total membrane permeability promotes the absorption and utilization of nutrients by cells, accelerating cellular growth and metabolism. Analysis of the microbial community structure revealed that the addition of Fe(III) favored the abundance of Patescibacteria, Bacteroidota, and Firmicutes, facilitating extracellular electron transfer during high chlorate salt reduction and significantly enhancing the bioreduction efficiency of ClO 4 − . © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).