Aerobic and anaerobic biosynthesis of nano-selenium for remediation of mercury contaminated soil.

Title Aerobic and anaerobic biosynthesis of nano-selenium for remediation of mercury contaminated soil.
Authors X. Wang; D. Zhang; X. Pan; D.J. Lee; F.A. Al-Misned; G. Mortuza; G.Michael Gadd
Journal Chemosphere
DOI 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.12.020
Abstract

Selenium (Se) nanoparticles are often synthesized by anaerobes. However, anaerobic bacteria cannot be directly applied for bioremediation of contaminated top soil which is generally aerobic. In this study, a selenite-reducing bacterium, Citrobacter freundii Y9, demonstrated high selenite reducing power and produced elemental nano-selenium nanoparticles (nano-Se(0)) under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The biogenic nano-Se(0) converted 45.8-57.1% and 39.1-48.6% of elemental mercury (Hg(0)) in the contaminated soil to insoluble mercuric selenide (HgSe) under anaerobic and aerobic conditions, respectively. Addition of sodium dodecyl sulfonate enhanced Hg(0) remediation, probably owing to the release of intracellular nano-Se(0) from the bacterial cells for Hg fixation. The reaction product after remediation was identified as non-reactive HgSe that was formed by amalgamation of nano-Se(0) and Hg(0). Biosynthesis of nano-Se(0) both aerobically and anaerobically therefore provides a versatile and cost-effective remediation approach for Hg(0)-contaminated surface and subsurface soils, where the redox potential often changes dramatically.

Citation X. Wang; D. Zhang; X. Pan; D.J. Lee; F.A. Al-Misned; G. Mortuza; G.Michael Gadd.Aerobic and anaerobic biosynthesis of nano-selenium for remediation of mercury contaminated soil.. Chemosphere. 2017;170:266273. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.12.020

Related Elements

Selenium

Selenium Bohr ModelSee more Selenium products. Selenium (atomic symbol: Se, atomic number: 34) is a Block P, Group 16, Period 4 element with an atomic radius of 78.96. The number of electrons in each of Selenium's shells is 2, 8, 18, 6 and its electron configuration is [Ar] 3d10 4s2 4p4. The selenium atom has a radius of 120 pm and a Van der Waals radius of 190 pm. Selenium is a non-metal with several allotropes: a black, vitreous form with an irregular crystal structure three red-colored forms with monoclinic crystal structures and a gray form with a hexagonal crystal structure, the most stable and dense form of the element. Elemental SeleniumOne of the most common uses for selenium is in glass production the red tint that it lends to glass neutralizes green or yellow tints from impurities in the glass materials. Selenium was discovered and first isolated by Jöns Jakob Berzelius and Johann Gottlieb Gahn in 1817. The origin of the name Selenium comes from the Greek word "Selênê," meaning moon.

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