Production of more toxic hexa-brominated diphenyl ether from rapid biotransformation of decabromodiphenyl ether in anaerobic granular sludge. (October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhou, Qingxin; Ge, Cheng-Hao; Ahmad, Hafiz Adeel; Ni, Shou-Qing; Liu, Xiaolin; Bu, Cuina; Wang, Fengli; Gao, Baoyu
• Is Part Of: International biodeterioration & biodegradation. Volume 134(2018)
• Page Start: 7
• Page End: 15
• Publication Date: 2018-10
• Subjects: Anaerobic granular sludge -- Decabromodiphenyl ether -- Hexabrominated diphenyl ether -- High throughput sequencing -- Microbial degradation; Biodegradation -- Periodicals; Bioremediation -- Periodicals; Biodegradation -- Periodicals; Biodégradation -- Périodiques; Biorestauration -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 620.11223
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ibiod.2018.07.017
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0964-8305

Abstract

Abstract: Decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) is used widely as a flame retardant and deserves more attention due to its potential danger to environment. Previous studies generally considered that BDE-209 degraded slowly in environment. Herein, a rapid reductive debromination of BDE-209 to BDE-154 was demonstrated with simultaneous stoichiometric bromide recovery (45%) in 10 h driven by the anaerobic granules. Debromination occurred in anaerobic granules when they were spiked with BDE-209 dissolved in the solvent dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), which was proved a potential cosubstrate for stimulating PBDE debromination. Moreover, the solvent DMSO enhanced the penetration of BDE-209 across cell membranes and forced the dominant phylum in anaerobic granules to change from Bacteroidetes to Euryarchaeota . Thus, the amended culture could better raise the functional genera Ralstonia and Pseudomonas, accounting for the rapid degradation of BDE-209. This is the first report that BDE-209 could be quickly debrominated to BDE-154 in anaerobic granules. Given the high cytotoxicity of BDE-154 produced from BDE-209, the fate of BDE-209 in the wastewater treatment plants should be paid more attention. Graphical abstract: Highlights: Fast metabolic debromination of BDE-209 to hexa-BDEs occurred via anaerobic granules. Only 42%–47% of the stoichiometric bromide concentrations were recovered. Genera Ralstonia and Pseudomonas were responsible for the degradation of BDE-209. The microbial community evolutions driven by DMSO might stimulate BDE-209 removal.