Immobilized humic substances on an anion exchange resin and their role on the redox biotransformation of contaminants

A novel technique to immobilize humic substances (HS) on an anion exchange resin is presented. Immobilized HS were demonstrated as an effective solid-phase redox mediator (RM) during the reductive biotransformation of carbon tetrachloride (CT) and the azo model compound, Reactive Red 2 (RR2). Immobilized HS increased ∼4-fold the extent of CT reduction to chloroform by a humus-reducing consortium in comparison to incubations lacking HS. Immobilized HS also increased 2-fold the second-order rate constant of decolorization of RR2 as compared with sludge incubations lacking HS. To our knowledge, the present study constitutes the first demonstration of immobilized HS serving as an effective solid-phase RM during the reductive biotransformation of priority contaminants. The immobilizing technique developed could be appropriate for enhancing the redox biotransformation of recalcitrant pollutants in anaerobic wastewater treatment systems.