Enhanced removal of bisphenol A from contaminated soil by coupling Bacillus subtilis HV-3 with electrochemical system

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) 2020-06, Vol.249, p.126083, Article 126083
• Main Authors: Mohan, Harshavardhan, Lim, Jeong-Muk, Lee, Se-Won, Cho, Min, Park, Yool-Jin, Seralathan, Kamala-Kannan, Oh, Byung-Taek
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bio-electrochemical system; BpA; Degradation; Phytotoxicity
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126083

Exposure to endocrine disruptors interferes with the synthesis, release, transport and metabolic activities of hormones, thus impairing human health significantly. Bisphenol A (BpA), an endocrine disruptor, commonly released into the environment by industrial activities and needs immediate attention. This study aims at investigating the process and prospects of deploying bio-electrochemical systems (BES) for the removal of BpA from artificially contaminated soil using Bacillus subtilis HV-3. The BES was setup with desired operating conditions: initial concentration of BpA (80–150 mg/L), pH (3–11) and applied potential voltage (0.6–1.4 V). Under optimized conditions (initial BpA concentration, 100 mg/L; pH 7; and applied voltage 1.0 V), close to 98% degradation of BpA was achieved. The intermediates produced during degradation were analysed using High performance liquid chromatography–Mass spectrometry and the possible degradation pathway was elucidated. Phytotoxicity studies in the remediated soil with Phaseolus mungo confirmed the environmental applicability of the BES system. [Display omitted] •Bio-electrochemical degradation of BpA in contaminated soil using Bacillus subtilis HV-3.•Under optimized conditions the maximum BpA degradation (98%) was observed.•BpA bio-electrochemical degradation pathway was elucidated by analyzing the intermediates.•Phytotoxicity of the remediated soil with Phaseolus mungo confirmed the environmental application.