Nitrite reduction by biogenic hydroxycarbonate green rusts: evidence for hydroxy-nitrite green rust formation as an intermediate reaction product

Environ Sci Technol. 2014 Apr 15;48(8):4505-14. doi: 10.1021/es404009k. Epub 2014 Apr 7.

Abstract

The present study investigates for the first time the reduction of nitrite by biogenic hydroxycarbonate green rusts, bio-GR(CO3), produced from the bioreduction of ferric oxyhydroxycarbonate (Fohc), a poorly crystalline solid phase, and of lepidocrocite, a well-crystallized Fe(III)-oxyhydroxide mineral. Results show a fast Fe(II) production from Fohc, which leads to the precipitation of bio-GR(CO3) particles that were roughly 2-fold smaller (2.3 ± 0.4 μm) than those obtained from the bioreduction of lepidocrocite (5.0 ± 0.4 μm). The study reveals that both bio-GR(CO3) are capable of reducing nitrite ions into gaseous nitrogen species such as NO, N2O, or N2 without ammonium production at neutral initial pH and that nitrite reduction proceeded to a larger extent with smaller particles than with larger ones. On the basis of the identification of intermediates and end-reaction products using X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy at the Fe K-edge, our study shows the formation of hydroxy-nitrite green rust, GR(NO2), a new type of green rust 1, and suggests that the reduction of nitrite by biogenic GR(CO3) involves both external and internal reaction sites and that such a mechanism could explain the higher reactivity of green rust with respect to nitrite, compared to other mineral substrates possessing only external reactive sites.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biodegradation, Environmental
  • Carbonates / metabolism*
  • Ferric Compounds / metabolism*
  • Ferrous Compounds / metabolism*
  • Minerals / chemistry
  • Nitrites / metabolism*
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Shewanella / metabolism
  • X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Carbonates
  • Ferric Compounds
  • Ferrous Compounds
  • Minerals
  • Nitrites
  • ferric oxide