Differential arsenic mobilization from As-bearing ferrihydrite by iron-respiring Shewanella strains with different arsenic-reducing activities

Environ Sci Technol. 2013 Aug 6;47(15):8616-23. doi: 10.1021/es400534z. Epub 2013 Jul 10.

Abstract

Arsenic immobilization and release in the environment is significantly influenced by bacterial oxidation and reduction of arsenic and arsenic-bearing minerals. In this study, we tested three iron-reducing bacteria, Shewanella oneidensis MR-1, Shewanella sp. HN-41, and Shewanella putrefaciens 200, which have diverse arsenate-reducing activities with regard to reduction of an As-bearing ferrihydrite slurry. In the cultures of S. oneidensis MR-1 and Shewanella sp. HN-41, which are not capable of respiratory reduction of As(V) to As(III), arsenic was maintained predominantly in its pentavalent form, existing in particulate poorly crystalline As-bearing ferrihydrite and formed small quantities of a stable ferrous arsenate [Fe3(AsO4)2] precipitate. However, in the culture of the As(V) reducer, S. putrefaciens 200, As(V) was reduced to As(III) and a small fraction of As-bearing ferrihydrite was transformed into ribbon-shaped siderite that subsequently re-released arsenic into the liquid phase. Our results indicated that release of arsenic and formation of diverse secondary nanoscale Fe-As minerals are specifically closely related to the arsenic-reducing abilities of different bacteria. Therefore, bacterial arsenic reduction appears to significantly influence As mobilization in soils, minerals, and other Fe-rich environments.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arsenic / metabolism*
  • Biodegradation, Environmental
  • Ferric Compounds / metabolism*
  • Iron / metabolism*
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Shewanella / metabolism*
  • X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy

Substances

  • Ferric Compounds
  • ferric oxyhydroxide
  • Iron
  • Arsenic