The cryptic step in the biogeochemical tellurium (Te) cycle: Indirect elementary Te oxidation mediated by manganese-oxidizing bacteria Bacillus sp. FF-1

Yuqing Liu; Huiqing Ma; Ang Li; Haixia Pan; Xianliang Yi; Yang Liu; Jingjing Zhan; Hao Zhou

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2023.117212

The cryptic step in the biogeochemical tellurium (Te) cycle: Indirect elementary Te oxidation mediated by manganese-oxidizing bacteria Bacillus sp. FF-1

Environ Res. 2023 Dec 1;238(Pt 2):117212. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117212. Epub 2023 Sep 29.

Authors

Yuqing Liu¹, Huiqing Ma², Ang Li³, Haixia Pan², Xianliang Yi², Yang Liu², Jingjing Zhan², Hao Zhou⁴

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), School of Ocean Science and Technology, Panjin Campus, Dalian University of Technology, China; State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, People's Republic of China.
² Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), School of Ocean Science and Technology, Panjin Campus, Dalian University of Technology, China.
³ State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, People's Republic of China.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), School of Ocean Science and Technology, Panjin Campus, Dalian University of Technology, China. Electronic address: zhouhao@dlut.edu.cn.

PMID: 37778606
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117212

Abstract

Tellurium (Te) is a rare element within the chalcogen group, and its biogeochemical cycle has been studied extensively. Tellurite (Te(IV)) is the most soluble Te species and is highly toxic to organisms. Chemical or biological Te(IV) reduction to elemental tellurium (Te⁰) is generally considered an effective detoxification route for Te(IV)-containing wastewater. This study unveils a previously unnoticed Te⁰ oxidation process mediated by the manganese-oxidizing bacterium Bacillus sp. FF-1. This bacterium, which exhibits both Mn(II)-oxidizing and Te(IV)-reducing abilities, can produce manganese oxides (BioMnO_x) and Te⁰ (BioTe⁰) when exposed to Mn(II) and Te(IV), respectively. When 5 mM Mn(II) was added after incubating 0.1 mM or 1 mM Te(IV) with strain FF-1 for 16 h, BioTe⁰ was certainly re-oxidized to Te(IV) by BioMnOx. Chemogenic and exogenous biogenic Te⁰ can also be oxidized by BioMnOx, although at different rates. This study highlights a new transformation process of tellurium species mediated by manganese-oxidizing bacteria, revealing that the environmental fate and ecological risks of Te⁰ need to be re-evaluated.

Keywords: Bacteria; Biogeochemical cycle; Manganese oxidation; Tellurite reduction; Tellurium oxidation.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Bacillus*
Bacteria
Manganese*
Oxidation-Reduction
Oxides / chemistry
Tellurium

Substances

Manganese
Tellurium
Oxides