Biochar accelerates microbial reductive debromination of 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47) in anaerobic mangrove sediments.

A common congener of polybrominated diphenyl ethers, 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47), is a prevalent, persistent and toxic pollutant. It could be removed by reduction debromination by microorganisms but the rate is often slow. The study hypothesized that spent mushroom substrate derived biochar amendment could accelerate the microbial reductive debromination of BDE-47 in anaerobic mangrove sediment slurries and evaluated the mechanisms behind.

Effects of polybrominated diphenyl ethers and plant species on nitrification, denitrification and anammox in mangrove soils.

Little is known about polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and planting affect biogeochemical processes, and their impact on microbial nitrogen (N) transformation in soil. A 12-month microcosm experiment was conducted to understand the effects of a mixture of PBDEs at two contamination levels, 2 and 20 mg kg(-1)dry weight representing low and high soil contamination, respectively, using two mangrove plant species, namely Kandelia obovata (Ko) and Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (Bg), on nitrification, denitrification and anammox in mangrove soils. No significant changes in these N transformation processes were found at month 3 and at a low level of PBDEs in both plant species, suggesting that short-term exposure to 2 mg kg(-1) contamination did not affect microbial N transformation.