Recovery of Elemental Tellurium Nanoparticles by the Reduction of Tellurium Oxyanions in a Methanogenic Microbial Consortium.

ABSTRACT: This research focuses on the microbial recovery of elemental tellurium (Te(0)) from aqueous streams containing soluble tellurium oxyanions, tellurate (Te(VI)), and tellurite (Te(IV)). An anaerobic mixed microbial culture occurring in methanogenic granular sludge was able to biocatalyze the reduction of both Te oxyanions to produce Te(0) nanoparticles (NPs) in sulfur-free medium. Te(IV) reduction was seven times faster than that of Te(VI), such that Te(IV) did not accumulate to a great extent during Te(VI) reduction. Endogenous substrates in the granular sludge provided the electron equivalents required to reduce Te oxyanions; however, the reduction rates were modestly increased with an exogenous electron donor such as H2. The effect of four redox mediators (anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate, h

SUBMITTER: Ramos-Ruiz A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4738100 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature