Paper Details
Full metadata, abstract, citation, and access status.
External electric field-driven chromate (CrO₄²⁻) degradation for alleviating microbial toxicity
Abstract
Chromate (CrO₄²⁻) poses severe environmental and health risks due to its carcinogenicity and persistence. This study investigates External Eclectic Field (EEF)-assisted chromate degradation and microbial toxicity alleviation through integrated density functional theory (DFT) simulations and Expanded Granular Sludge Bed (EGSB) reactor experiments. Results demonstrate that External Electric Field (EEF) exposure induces structural distortion in chromate ions, weakening Cr-O bonds and accelerating degradation via enhanced tunneling dissociation. Microbial analyses reveal that moderate External Electric Field (EEF) intensities promote enzymatic activity and electron transfer, Microbial analyses reveal that moderate EEF intensities promote enzymatic activity and electron transfer, significantly improving chromate reduction efficiency, with Cr(VI) concentration decreasing by over 35% at an optimal EEF intensity of 0.050 a.u. Conversely, excessive EXTERNAL ELECTRIC FIELD (EEF) inhibits microbial growth and disrupts denitrification pathways. Critically, functional gene shifts driven by Thauera populations sustain ecosystem functionality despite biodiversity loss. These findings establish EEF as a tunable strategy for chromium-contaminated environment remediation, balancing degradation efficiency with ecological safety.
