Direct and quinone-mediated palladium reduction by Geobacter sulfurreducens: mechanisms and modeling

Environ Sci Technol. 2014;48(5):2910-9. doi: 10.1021/es403968e. Epub 2014 Feb 14.

Abstract

Palladium(II) reduction to Pd(0) nanoparticles by Geobacter sulfurreducens was explored under conditions of neutral pH, 30 °C and concentrations of 25, 50, and 100 mg of Pd(II)/L aiming to investigate the effect of solid species of palladium on their microbial reduction. The influence of anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate was reported to enhance the palladium reaction rate in an average of 1.7-fold and its addition is determining to achieve the reduction of solid species of palladium. Based on the obtained results two mechanisms are proposed: (1) direct, which is fully described considering interactions of amide, sulfur, and phosphoryl groups associated to proteins from bacteria on palladium reduction reaction, and (2) quinone-mediated, which implies multiheme c-type cytochromes participation. Speciation analysis and kinetic results were considered and integrated into a model to fit the experimental data that explain both mechanisms. This work provides elements for a better understanding of direct and quinone-mediated palladium reduction by G. sulfurreducens, which could facilitate metal recovery with concomitant formation of valuable palladium nanoparticles in industrial processes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anthraquinones
  • Geobacter / metabolism*
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Palladium / chemistry*
  • Quinones / chemistry*

Substances

  • Anthraquinones
  • Quinones
  • anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate
  • Palladium