Dissimilatory iron reduction contributes to anaerobic mineralization of sediment in a shallow transboundary lake

Dissimilatory iron reduction(DIR)coupled with carbon cycling is increasingly being recognized as an influential process in freshwater wetland soils and sediments.The role of DIR in organic matter(OM)mineralization,however,is still largely unknown in lake sediment environments.In this study,we clarified rates and pathways of OM mineralization in two shallow lakes with seasonal hydrological connectivity and different eutrophic situations.We found that in comparison with the domination of DIR(55%)for OM mineralization in Lake Xiaoxingkai,the contribution of methanogenesis was much higher(68%)in its connected lake(Lake Xingkai).The differences in rates and pathways of sediment OM mineralization between the two lakes were attributed to higher concentrations of carbonate associated iron oxides(Fecarb)in Lake Xiaoxingkai compared to Lake Xingkai(P=0.002),due to better deposition mixing,more contributions of terrigenous detrital materials,and higher OM content in Lake Xiaoxingkai.Results of structural equation modeling showed that Fecarb and total iron content(TFe)regulated 25%of DIR in Lake Xiaoxingkai and 76%in Lake Xingkai,accompanied by a negative effect of TFe on methanogenesis in Lake Xingkai.The relative abundance and diversity of Fe-reducing bacteria were significantly different between the two lakes,and showed a weak effect on sediment OM mineralization.Our findings emphasize the role of iron minerals and geochemical characterizations in regulating rates and pathways of OM mineralization,and deepen the understanding of carbon cycling in lake sediments.

Unveiling the mechanisms of Fe(Ⅲ)-loaded chitosan composite(CTS-Fe)in enhancing anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge

Anaerobic digestion(AD)of waste activated sludge(WAS)is usually limited by the low generation efficiency of methane.Fe(Ⅲ)-loaded chitosan composite(CTS-Fe)have been reported to effectively enhanced the digestion of WAS,but its role in promoting anaerobic sludge digestion remains unclear.In present study,the effects of CTS-Fe on the hydrolysis and methanogenesis stages of WAS anaerobic digestion were investigated.The addition of CTSFe increased methane production potential by 8%-23%under the tested conditions with the addition of 5-20 g/L CTS-Fe.Besides,the results demonstrate that the addition of CTS-Fe could effectively promote the hydrolysis of WAS,evidenced by lower protein or polysaccharides concentration,higher soluble organic carbon in rector adding CTS-Fe,as well as the increased activity of extracellular hydrolase with higher CTS-Fe concentration.Meanwhile,the enrichment of Clostridia abundance(iron-reducing bacteria(IRBs))was observed in CTS-Fe adding reactor(8.9%-13.8%),which was higher than that in the control reactor(7.9%).The observation further suggesting the acceleration of hydrolysis through dissimilatory iron reduction(DIR)process,thus providing abundant substrates for methanogenesis.However,the presence of CTS-Fe was inhibited the acetoclastic and hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis process,which could be ascribed to the Fe(Ⅲ)act as electron acceptor coupled to methane for anaerobic oxidation.Furthermore,coenzyme F420 activity in the CTS-Fe added reactor was 34.9% lower than in the blank,also abundance of microorganisms involved in hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis was decreased.Results from this study could provide theoretical support for the practical applications of CTS-Fe.

Mesoproterozoic biomineralization:Cyanobacterium-like filamentous siderite sheaths~1.4 Ga

Biomineralization was a key development in a wide variety of organisms,yet its history prior to the Ediacaran remains poorly understood.In this paper,we describe~1420-1330 million year old microscopic tubes preserved as siderite(FeCO_(3)).In size and shape these tubes closely resemble cyanobacterial sheaths forming mineralized mats.We consider two competing explanations for their formation.First,the tubes and associated sediment were originally composed of Ca-carbonate that was subsequently replaced by siderite.In this case,siderite mineralization was early,but post-mortem,as in early silicification,and preferentially preserved the more resilient sheath.However,no relict calcite is observed.Second,the Fe-carbonate mineralogy of the tubes and sediment is synsedimentary.In this case,photosynthetic oxygen may have precipitated Fe-oxyhydroxide that was promptly converted to siderite by dissimilatory iron reduction(DIR).Primary siderite mineralization of cyanobacteria has not been described before.Both explanations link photosynthetic processes to preferential sheath mineralization during the life of the cyanobacteria,as observed in present-day calcified cyanobacteria.This process might include CO_(2)-concentrating mechanisms(CCMs)linked to relatively low levels of atmospheric CO_(2),consistent with empirical estimates of mid-Proterozoic CO_(2)levels based on paleosols and weathering rinds.In either case,these cyanobacterium-like fossils preserved in siderite provide an early example of biomineralization and suggest the interactive in-fluences of both metabolic processes and ambient seawater chemistry.