Reductive debromination of decabromodiphenyl ether by anaerobic microbes from river sediment

• Anaerobic degradation of BDE-209 was assessed.
• The optimal condition was stimulated by addition of zero-valent iron.
• The intermediate products of BDE-209 were nona-BDE to mono-BDE.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are emerging persistent organic pollutants and have consequently drawn much environmental concern. The objective of this study was to evaluate reductive debromination of decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) by anaerobic microbes from river sediment under various conditions. The debromination rates for BDE-209 were enhanced by the addition of brij 30, brij 35, rhamnolipid, surfactin, vitamin B12, zero-valent iron, acetate, lactate, and pyruvate. Zero-valent iron yielded the highest BDE-209 debromination. For the various PBDE congeners, the high-to-low order of debromination rates in sediment was BDE-209 > BDE-99 > BDE-47 > BDE-28 > BDE-15. The intermediate products resulting from the reductive debromination of BDE-209 in sediment were nona-BDE (BDE-207), octa-BDEs (BDE-196, 197), hepta-BDEs (BDE-183, 184, 191), hexa-BDEs (BDE-138, 154), penta-BDEs (BDE-85, 99, 100, 119), tetra-BDEs (BDE-47, 49, 66, 71), tri-BDEs (BDE-17, 28), di-BDEs (BDE-7, 15), and mono-BDE (BDE-3). Our result shows BDE-209 can be debrominated successively to BDE-3 by anaerobic microbes from river sediment. This research offers feasible methods for removal of BDE-209 in river sediment for bioremediation.