External potential regulated biocathode for enhanced removal of gaseous chlorobenzene in bioelectrchemical system

Microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) with a biocathode could provide extra reaction driving force for gaseous chlorobenzene (CB) removal. In this work, external potentials (−0.1 to −0.7 V vs. SHE) were applied to regulate the biocathodic activity. Results showed −0.3 V was the optimum potential, while the removal efficiency, dechlorination efficiency and Coulombic efficiency achieved 94%, 65%, and 89%, respectively. Electrochemical stimulation enriched dechlorination microorganisms (Achromobacter and Gordonia), and significantly improved CB mineralization efficiency, which was twice higher than that without additional potential at 300 mg m−3 inlet concentration. Furthermore, electron transfer between biocathode and microorganisms was mainly through direct electron transfer (DET). A new integrated redox pathway for CB anaerobic degradation was proposed, in which CB was sequentially converted into 2-chlorophenol and 3-chlorocatechol, then dechlorinated to catechol, and finally mineralized into CO2. Overall, this work provided an insight into gaseous CB bioelectrochemical degradation through the potential regulation.