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The Enhanced Pb(II) Precipitation on Montmorillonite-based Artificial Biocrust
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  • Keqiang Zhou,
  • Yujing Bi,
  • Zhang Cui,
  • Zhang Zijia,
  • Xia Ling,
  • Song Shaoxian,
  • J Viridiana Garcia-Meza,
  • María Luciana Montes,
  • Mostafa Benzaazoua
Keqiang Zhou
Wuhan University of Technology Hubei Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Automotive Components
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Yujing Bi
Wuhan University of Technology Hubei Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Automotive Components
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Zhang Cui
Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi
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Zhang Zijia
Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi
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Xia Ling
Wuhan University of Technology Hubei Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Automotive Components

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Song Shaoxian
Wuhan University of Technology Hubei Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Automotive Components
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J Viridiana Garcia-Meza
Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi
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María Luciana Montes
Instituto de Fisica La Plata
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Mostafa Benzaazoua
Universite Mohammed VI Polytechnique EMINES
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Abstract

Biocrusts, as the dominant green strips in arid continents, potentially sever as a useful tool for immobilizing Pb in contaminated land under extreme constraints such as water resource. Artificially created biocrusts ensure the expansion of biocrusts in the short period. In this study, Microcoleus steenstrupii and montmorillonite (MMT) were used to construct artificial cyanobacterial biocrusts (ACBs) on the surface of Pb-containing dunes and cultured in compliance with the water conditions of the arid climate. Results suggested that MMT induced bulk productions of protective substances such as exopolysaccharides (EPS) and soluble proteins and reduced the overall oxidative damage of ACBs weakened by malondialdehyde. Biomineralization was identified as a possible pathway for ACBs to diminish Pb(II) effectiveness. The inoculum not only converted Pb(II) into Pb 3(CO 3) 2(OH) 2 and Pb 5(PO 4) 3OH, but also triggered the evolution of different cyanosphere communities that each accomplished a complicated biomineralization and precipitation process. This study revealed the feasibility of remediation of Pb-contaminated surfaces and provided an effective approach for the utilization of wasted land in arid regions.