Phenanthrene Elimination from Soil through the Activation of Peroxymonosulfate by Biogenically Derived Manganese Oxide

Peroxymonosulfate (PMS) advanced oxidation is gaining recognition as a promising method for tackling persistent soil pollutants. However, developing an efficient PMS activator remains a formidable task. This study harnessed Shewanella oneidensis MR-1, a model dissimilatory metal-reducing bacterium (DMRB), to synthesize Mn₂O₃ nanoparticles by oxidizing Mn(II). These nanoparticles were employed to activate PMS for phenanthrene degradation in soil. Remarkably, biogenic Mn₂O₃ outperformed chemically synthesized Mn₂O₃, removing 77.4% of phenanthrene compared to 55.7%. This superior performance is attributed to biogenic Mn₂O₃'s faster electron transfer rate and higher Mn(III) ratio, facilitating electron donation to PMS. Additionally, we assessed the feasibility of PMS advanced oxidation for soil remediation by examining microbial community diversity. Given manganese's prevalence in natural soil and groundwater, in-situ biogenic Mn₂O₃ synthesis emerges as an innovative soil remediation strategy. Graphical Abstract: (Figure presented.)