Community structure and function in a H2-based membrane biofilm reactor capable of bioreduction of selenate and chromate

Two different H₂-based, denitrifying membrane-biofilm reactors (MBfRs) initially reduced Se(VI) or Cr(VI) stably to Se⁰ or Cr(III). When the oxidized contaminants in the influent were switched, each new oxidized contaminant was reduced immediately, and its reduction soon was approximately the same or greater than it had been in its original MBfR. The precipitation of reduced selenium and chromium in the biofilm was verified by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. These results on selenate and chromate reduction are consistent with the interpretation that the H₂-based biofilm community had a high level of functional diversity. The communities’ structures were assessed by cloning analysis. Dechloromonas spp., a known perchlorate-reducing bacteria, dominated the clones from both reactors during selenate and chromate reductions, which suggests that it may have functional diversity capable of reducing selenate and chromate as secondary and dissimilatory acceptors.