Optimizing rural aquatic remediation: A novel TBEC-IMO composite approach for targeted removal of blackening and odor agents.

The formation of rural black-odorous water bodies (BOWs) stems from anaerobic accumulation of sulfides, chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM), and volatile organic sulfur compounds (VOSCs), posing ecological and health risks. To address the inefficiency, high cost, and secondary pollution of conventional methods, a synergistic tower-type bipolar electrocoagulation-immobilized microorganism (TBEC-IMO) system was developed. This system combines electrochemical oxidation, flocculation-flotation, and microbial degradation for efficient pollutant removal. Under optimized conditions, the TBEC-IMO system achieved high removal rates of 97 % for sulfides, 98.03 % for CDOM, and 95.2 % for total VOSCs. Energy consumption was reduced to 1.2 kWh/m3, with sludge production maintained at 0.35 g/L. Analysis confirmed the formation of porous Al(OH)3dominated flocs with high specific surface area and predominant S6+ species. Microbial community shifts indicated enhanced organic degradation. The TBEC-IMO system offers an efficient and eco-friendly solution for BOWs remediation.