Magnetic biochar enhanced microbial electrolysis cell with anaerobic digestion for complex organic matter degradation in landfill leachate.

Combining microbial electrolytic cells with anaerobic digestion (MEC-AD) was considered as an important method for enhancing complex organic matter degradation. However, the magnetic biochar (MBC) addition would be an effective approach for enhancing biodegradation in MEC-AD. By designing orthogonal experiments, the optimal parameters of MBC-enhanced MEC-AD system for landfill leachate treatment were determined. The results indicated that the optimal conditions were identified as HRT of 72 h, electrode spacing of 2.5 cm, and applied voltage of 0.8 V. Under these conditions, the COD removal efficiency reached a maximum of 54.7 %. Additionally, the UV-vis, 3D-EEM, and GC-MS indicated the macromolecules 13-Docosenamide (Z), Bis(2-ethylhexyl) benzene-1,4-dicarboxylate and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate were degraded. 13-Docosenamide (Z) was almost completely removed under the conditions of 0.8 V applied voltage, 2.5 cm electrode spacing and 24 h HRT, with a removal efficiency of 99.91 %. Significant differences were observed in the microbial core genera among the MEC-AD systems. The core genera in the anodic and cathodic biofilms were primarily fermentative and electroactive bacteria, including Soehngenia (2.2 % - 32.1 %, 3.2 % - 26.4 %) and Desulfomicrobium (1.1 % - 10.2 %, 2.0 % - 29.3 %). Fermentative bacteria, norank_f__Bacteroidetes_vadinHA17, established cooperative relationships with electroactive bacteria Acinetobacter. The enrichment of electrochemically active bacteria optimized microbial interactions, thereby synergistically enhancing the biotransformation of complex organic matter in landfill leachate.