Influences of kaolinite and montmorillonite on benzo[a]pyrene biodegradation by Paracoccus aminovorans HPD-2 and the underlying interface interaction mechanisms

Clay minerals play an important role in biogeochemical cycling. Here, kaolinite and montmorillonite, the two most abundant and widespread clay minerals with typical layered structures, were selected to investigate and compare their effects on the biodegradation of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) by Paracoccus aminovorans HPD-2 and to investigate the underlying interface mechanisms. Overall, the BaP degradation efficiency was significantly higher 7 d after montmorillonite addition, reaching 68.9% (P < 0.05), when compared with that of the control without addition of clay minerals (CK, 61.4%); however, the addition of kaolinite significantly reduced the BaP degradation efficiency to 45.8%. This suggests that kaolinite inhibits BaP degradation by inhibiting the growth of strain HPD-2, or its strong hydrophobicity and readily agglomerates in the degradation system, resulting in a decrease in the bio-accessibility of BaP to strain HPD-2. Montmorillonite may buffer some unfavorable factors, and cells may be fixed on the surface of montmorillonite colloidal particles across energy barriers. Furthermore, the adsorption of BaP on montmorillonite may be weakened after swelling, reducing the effect on the bio-accessibility of BaP, thus promoting the biodegradation of BaP by strain HPD-2. The experimental results indicate that differential bacterial growth, BaP bio-accessibility, interface interaction, and the buffering effect may explain the differential effects of the different minerals on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon biodegradation. These observations improve our understanding of the mechanisms by which clay minerals, organic pollutants, and degrading bacteria interact during the biodegradation process and provide a theoretical basis for increasing the biodegradation of soil pollutants by native microorganisms under field conditions.