ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Microbial Zonation Mechanism and Low-Cost
Restoration Strategy of Iron and Manganese
Cycle in Riverbank Filtration System Based
on Multi-Omics: An Empirical Study of
Three-Level Redox Gradient Model
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1
School of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, Shenyang Jianzhu University, Shenyang 110168, China
2
Syneos Health Inc. Ltd, Shanghai 200040, China
Submission date: 2025-07-17
Final revision date: 2025-08-12
Acceptance date: 2025-08-23
Online publication date: 2025-12-01
Corresponding author
Wenlong Liu
School of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, Shenyang Jianzhu University, Shenyang 110168, China
Jun Pan
School of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, Shenyang Jianzhu University, Shenyang 110168, China
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
This study elucidates how riverbank filtration alters hyporheic zone hydrodynamics and redox
conditions to drive Fe²⁺/Mn²⁺ transformations via microbial processes. It aims to quantify the spatial
heterogeneity of Fe²⁺/Mn²⁺ cycling microbial metabolism and metal migration in the riverside filtration
system; then, a three-layer redox gradient model and repair strategy with engineering applicability
are established. The purpose is to provide a theoretical basis for microbial regulation to reduce heavy
metal pollution. Multi-omics analyses (16S rRNA sequencing, hydrogeochemistry, metagenomics)
in the Liaohe River revealed, in shallow zones (0-17 m), Proteobacteria (38.7%) and iron-reducers
(Geobacter) correlated with Fe²⁺ (R² = 0.83), indicating dissimilatory iron reduction dominates iron
mobilization. In deep zones (17-350 m), sulfate-reducers (Desulfobacca) generated S²⁻ to precipitate
Mn²⁺/Fe²⁺ (removal: 40-60%). A novel three-tier microbial redox-driven zonation model delineated
O₂/NO₃⁻-reducing (0-5 m), Fe³⁺/Mn⁴⁺-reducing (5-17 m), and SO₄²⁻-reducing zones (17-350 m) with 85%
prediction accuracy at the same latitude. Field implementations reduced treatment costs versus chemical
methods, proving scalability for developing regions.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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