Mediated mineralization, biogenic organisms

Reduction of nitro aromatic compounds often appears to be a two-step process, in which a mediator is required for facile transfer of electrons from a bulk reductant to the contaminant. A well documented example is the coupling of organic matter oxidation by iron reducing bacteria to "abiotic" nitro reduction by biogenic Fe(II) that is adsorbed to mineral surfaces in a column containing aquifer material (36, 39, 76). 

---