Biodegradation Mechanism of Thiophene by Candida tropicalis through Electric Field-assisted Technology

Electric field-assisted (EFA) technology has been extensively employed in the realm of biodegradation. Candida tropicalis, with a high capability for degrading thiophene, has been successfully screened through electric field-assisted screening (EFAS). The present study investigated the cell density distribution of C. tropicalis at various locations within an electric field. Under an electric field, cells migrated and accumulated toward the cathode plate. Under a loading electric field intensity of 0.6 V cm–1, the concentration of cells peaked near the cathode plate and remained stable with a loading time of 10 min. Furthermore, the thiophene degradation efficiency of strain CZ60, which was screened under optimal loading voltage and time conditions, reached 91.4% after a 4-h reaction. These results establish a solid theoretical foundation for utilizing EFAS to identify biodegradable microorganisms, with potential implications for environmental remediation strategies.