Coupling microscale zero-valent iron and autotrophic hydrogen-bacteria provides a sustainable remediation solution for trichloroethylene-contaminated groundwater: Mechanisms, regulation, and engineering implications

•Coupling mZVI and AHB improved the removal efficiency and rate of TCE.•H2 generated by mZVI corrosion was efficiently utilized by AHB.•Lasting corrosion of mZVI was facilitated by AHB.•ZVI induced the enrichment of functional dechlorination bacteria.•Using 10 g/L of 30 µm mZVI can make the best mZVI-AHB solution. Coupling microscale zero-valent iron (mZVI) and autotrophic hydrogen bacteria (AHB) has gained increasing attention owing to its potential to improve dechlorination performance by bridging H2 donors and acceptors. However, few studies have attempted to test its sustainable remediation performance and to comprehensively unveil the governing mechanisms. This study systematically compared the performances of different systems (mZVI, H2-AHB, and mZVI-AHB) for trichloroethylene (TCE) removal, and further optimized dechlorination and H2 evolution of mZVI-AHB synchronously by regulating the mZVI particle size and dosage to achieve a win-win remediation solution. The final removal efficiency and removal rate of TCE by mZVI-AHB were 1.67-fold and 5.30-fold of those by mZVI alone respectively, and mZVI-AHB resulted in more complete dechlorination than H2-AHB alone. Combining H2 evolution kinetics, material characterization data, and bacterial community analysis results, the improved dechlorination performance of mZVI-AHB was mainly due to the following mechanisms: H2 generated by mZVI corrosion was efficiently utilized by AHB, lasting corrosion of mZVI was facilitated by AHB, and dechlorination functional bacteria were highly enriched by mZVI. Finally, the remediation performance of mZVI-AHB with different mZVI particle sizes and dosages was evaluated comprehensively in terms of dechlorination reactivity, H2 utilization efficiency and chemical cost, and suggestions for possible engineering applications are provided. [Display omitted]