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Madison AS, Sorsby SJ, Wang Y, Key TA. Increasing in situ bioremediation effectiveness through field-scale application of molecular biological tools. Front Microbiol 2023; 13:1005871. [PMID: 36845972 PMCID: PMC9950576 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1005871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Leveraging the capabilities of microorganisms to reduce (degrade or transform) concentrations of pollutants in soil and groundwater can be a cost-effective, natural remedial approach to manage contaminated sites. Traditional design and implementation of bioremediation strategies consist of lab-scale biodegradation studies or collection of field-scale geochemical data to infer associated biological processes. While both lab-scale biodegradation studies and field-scale geochemical data are useful for remedial decision-making, additional insights can be gained through the application of Molecular Biological Tools (MBTs) to directly measure contaminant-degrading microorganisms and associated bioremediation processes. Field-scale application of a standardized framework pairing MBTs with traditional contaminant and geochemical analyses was successfully performed at two contaminated sites. At a site with trichloroethene (TCE) impacted groundwater, framework application informed design of an enhanced bioremediation approach. Baseline abundances of 16S rRNA genes for a genus of obligate organohalide-respiring bacteria (i.e., Dehalococcoides) were measured at low abundances (101-102 cells/mL) within the TCE source and plume areas. In combination with geochemical analyses, these data suggested that intrinsic biodegradation (i.e., reductive dechlorination) may be occurring, but activities were limited by electron donor availability. The framework was utilized to support development of a full-scale enhanced bioremediation design (i.e., electron donor addition) and to monitor remedial performance. Additionally, the framework was applied at a second site with residual petroleum hydrocarbon (PHC) impacted soils and groundwater. MBTs, specifically qPCR and 16S gene amplicon rRNA sequencing, were used to characterize intrinsic bioremediation mechanisms. Functional genes associated with anaerobic biodegradation of diesel components (e.g., naphthyl-2-methyl-succinate synthase, naphthalene carboxylase, alkylsuccinate synthase, and benzoyl coenzyme A reductase) were measured to be 2-3 orders of magnitude greater than unimpacted, background samples. Intrinsic bioremediation mechanisms were determined to be sufficient to achieve groundwater remediation objectives. Nonetheless, the framework was further utilized to assess that an enhanced bioremediation could be a successful remedial alternative or complement to source area treatment. While bioremediation of chlorinated solvents, PHCs, and other contaminants has been demonstrated to successfully reduce environmental risk and reach site goals, the application of field-scale MBT data in combination with contaminant and geochemical data analyses to design, implement, and monitor a site-specific bioremediation approach can result in more consistent remedy effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew S. Madison
- Golder Associates USA Inc., (Currently WSP USA Inc.), Marlton, NJ, United States,*Correspondence: Andrew S. Madison, ✉
| | - Skyler J. Sorsby
- Golder Associates USA Inc., (Currently WSP USA Inc.), Marlton, NJ, United States
| | | | - Trent A. Key
- ExxonMobil Environmental and Property Solutions Company, Spring, TX, United States
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2
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Key TA, Sorsby SJ, Wang Y, Madison AS. Framework for field-scale application of molecular biological tools to support natural and enhanced bioremediation. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:958742. [PMID: 36425033 PMCID: PMC9679620 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.958742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 10/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Microorganisms naturally present at environmental contaminated sites are capable of biodegrading, biotransforming, or removing contaminants in soil and groundwater through bioremediation processes. Cleanup strategies and goals for site remediation can be effectively achieved by bioremediation leveraging the capabilities of microorganisms to biotransform contaminants into lesser or non-toxic end products; however, reproducible success can be limited by inadequate design or performance monitoring. A group of biological analyses collectively termed molecular biological tools (MBTs) can be used to assess the contaminant-degrading capabilities and activities of microorganisms present in the environment and appropriately implement bioremediation approaches. While successful bioremediation has been demonstrated through previously described lab-scale studies and field-scale implementation for a variety of environmental contaminants, design and performance monitoring of bioremediation has often been limited to inferring biodegradation potential, occurrence, and pathways based on site geochemistry or lab-scale studies. Potential field-scale application of MBTs presents the opportunity to more precisely design and monitor site-specific bioremediation approaches. To promote standardization and successful implementation of bioremediation, a framework for field-scale application of MBTs within a multiple lines of evidence (MLOE) approach is presented. The framework consists of three stages: (i) "Assessment" to evaluate naturally occurring biogeochemical conditions and screen for potential applicability of bioremediation, (ii) "Design" to define a site-specific bioremediation approach and inform amendment selection, and (iii) "Performance Monitoring" to generate data to measure or infer bioremediation progress following implementation. This framework is introduced to synthesize the complexities of environmental microbiology and guide field-scale application of MBTs to assess bioremediation potential and inform site decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trent A. Key
- ExxonMobil Environmental and Property Solutions Company, Spring, TX, United States
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Jackson LE, Robertson WM, Rohrssen M, Chappaz A, Lemke LD. Evaluation of 1,4-dioxane attenuation processes at the Gelman Site, Michigan, USA. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 823:153634. [PMID: 35149059 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
1,4-Dioxane released at the Gelman Site in Washtenaw County, Michigan, produced a series of contaminant plumes migrating up to 3 km through a heterogenous glacial aquifer system. An analysis of 1,4-dioxane concentrations in the Eastern Area of the Gelman Site between 2011 and 2017 documented a mass balance deficit of 2200 kg in excess of 2100 kg of 1,4-dioxane removed via remediation. Five mechanisms were evaluated to account for the mass deficiency: sorption, matrix diffusion, biodegradation, surface discharge, and bypass of the existing monitoring well network. The mass of 1,4-dioxane sorbed to aquifer and aquitard materials and the mass of 1,4-dioxane diffused into low permeability zones were estimated. However, decreasing aqueous concentrations across most of the contaminated area between 2011 and 2017 are expected to induce desorption and back diffusion during this period. Surface water discharge to a storm drain in the downgradient portion of the site was analyzed using concentration measurements and stream gage data. Results suggest that 1,4-dioxane mass entering the drain during the period between 2011 and 2017 was insufficient to account for the mass deficiency. Although available geochemical measurements indicate predominantly anaerobic aquifer conditions at the Gelman Site, biodegradation of 1,4-dioxane was estimated using first order decay rate constants from other sites where conditions may be more favorable. Results suggest that biodegradation could explain some but not all of the missing mass. Bypass of the downgradient monitoring well network is the most parsimonious explanation for the 1,4-dioxane mass deficit. This conclusion is supported by documented flow path complexity through the aquifer system and the sparse density of monitoring wells in the downgradient Eastern Area. These findings underscore the importance of characterizing aquifer heterogeneity when modeling and remediating persistent groundwater contaminants such as 1,4-dioxane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah E Jackson
- Oklahoma Geological Survey, Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy, The University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA; Earth and Ecosystem Science Program, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859, USA.
| | - Wendy M Robertson
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Central Michigan University, 314 Brooks Hall, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859, USA; Institute for Great Lakes Research, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859, USA
| | - Megan Rohrssen
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Central Michigan University, 314 Brooks Hall, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859, USA
| | - Anthony Chappaz
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Central Michigan University, 314 Brooks Hall, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859, USA; STARLAB, Central Michigan University, Brooks Hall 314, Mount Pleasant, MI 48858, USA
| | - Lawrence D Lemke
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Central Michigan University, 314 Brooks Hall, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859, USA; Institute for Great Lakes Research, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859, USA
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4
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Ahmad S, Ahmad HW, Bhatt P. Microbial adaptation and impact into the pesticide's degradation. Arch Microbiol 2022; 204:288. [PMID: 35482163 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-022-02899-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The imprudent use of agrochemicals to control agriculture and household pests is unsafe for the environment. Hence, to protect the environment and diversity of living organisms, the degradation of pesticides has received widespread attention. There are different physical, chemical, and biological methods used to remediate pesticides in contaminated sites. Compared to other methods, biological approaches and their associated techniques are more effective, less expensive and eco-friendly. Microbes secrete several enzymes that can attach pesticides, break down organic compounds, and then convert toxic substances into carbon and water. Thus, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the functional genes and genomic potential of microbial species for the removal of emerging pollutants. Here we address the knowledge gaps by highlighting systematic biology and their role in adaptation of microbial species from agricultural soils with a history of pesticide usage and profiling shifts in functional genes and microbial taxa abundance. Moreover, by co-metabolism, the microbial species fulfill their nutritional requirements and perform more efficiently than single microbial-free cells. But in an open environment, free cells of microbes are not much prominent in the degradation process due to environmental conditions, incompatibilities with mechanical equipment and difficulties associated with evenly distributing inoculum through the agroecosystem. This review highlights emerging techniques involving the removal of pesticides in a field-scale environment like immobilization, biobed, biocomposites, biochar, biofilms, and bioreactors. In these techniques, different microbial cells, enzymes, natural fibers, and strains are used for the effective biodegradation of xenobiotic pesticides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajjad Ahmad
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management of Crop in South China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Key Laboratory of Natural Pesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, People's Republic of China
| | - Hafiz Waqas Ahmad
- Department of Food Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan
| | - Pankaj Bhatt
- Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47906, USA.
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Adamson DT, Wilson JT, Freedman DL, Ramos-García AA, Lebrón C, Danko A. Establishing the prevalence and relative rates of 1,4-dioxane biodegradation in groundwater to improve remedy evaluations. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 424:127736. [PMID: 34802822 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Options for remediating 1,4-dioxane at groundwater sites are limited due to the physical-chemical properties of this compound. The relevance of natural attenuation processes for 1,4-dioxane was investigated through data from field, lab, and modeling efforts. The objectives were to use multiple lines of evidence for 1,4-dioxane biodegradation to understand the prevalence of this activity and evaluate convergence between lines of evidence. A 14C-1,4-dioxane assay confirmed 1,4-dioxane biodegradation at 9 of 10 sites (median rate constant of 0.0105 yr-1 across wells). Site-wide rate constants were established using a calibrated fate and transport model at 8 sites (median = 0.075 yr-1). The 14C assay constants are likely more conservative, and variability in rates suggested that biodegradation at sites may be localized. Stable isotope fractionation was observed at 7 of 10 sites and served as another direct line of evidence of in situ biodegradation of 1,4-dioxane. This includes sites where indirect lines of evidence, including geochemical conditions or genetic biomarkers for degradation, would not necessarily have been supportive. This highlights the importance of collecting multiple lines of evidence to document 1,4-dioxane natural attenuation, and the widespread prevalence of biodegradation suggests that this process should be part of long-term management decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - John T Wilson
- Scissortail Environmental Solutions LLC., Ada, OK, USA
| | | | | | | | - Anthony Danko
- Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command - Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, Port Hueneme, CA, USA
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6
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García ÁAR, Adamson DT, Wilson JT, Lebrón C, Danko AS, Freedman DL. Evaluation of natural attenuation of 1,4-dioxane in groundwater using a 14C assay. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 424:127540. [PMID: 34763286 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA) is a preferred remedy for sites contaminated with 1,4-dioxane due to its low cost and limited environmental impacts compared to active remediation. Having a robust estimate of the rate at which biodegradation occurs is an essential component of assessing MNA. In this study, an assay was developed using 14C-labeled 1,4-dioxane to measure rate constants for biodegradation based on accumulation of 14C products. Purification of the 14C-1,4-dioxane stock solution lowered the level of 14C impurities to below 1% of the total 14C activity. This enabled determination of rate constants in groundwater as low as 0.0021 yr-1, equating to a half-life greater than 300 years. Of the 54 groundwater samples collected from 10 sites in the US, statistically significant rate constants were determined with the 14C assay for 24. The median rate constant was 0.0138 yr-1 (half-life = 50 yr); the maximum rate constant was 0.367 yr-1 (half-life = 1.9 yr). The results confirmed that biodegradation of 1,4-dioxane is occurring at 9 of the 10 sites sampled, albeit with considerable variability in the level of activity. The specificity of the assay was confirmed using acetylene and the absence of oxygen to inhibit monooxygenases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ángel A Ramos García
- Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | | | - John T Wilson
- Scissortail Environmental Solutions LLC., Ada, OK, USA
| | | | - Anthony S Danko
- Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command - Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, Port Hueneme, CA, USA
| | - David L Freedman
- Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA.
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7
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Chen R, Miao Y, Liu Y, Zhang L, Zhong M, Adams JM, Dong Y, Mahendra S. Identification of novel 1,4-dioxane degraders and related genes from activated sludge by taxonomic and functional gene sequence analysis. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 412:125157. [PMID: 33540262 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This study used integrated omics technologies to investigate the potential novel pathways and enzymes for 1,4-dioxane degradation by a consortium enriched from activated sludge of a domestic wastewater treatment plant. An unclassified genus belonging to Xanthobacteraceae increased significantly after magnetic nanoparticle-mediated isolation for 1,4-dioxane degraders. Species with relatively higher abundance (> 0.3%) were identified to present high metabolic activities in the biodegradation process through shotgun sequencing. The functional gene investigations revealed that Xanthobacter sp. 91, Xanthobacter sp. 126, and a Rhizobiales strain carried novel 1,4-dioxane-hydroxylating monooxygenase genes. Xanthobacter sp. 126 contained the genes coding for glycolate oxidase, which was the main enzyme responsible for utilization of 1,4-dioxane intermediates through the TCA cycle, and further proven by the specific glycolate oxidase inhibitor, α-hydroxy-2-pyridinemethanesulfonic acid. An expanded and detailed degradation pathway of 1,4-dioxane was proposed on the basis of the three major intermediates (2-hydroxy-1,4-dioxane, ethylene glycol, and oxalic acid) confirmed by metabolomics. These findings of microbial community and function as well as the novel pathway will be valuable in predicting natural attenuation or reconstruction of a bacterial consortium for enhanced remediation of 1,4-dioxane-contaminated sites as well as wastewater treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruihuan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100000, China; College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Yu Miao
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Yun Liu
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100000, China; National Engineering Laboratory of Site Remediation Technologies, Beijing 100015, China.
| | - Lan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100000, China
| | - Ming Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100000, China
| | | | - Yuanhua Dong
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100000, China
| | - Shaily Mahendra
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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8
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Miao Y, Heintz MB, Bell CH, Johnson NW, Polasko AL, Favero D, Mahendra S. Profiling microbial community structures and functions in bioremediation strategies for treating 1,4-dioxane-contaminated groundwater. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 408:124457. [PMID: 33189472 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Microbial community compositions and functional profiles were analyzed in microcosms established using aquifer materials from a former automobile factory site, where 1,4-dioxane was identified as the primary contaminant of concern. Propane or oxygen biostimulation resulted in limited 1,4-dioxane degradation, which was markedly enhanced with the addition of nutrients, resulting in abundant Mycobacterium and Methyloversatilis taxa and high expressions of propane monooxygenase gene, prmA. In bioaugmented treatments, Pseudonocardia dioxanivorans CB1190 or Rhodococcus ruber ENV425 strains dominated immediately after augmentation and degraded 1,4-dioxane rapidly which was consistent with increased representation of xenobiotic and lipid metabolism-related functions. Although the bioaugmented microbes decreased due to insufficient growth substrates and microbial competition, they did continue to degrade 1,4-dioxane, presumably by indigenous propanotrophic and heterotrophic bacteria, inducing similar community structures across bioaugmentation conditions. In various treatments, functional redundancy acted as buffer capacity to ensure a stable microbiome, drove the restoration of the structure and microbial functions to original levels, and induced the decoupling between basic metabolic functions and taxonomy. The results of this study provided valuable information for design and decision-making for ex-situ bioreactors and in-situ bioremediation applications. A metagenomics-based understanding of the treatment process will enable efficient and accurate adjustments when encountering unexpected issues in bioremediation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Miao
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Monica B Heintz
- Arcadis North America, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129, United States
| | | | - Nicholas W Johnson
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Alexandra LaPat Polasko
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - David Favero
- Revitalizing Auto Communities Environmental Response (RACER) Trust, Detroit, MI 48226, United States
| | - Shaily Mahendra
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States.
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Effects of Additional Carbon Sources in the Biodegradation of 1,4-Dioxane by a Mixed Culture. WATER 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/w12061718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
A mixed culture utilizing 1,4-dioxane as a sole carbon and energy source was obtained from the activated sludge at a textile wastewater treatment plant. The biodegradation of 1,4-dioxane was characterized by a model based on the Monod equation. The effects of the presence of easily degradable carbon sources other than 1,4-dioxane were investigated using dextrose. Structural analogs commonly found in 1,4-dioxane-containing wastewater such as tetrahydrofuran (THF), 2-methyl-1,3-dioxolane, and 1,4-dioxene were also evaluated for their potential effects on 1,4-dioxane biodegradation. The presence of dextrose did not show any synergetic or antagonistic effects on 1,4-dioxane biodegradation, while the structural analogs showed significant competitive inhibition effects. The inhibitory effects were relatively strong with heptagonal cyclic ethers such as THF and 2-methyl-1,3-dioxolane, and mild with hexagonal cyclic ethers such as 1,4-dioxene. It was also shown that the treatment of 1,4-dioxane in the raw textile wastewater required 170% more time to remove 1,4-dioxane due to the co-presence of 2-methyl-1,3-dioxolane, and the extent of delay depended on the initial concentration of 1,3-doxolane.
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Miao Y, Johnson NW, Phan T, Heck K, Gedalanga PB, Zheng X, Adamson D, Newell C, Wong MS, Mahendra S. Monitoring, assessment, and prediction of microbial shifts in coupled catalysis and biodegradation of 1,4-dioxane and co-contaminants. WATER RESEARCH 2020; 173:115540. [PMID: 32018172 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.115540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Revised: 12/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Microbial community dynamics were characterized following combined catalysis and biodegradation treatment trains for mixtures of 1,4-dioxane and chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) in laboratory microcosms. Although a few specific bacterial taxa are capable of removing 1,4-dioxane and individual CVOCs, many microorganisms are inhibited when these contaminants are present in mixtures. Chemical catalysis by tungstated zirconia (WOx/ZrO2) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as a non-selective treatment was designed to achieve nearly 20% 1,4-dioxane and over 60% trichloroethene and 50% dichloroethene removals. Post-catalysis, bioaugmentation with 1,4-dioxane metabolizing bacterial strain,Pseudonocardia dioxanivorans CB1190, removed the remaining 1,4-dioxane. The evolution of the microbial community under different conditions was time-dependent but relatively independent of the concentrations of contaminants. The compositions of microbiomes tended to be similar regardless of complex contaminant mixtures during the biodegradation phase, indicating a r-K strategy transition attributed to the shock experienced during catalysis and the subsequent incubation. The originally dominant genera Pseudomonas and Ralstonia were sensitive to catalytic oxidation, and were overwhelmed by Sphingomonas, Rhodococcus, and other catalyst-tolerant microbes, but microbes capable of biodegradation of organics thrived during the incubation. Methane metabolism, chloroalkane-, and chloroalkene degradation pathways appeared to be responsible for CVOC degradation, based on the identifications of haloacetate dehalogenases, 2-haloacid dehalogenases, and cytochrome P450 family. Network analysis highlighted the potential interspecies competition or commensalism, and dynamics of microbiomes during the biodegradation phase that were in line with shifting predominant genera, confirming the deterministic processes guiding the microbial assembly. Collectively, this study demonstrated that catalysis followed by bioaugmentation is an effective treatment for 1,4-dioxane in the presence of high CVOC concentrations, and it enhanced our understanding of microbial ecological impacts resulting from abiotic-biological treatment trains. These results will be valuable for predicting treatment synergies that lead to cost savings and improve remedial outcomes in short-term active remediation as well as long-term changes to the environmental microbial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Miao
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
| | - Nicholas W Johnson
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
| | - Thien Phan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
| | - Kimberly Heck
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, United States
| | - Phillip B Gedalanga
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States; Department of Public Health, California State University, Fullerton, CA, 92834, United States
| | - Xiaoru Zheng
- Department of Statistics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
| | - David Adamson
- GSI Environmental Inc., Houston, TX, 77098, United States
| | - Charles Newell
- GSI Environmental Inc., Houston, TX, 77098, United States
| | - Michael S Wong
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, United States
| | - Shaily Mahendra
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States.
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11
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Ramalingam V, Cupples AM. Anaerobic 1,4-dioxane biodegradation and microbial community analysis in microcosms inoculated with soils or sediments and different electron acceptors. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2020; 104:4155-4170. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-020-10512-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Revised: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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12
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Li F, Deng D, Li M. Distinct Catalytic Behaviors between Two 1,4-Dioxane-Degrading Monooxygenases: Kinetics, Inhibition, and Substrate Range. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:1898-1908. [PMID: 31877031 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b05671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Monitored natural attenuation (MNA) and engineered bioremediation have been recognized as effective and cost-efficient in situ treatments to mitigate 1,4-dioxane (dioxane) contamination. Dioxane metabolism can be initiated by two catabolic enzymes, propane monooxygenase (PRM) and tetrahydrofuran monooxygenase (THM), belonging to the group-6 and 5 of soluble di-iron monooxygenase family, respectively. In this study, we comprehensively compared catalytic behaviors of PRM and THM when individually expressed in the heterologous host, Mycobacterium smegmatis mc2-155. Kinetic results revealed a half-saturation coefficient (Km) of 53.0 ± 13.1 mg/L for PRM, nearly 4 times lower than that of THM (235.8 ± 61.6 mg/L), suggesting that PRM has a higher affinity to dioxane. Exposure with three common co-contaminants (1,1-dichloroethene, trichloroethene, and 1,1,1-trichloroethane) demonstrated that PRM was also more resistant to their inhibition than THM. Thus, dioxane degraders expressing PRM may be more physiologically and ecologically advantageous than those with THM at impacted sites, where dioxane concentration is relatively low (e.g., 250 to 1000 μg/L) with co-occurrence of chlorinated solvents (e.g., 0.5 to 8 mg/L), underscoring the need of surveying both PRM and THM-encoding genes for MNA potential assessment. PRM is also highly versatile, which breaks down cyclic molecules (dioxane, tetrahydrofuran, and cyclohexane), as well as chlorinated and aromatic pollutants, including vinyl chloride, 1,2-dichloroethane, benzene, and toluene. This is the first report regarding the ability of PRM to degrade a variety of short-chain alkanes and ethene in addition to dioxane, unraveling its pivotal role in aerobic biostimulation that utilizes propane, isobutane, or other gaseous alkanes/alkenes (e.g., ethane, butane, and ethene) to select and fuel indigenous microorganisms to tackle the commingled contamination of dioxane and chlorinated compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Li
- Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science , New Jersey Institute of Technology , Newark , New Jersey 07102 , United States
| | - Daiyong Deng
- Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science , New Jersey Institute of Technology , Newark , New Jersey 07102 , United States
| | - Mengyan Li
- Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science , New Jersey Institute of Technology , Newark , New Jersey 07102 , United States
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13
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Liu Y, Johnson NW, Liu C, Chen R, Zhong M, Dong Y, Mahendra S. Mechanisms of 1,4-Dioxane Biodegradation and Adsorption by Bio-Zeolite in the Presence of Chlorinated Solvents: Experimental and Molecular Dynamics Simulation Studies. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:14538-14547. [PMID: 31661950 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b04154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The use of bioaugmented zeolite (bio-zeolite) can be an effective technology for irreversibly removing recalcitrant organic pollutants in aqueous mixtures. Removal of 1,4-dioxane by a bio-zeolite (Pseudonocardia dioxanivorans CB1190-bioaugmented ZSM-5) in the presence of several chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) was superior to removal by adsorption using abiotic zeolite. Mixtures containing 1,1-dichloroethene (1,1-DCE) were an exception, which completely inhibited the bio-zeolite system. Specific adsorption characteristics were studied using adsorption isotherms in single-solute and bisolute systems accompanied by Polanyi theory-based Dubinin-Astakhov (DA) modeling. Adsorption behavior was examined using characteristic energy (Ea/H) from modified DA models and molecular dynamics simulations. While the tight-fit of 1,4-dioxane in the hydrophobic channels of ZSM-5 appears to drive 1,4-dioxane adsorption, the greater hydrophobicity of trichloroethene and cis-1,2-dichloroethene cause them have a greater affinity over 1,4-dioxane for adsorption sites on the zeolite. 1,4-Dioxane was desorbed and displaced by CVOCs except 1,1-DCE because of its low Ea/H value, explaining why bio-zeolite only biodegraded 1,4-dioxane in 1,1-DCE-free CVOC mixtures. Understanding the adsorption mechanisms of solutes in complex mixtures is crucial for the implementation of sorption-based treatment technologies for the removal of complex contaminant mixtures from aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Liu
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Nanjing 210008 , Jiangsu , China
- Civil and Environmental Engineering , University of California, Los Angeles , Los Angeles 90095 , California , United States
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100000 , Hebei , China
| | - Nicholas W Johnson
- Civil and Environmental Engineering , University of California, Los Angeles , Los Angeles 90095 , California , United States
| | - Cun Liu
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Nanjing 210008 , Jiangsu , China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100000 , Hebei , China
| | - Ruihuan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Nanjing 210008 , Jiangsu , China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100000 , Hebei , China
| | - Ming Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Nanjing 210008 , Jiangsu , China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100000 , Hebei , China
| | - Yuanhua Dong
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Nanjing 210008 , Jiangsu , China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100000 , Hebei , China
| | - Shaily Mahendra
- Civil and Environmental Engineering , University of California, Los Angeles , Los Angeles 90095 , California , United States
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14
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Miao Y, Johnson NW, Gedalanga PB, Adamson D, Newell C, Mahendra S. Response and recovery of microbial communities subjected to oxidative and biological treatments of 1,4-dioxane and co-contaminants. WATER RESEARCH 2019; 149:74-85. [PMID: 30419469 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2018.10.070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2018] [Revised: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Microbial community dynamics were characterized following combined oxidation and biodegradation treatment trains for mixtures of 1,4-dioxane and chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) in laboratory microcosms. Bioremediation is generally inhibited by co-contaminate CVOCs; with only a few specific bacterial taxa reported to metabolize or cometabolize 1,4-dioxane being unaffected. Chemical oxidation by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as a non-selective treatment demonstrated 50-80% 1,4-dioxane removal regardless of the initial CVOC concentrations. Post-oxidation bioaugmentation with 1,4-dioxane metabolizer Pseudonocardia dioxanivorans CB1190 removed the remaining 1,4-dioxane. The intrinsic microbial population, biodiversity, richness, and biomarker gene abundances decreased immediately after the brief oxidation phase, but recovery of cultivable microbiomes and a more diverse community were observed during the subsequent 9-week biodegradation phase. Results generated from the Illumina Miseq sequencing and bioinformatics analyses established that generally oxidative stress tolerant genus Ralstonia was abundant after the oxidation step, and Cupriavidus, Pseudolabrys, Afipia, and Sphingomonas were identified as dominant genera after aerobic incubation. Multidimensional analysis elucidated the separation of microbial populations as a function of time under all conditions, suggesting that temporal succession is a determining factor that is independent of 1,4-dioxane and CVOCs mixtures. Network analysis highlighted the potential interspecies competition or commensalism, and dynamics of microbiomes during the biodegradation phase, in line with the shifts of predominant genera and various developing directions during different steps of the treatment train. Collectively, this study demonstrated that chemical oxidation followed by bioaugmentation is effective for treating 1,4-dioxane, even in the presence of high levels of CVOC mixtures and residual peroxide, a disinfectant, and enhanced our understanding of microbial ecological impacts of the treatment train. These results will be valuable for predicting treatment synergies that lead to cost savings and improved remedial outcomes in short-term active remediation as well as long-term changes to the environmental microbial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Miao
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
| | - Nicholas W Johnson
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
| | - Phillip B Gedalanga
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States; Department of Health Science, California State University, Fullerton, CA, 92834, United States
| | - David Adamson
- GSI Environmental Inc., Houston, TX, 77098, United States
| | - Charles Newell
- GSI Environmental Inc., Houston, TX, 77098, United States
| | - Shaily Mahendra
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States.
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Dang H, Kanitkar YH, Stedtfeld RD, Hatzinger PB, Hashsham SA, Cupples AM. Abundance of Chlorinated Solvent and 1,4-Dioxane Degrading Microorganisms at Five Chlorinated Solvent Contaminated Sites Determined via Shotgun Sequencing. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2018; 52:13914-13924. [PMID: 30427665 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b04895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Shotgun sequencing was used for the quantification of taxonomic and functional biomarkers associated with chlorinated solvent bioremediation in 20 groundwater samples (five sites), following bioaugmentation with SDC-9. The analysis determined the abundance of (1) genera associated with chlorinated solvent degradation, (2) reductive dehalogenase (RDases) genes, (3) genes associated with 1,4-dioxane removal, (4) genes associated with aerobic chlorinated solvent degradation, and (5) D. mccartyi genes associated with hydrogen and corrinoid metabolism. The taxonomic analysis revealed numerous genera previously linked to chlorinated solvent degradation, including Dehalococcoides, Desulfitobacterium, and Dehalogenimonas. The functional gene analysis indicated vcrA and tceA from D. mccartyi were the RDases with the highest relative abundance. Reads aligning with both aerobic and anaerobic biomarkers were observed across all sites. Aerobic solvent degradation genes, etnC or etnE, were detected in at least one sample from each site, as were pmoA and mmoX. The most abundant 1,4-dioxane biomarker detected was Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b mmoX. Reads aligning to thmA or Pseudonocardia were not found. The work illustrates the importance of shotgun sequencing to provide a more complete picture of the functional abilities of microbial communities. The approach is advantageous over current methods because an unlimited number of functional genes can be quantified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyu Dang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , Michigan State University , East Lansing , Michigan 48824 , United States
| | - Yogendra H Kanitkar
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , Michigan State University , East Lansing , Michigan 48824 , United States
| | - Robert D Stedtfeld
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , Michigan State University , East Lansing , Michigan 48824 , United States
| | - Paul B Hatzinger
- APTIM , 17 Princess Road , Lawrenceville , New Jersey 08648 , United States
| | - Syed A Hashsham
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , Michigan State University , East Lansing , Michigan 48824 , United States
- Center for Microbial Ecology , Michigan State University , East Lansing , Michigan 48824 , United States
| | - Alison M Cupples
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , Michigan State University , East Lansing , Michigan 48824 , United States
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16
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Zhao L, Lu X, Polasko A, Johnson NW, Miao Y, Yang Z, Mahendra S, Gu B. Co-contaminant effects on 1,4-dioxane biodegradation in packed soil column flow-through systems. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2018; 243:573-581. [PMID: 30216889 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.09.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Revised: 08/10/2018] [Accepted: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Biodegradation of 1,4-dioxane was examined in packed quartz and soil column flow-through systems. The inhibitory effects of co-contaminants, specifically trichloroethene (TCE), 1,1-dichloroethene (1,1-DCE), and copper (Cu2+) ions, were investigated in the columns either with or without bioaugmentation with a 1,4-dioxane degrading bacterium Pseudonocardia dioxanivorans CB1190. Results indicate that CB1190 cells readily grew and colonized in the columns, leading to significant degradation of 1,4-dioxane under oxic conditions. Degradation of 1,4-dioxane was also observed in the native soil (without bioaugmentation), which had been previously subjected to enhanced reductive dechlorination treatment for co-contaminants TCE and 1,1-DCE. Bioaugmentation of the soil with CB1190 resulted in nearly complete degradation at influent concentrations of 3-10 mg L-1 1,4-dioxane and a residence reaction time of 40-80 h, but the presence of co-contaminants, 1,1-DCE and Cu2+ ions (up to 10 mg L-1), partially inhibited 1,4-dioxane degradation in the untreated and bioaugmented soil columns. However, the inhibitory effects were much less severe in the column flow-through systems than those previously observed in planktonic cultures, which showed near complete inhibition at the same co-contaminant concentrations. These observations demonstrate a low susceptibility of soil microbes to the toxicity of 1,1-DCE and Cu2+ in packed soil flow-through systems, and thus have important implications for predicting biodegradation potential and developing sustainable, cost-effective technologies for in situ remediation of 1,4-dioxane contaminated soils and groundwater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linduo Zhao
- Environmental Science Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, United States
| | - Xia Lu
- Environmental Science Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, United States
| | - Alexandra Polasko
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
| | - Nicholas W Johnson
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
| | - Yu Miao
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
| | - Ziming Yang
- Department of Chemistry, Oakland University, Rochester, MI 48309, United States
| | - Shaily Mahendra
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
| | - Baohua Gu
- Environmental Science Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, United States; Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, United States.
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17
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Myers MA, Johnson NW, Marin EZ, Pornwongthong P, Liu Y, Gedalanga PB, Mahendra S. Abiotic and bioaugmented granular activated carbon for the treatment of 1,4-dioxane-contaminated water. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2018; 240:916-924. [PMID: 29879691 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2017] [Revised: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
1,4-Dioxane is a probable human carcinogen and an emerging contaminant that has been detected in surface water and groundwater resources. Many conventional water treatment technologies are not effective for the removal of 1,4-dioxane due to its high water solubility and chemical stability. Biological degradation is a potentially low-cost, energy-efficient approach to treat 1,4-dioxane-contaminated waters. Two bacterial strains, Pseudonocardia dioxanivorans CB1190 (CB1190) and Mycobacterium austroafricanum JOB5 (JOB5), have been previously demonstrated to break down 1,4-dioxane through metabolic and co-metabolic pathways, respectively. However, both CB1190 and JOB5 have been primarily studied in laboratory planktonic cultures, while most environmental microbes grow in biofilms on surfaces. Another treatment technology, adsorption, has not historically been considered an effective means of removing 1,4-dioxane due to the contaminant's low Koc and Kow values. We report that the granular activated carbon (GAC), Norit 1240, is an adsorbent with high affinity for 1,4-dioxane as well as physical dimensions conducive to attached bacterial growth. In abiotic batch reactor studies, 1,4-dioxane adsorption was reversible to a large extent. By bioaugmenting GAC with 1,4-dioxane-degrading microbes, the adsorption reversibility was minimized while achieving greater 1,4-dioxane removal when compared with abiotic GAC (95-98% reduction of initial 1,4-dioxane as compared to an 85-89% reduction of initial 1,4-dioxane, respectively). Bacterial attachment and viability was visualized using fluorescence microscopy and confirmed by amplification of taxonomic genes by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and an ATP assay. Filtered samples of industrial wastewater and contaminated groundwater were also tested in the bioaugmented GAC reactors. Both CB1190 and JOB5 demonstrated 1,4-dioxane removal greater than that of the abiotic adsorbent controls. This study suggests that bioaugmented adsorbents could be an effective technology for 1,4-dioxane removal from contaminated water resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle A Myers
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, 420 Westwood Plaza, 5732 Boelter Hall, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Nicholas W Johnson
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, 420 Westwood Plaza, 5732 Boelter Hall, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Erick Zerecero Marin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, 420 Westwood Plaza, 5732 Boelter Hall, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Peerapong Pornwongthong
- Department of Agro-Industrial, Food and Environmental Technology, Faculty of Applied Science, King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, 1518 Pracharat 1, Wongsawang, Bangsue, Bangkok, 10800, Thailand; Center for Water Engineering and Infrastructure Research (CWEIR), King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, Wongsawang, Bangsue, Bangkok, 10800, Thailand
| | - Yun Liu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, 420 Westwood Plaza, 5732 Boelter Hall, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA; Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 71 East Beijing Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210008, People's Republic of China
| | - Phillip B Gedalanga
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, 420 Westwood Plaza, 5732 Boelter Hall, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA; Department of Health Science, California State University, Fullerton, 800 North State College Blvd, Room KHS-121, Fullerton, CA, 92834, USA
| | - Shaily Mahendra
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, 420 Westwood Plaza, 5732 Boelter Hall, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
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18
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Identification of active and taxonomically diverse 1,4-dioxane degraders in a full-scale activated sludge system by high-sensitivity stable isotope probing. ISME JOURNAL 2018; 12:2376-2388. [PMID: 29899516 PMCID: PMC6155002 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-018-0201-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2017] [Revised: 05/06/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
1,4-Dioxane is one of the most common and persistent artificial pollutants in petrochemical industrial wastewaters and chlorinated solvent groundwater plumes. Despite its possible biological treatment in natural environments, the identity and dynamics of the microorganisms involved are largely unknown. Here, we identified active and diverse 1,4-dioxane-degrading microorganisms from activated sludge by high-sensitivity stable isotope probing of rRNA. By rigorously analyzing 16S rRNA molecules in RNA density fractions of 13C-labeled and unlabeled 1,4-dioxane treatments, we discovered 10 significantly 13C-incorporating microbial species from the complex microbial community. 16S rRNA expression assays revealed that 9 of the 10 species, including the well-known degrader Pseudonocardia dioxanivorans, an ammonia-oxidizing bacterium and phylogenetically novel bacteria, increased their metabolic activities shortly after exposure to 1,4-dioxane. Moreover, high-resolution monitoring showed that, during a single year of operation of the full-scale activated sludge system, the nine identified species exhibited yearly averaged relative abundances of 0.001–1.523%, and yet showed different responses to changes in the 1,4-dioxane removal efficiency. Hence, the co-existence and individually distinct dynamics of various 1,4-dioxane-degrading microorganisms, including hitherto unidentified species, played pivotal roles in the maintenance of the biological system removing the recalcitrant pollutant.
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Karges U, Becker J, Püttmann W. 1,4-Dioxane pollution at contaminated groundwater sites in western Germany and its distribution within a TCE plume. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 619-620:712-720. [PMID: 29166627 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Revised: 11/03/2017] [Accepted: 11/03/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
An effective and sensitive method for the analysis of 1,4-dioxane in water has been available since 2008 (EPA 522). This method is increasingly being applied to investigate the distribution of 1,4-dioxane in the aquatic environment. However, there is a need for more information about the possible occurrence of 1,4-dioxane in groundwater in Europe in general, and in Germany in particular, where virtually no data have been collected so far. The possible contamination of groundwater with 1,4-dioxane is of relevance to Germany because up to 70% of Germany's drinking water is obtained from groundwater and about 17% from river bank filtrate, which contains variable proportions of groundwater. The aim of the present study is to investigate selected and representative groundwater sites in Germany that have suspected occurrences of 1,4-dioxane. Five of the sites are well known for their volatile chlorinated hydrocarbon contamination, two sites have representative landfill leachate characteristics, and one site is negatively impacted by a detergent manufacturing plant. The presence of 1,4-dioxane was observed at each of these sites. Measured maximum concentration values ranged from 0.15μg/L to 152μg/L. An aquifer containing a trichloroethylene (TCE) plume with 1,4-dioxane as a co-contaminant was investigated in more detail. A perfect match was found between the concentrations of 1,4-dioxane and TCE in the vertical and horizontal distribution profiles. The results indicate the necessity for investigating groundwater contamination by 1,4-dioxane at sites with known 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA) and TCE contaminations, in landfill leachates, and at sites of detergent production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ursula Karges
- Department of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, J. W. Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Altenhöferallee 1, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Johannes Becker
- Department of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, J. W. Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Altenhöferallee 1, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Wilhelm Püttmann
- Department of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, J. W. Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Altenhöferallee 1, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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20
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Jasmann JR, Gedalanga PB, Borch T, Mahendra S, Blotevogel J. Synergistic Treatment of Mixed 1,4-Dioxane and Chlorinated Solvent Contaminations by Coupling Electrochemical Oxidation with Aerobic Biodegradation. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2017; 51:12619-12629. [PMID: 29023103 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b03134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Biodegradation of the persistent groundwater contaminant 1,4-dioxane is often hindered by the absence of dissolved oxygen and the co-occurrence of inhibiting chlorinated solvents. Using flow-through electrolytic reactors equipped with Ti/IrO2-Ta2O5 mesh electrodes, we show that combining electrochemical oxidation with aerobic biodegradation produces an overadditive treatment effect for degrading 1,4-dioxane. In reactors bioaugmented by Pseudonocardia dioxanivorans CB1190 with 3.0 V applied, 1,4-dioxane was oxidized 2.5 times faster than in bioaugmented control reactors without an applied potential, and 12 times faster than by abiotic electrolysis only. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analyses of CB1190 abundance, oxidation-reduction potential, and dissolved oxygen measurements indicated that microbial growth was promoted by anodic oxygen-generating reactions. At a higher potential of 8.0 V, however, the cell abundance near the anode was diminished, likely due to unfavorable pH and/or redox conditions. When coupled to electrolysis, biodegradation of 1,4-dioxane was sustained even in the presence of the common co-contaminant trichloroethene in the influent. Our findings demonstrate that combining electrolytic treatment with aerobic biodegradation may be a promising synergistic approach for the treatment of mixed contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeramy R Jasmann
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University , Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| | - Phillip B Gedalanga
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California , Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Thomas Borch
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University , Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University , Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University , Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| | - Shaily Mahendra
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California , Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Jens Blotevogel
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University , Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
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21
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Potential for cometabolic biodegradation of 1,4-dioxane in aquifers with methane or ethane as primary substrates. Biodegradation 2017; 28:453-468. [PMID: 29022194 DOI: 10.1007/s10532-017-9808-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2017] [Accepted: 09/28/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this research was to evaluate the potential for two gases, methane and ethane, to stimulate the biological degradation of 1,4-dioxane (1,4-D) in groundwater aquifers via aerobic cometabolism. Experiments with aquifer microcosms, enrichment cultures from aquifers, mesophilic pure cultures, and purified enzyme (soluble methane monooxygenase; sMMO) were conducted. During an aquifer microcosm study, ethane was observed to stimulate the aerobic biodegradation of 1,4-D. An ethane-oxidizing enrichment culture from these samples, and a pure culture capable of growing on ethane (Mycobacterium sphagni ENV482) that was isolated from a different aquifer also biodegraded 1,4-D. Unlike ethane, methane was not observed to appreciably stimulate the biodegradation of 1,4-D in aquifer microcosms or in methane-oxidizing mixed cultures enriched from two different aquifers. Three different pure cultures of mesophilic methanotrophs also did not degrade 1,4-D, although each rapidly oxidized 1,1,2-trichloroethene (TCE). Subsequent studies showed that 1,4-D is not a substrate for purified sMMO enzyme from Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b, at least not at the concentrations evaluated, which significantly exceeded those typically observed at contaminated sites. Thus, our data indicate that ethane, which is a common daughter product of the biotic or abiotic reductive dechlorination of chlorinated ethanes and ethenes, may serve as a substrate to enhance 1,4-D degradation in aquifers, particularly in zones where these products mix with aerobic groundwater. It may also be possible to stimulate 1,4-D biodegradation in an aerobic aquifer through addition of ethane gas. Conversely, our results suggest that methane may have limited importance in natural attenuation or for enhancing biodegradation of 1,4-D in groundwater environments.
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Favara P, Tunks J, Hatton J, DiGuiseppi W. Sustainable Remediation Considerations for Treatment of 1,4-Dioxane in Groundwater. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/rem.21501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - John Tunks
- Environment and Nuclear Business Group, CH2M's Site Remediation and Restoration Group, Englewood, Colorado
| | - Jim Hatton
- CH2M's Site Remediation and Restoration Group, Englewood, Colorado
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