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He J, Castilla-Alcantara JC, Ortega-Calvo JJ, Harms H, Wick LY. DC Electric Fields Promote Biodegradation of Waterborne Naphthalene in Biofilter Systems. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 39353102 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c02924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/04/2024]
Abstract
Biofiltration is a simple and low-cost method for the cleanup of contaminated water. However, the reduced availability of dissolved chemicals to surface-attached degrader bacteria may limit its efficient use at certain hydraulic loadings. When a direct current (DC) electric field is applied to an immersed packed bed, it invokes electrokinetic processes, such as electroosmotic water flow (EOF). EOF is a surface-charge-induced plug-flow-shaped movement of pore fluids. It acts at a nanometer distance above surfaces and allows the change of microscale pressure-driven flow profiles and, hence, the availability of dissolved contaminants to microbial degraders. In laboratory percolation columns, we assessed the effects of a weak DC electric field (E = 0.5 V·cm-1) on the biodegradation of waterborne naphthalene (NAH) by surface-attached Pseudomonas fluorescens LP6a. To vary NAH bioavailability, we used different NAH concentrations (C0 = 2.7, 5.1, or 7.8 × 10-5 mol·L-1) and Darcy velocities typical for biofiltration (U ¯ = 0.2-1.2 × 10-4 m·s-1). In DC-free controls, we observed higher specific degradation rates (qc) at higher NAH concentrations. The qc depended on U ¯ , suggesting bioavailability restrictions depending on the hydraulic residence times. DC fields consistently increased qc and resulted in linearly increasing benefits up to 55% with rising hydraulic loadings relative to controls. We explain these biodegradation benefits by EOF-altered microscale flow profiles allowing for better NAH provision to bacteria attached to the collectors even though the EOF was calculated to be 100-800 times smaller than bulk water flow. Our data suggest that electrokinetic approaches may give rise to future technical applications that allow regulating biodegradation, for example, in response to fluctuating hydraulic loadings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinyao He
- Department of Applied Microbial Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research UFZ, Leipzig 04318, Germany
| | - Jose Carlos Castilla-Alcantara
- Department of Applied Microbial Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research UFZ, Leipzig 04318, Germany
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS-CSIC), Avda. Reina Mercedes 10, Seville E-41012, Spain
| | - Jose Julio Ortega-Calvo
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS-CSIC), Avda. Reina Mercedes 10, Seville E-41012, Spain
| | - Hauke Harms
- Department of Applied Microbial Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research UFZ, Leipzig 04318, Germany
| | - Lukas Y Wick
- Department of Applied Microbial Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research UFZ, Leipzig 04318, Germany
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2
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Li B, Yuan Y, Lu L, Liu S, Wang P, Yao M, Dong J. Synergistic approach of GCW-ISTR for enhanced remediation of semi-volatile organic contaminants in groundwater: Modeling and experimental validation. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 263:119995. [PMID: 39276832 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2024] [Revised: 09/03/2024] [Accepted: 09/11/2024] [Indexed: 09/17/2024]
Abstract
The poor remediation performance of groundwater circulation well (GCW) on semi-volatile organic contaminants (such as aniline) has severely limited its practical application. To address the challenges posed by the low volatility and solubility of these contaminants, an innovative integration of GCW with in-situ thermal remediation (ISTR) was proposed to create a thermal enhanced circulation well (GCW-ISTR) in this study. Laboratory experiments and model simulations were performed to evaluate the heat transfer and enhanced remediation effect by GCW-ISTR. Results demonstrate that the heat transfer process is controlled by the water circulation around GCW-ISTR and is influenced by factors such as aeration flow rate, groundwater velocity and aquifer permeability. Heating area is directly proportional to the seepage velocity of groundwater which can be analyzed by multiplying the water head difference between the upper and lower screens with the aquifer permeability. Therefore, the heat transfer model, based on Darcy's seepage theory and the energy conservation equation, effectively simulates the heat transfer with an error margin of less than 10%. Compared to individual GCW, GCW-ISTR exhibits a 25.8% improvement in aniline remediation efficiency, resulting in a decrease in the average concentration from 97.95 mg/L to 0.168 mg/L within 48 h, effectively mitigating the occurrence of tailing phenomena. This study provides a feasible method of enhancing the remediation of GCW on semi-volatile contaminants and is anticipated to broaden the applicability of GCW in site application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bowen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection (Chengdu University of Technology), 1#, Dongsanlu, Erxianqiao, Chengdu, 610059, Sichuan, China.
| | - Yongzu Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection (Chengdu University of Technology), 1#, Dongsanlu, Erxianqiao, Chengdu, 610059, Sichuan, China
| | - Liang Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection (Chengdu University of Technology), 1#, Dongsanlu, Erxianqiao, Chengdu, 610059, Sichuan, China
| | - Shibin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection (Chengdu University of Technology), 1#, Dongsanlu, Erxianqiao, Chengdu, 610059, Sichuan, China
| | - Peng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection (Chengdu University of Technology), 1#, Dongsanlu, Erxianqiao, Chengdu, 610059, Sichuan, China
| | - Meng Yao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou, 213164, China.
| | - Jun Dong
- Key Lab of Groundwater Resources and Environment Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130026, China
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3
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Wienkenjohann H, Mosthaf K, Fischer LM, Bennedsen L, Flyvbjerg J, Christophersen M, Rolle M. Low-temperature Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage combined with in situ bioremediation of chlorinated ethenes: Pilot-scale observations and model-based interpretation. JOURNAL OF CONTAMINANT HYDROLOGY 2024; 267:104421. [PMID: 39276715 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconhyd.2024.104421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2024] [Revised: 08/18/2024] [Accepted: 09/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/17/2024]
Abstract
Microbial reductive dechlorination is a key process in aquifers contaminated with chlorinated ethenes and results in a net mass reduction of organic pollutants. Biodegradation rates in the subsurface are temperature-dependent and may be enhanced by increased groundwater temperatures. This study explores the potential of combining the temperature increase from low-temperature Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage with In Situ Bioremediation (ATES-ISB). The effects of highly dynamic groundwater flow and heat transport on microbial degradation rates were examined in a contaminated aquifer based on a pilot-scale experiment and a comprehensive process-based modeling analysis. The low-temperature ATES-ISB pilot test was carried out in Birkerød (Denmark), in an aquifer contaminated with trichloroethene by implementing a groundwater flow dipole, injecting heated groundwater, biostimulating the system with lactate and bioaugmenting it with a Dehalococcoides containing culture. Solute concentrations were monitored in four observation wells over the course of the test and a non-isothermal reactive transport model, solved in a two-dimensional heterogeneous domain, was developed to quantitatively interpret the experimental observations. The process-based numerical model also allowed evaluating the evolution of chlorinated ethenes concentrations considering different hydraulic, thermal, and operational scenarios. The results demonstrate the beneficial combination of ATES with in situ contaminant bioremediation, showing enhancement of contaminant mass reduction and more complete reductive dechlorination. The developed process-based model can be instrumental for the design and parameterization of pilot and full scale low-temperature ATES-ISB remediation in shallow aquifer systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henning Wienkenjohann
- Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet, Building 115, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Klaus Mosthaf
- Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet, Building 115, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Line Mørkebjerg Fischer
- Centre for Regional Development, Capital Region of Denmark, Kongens Vænge 2, 3400 Hillerød, Denmark
| | - Lars Bennedsen
- Ramboll, Englandsgade 25, 5000 Odense C, Denmark; dsm-firmenich, Limfjordsvej 4, 6715 Esbjerg N, Denmark
| | - John Flyvbjerg
- Centre for Regional Development, Capital Region of Denmark, Kongens Vænge 2, 3400 Hillerød, Denmark
| | | | - Massimo Rolle
- Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet, Building 115, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark; Technical University of Darmstadt, Department of Materials and Geosciences, Institute of Applied Geosciences, Schnittspahnstr. 9, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany.
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4
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Tang Y, Zhang Z, Tao C, Wang X. The mechanism of biofilm detachment in porous medium under flow field. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2024; 18:034103. [PMID: 38737754 PMCID: PMC11080962 DOI: 10.1063/5.0203061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Biofilms are communities formed by bacteria adhering to surfaces, widely present in porous medium, and their growth can lead to clogging. Our experiment finds that under certain flow conditions, biofilms detach in pores and form a dynamically changing flow path. We define detachment that occurs far from the boundary of the flow path (with a distance greater than 200 μm) as internal detachment and detachment that occurs at the boundary of the flow path as external detachment. To understand the mechanism of biofilm detachment, we study the detachment behaviors of the Bacillus subtilis biofilm in a porous medium in a microfluidic device, where Bacillus subtilis strain is triple fluorescent labeled, which can represent three main phenotypes during the biofilm formation: motile cells, matrix-producing cells, and spores. We find that slow small-scale internal detachment occurs in regions with very few motile cells and matrix-producing cells, and bacterial movement in these areas is disordered. The increase in the number of matrix-producing cells induces clogging, and after clogging, the rapid detachment of the bulk internal biofilm occurs due to the increased pressure difference at the inlet and outlet. When both internal and external detachments occur simultaneously, the number of matrix-producing cells in the internal detachment area is 2.5 times that in the external detachment area. The results indicate that biofilm detachment occurs in areas with fewer matrix-producing cells, as matrix-producing cells can help resist detachment by secreting extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangyang Tang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Zheng Zhang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Cong Tao
- School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
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5
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Yan PF, Dong S, Woodcock MJ, Manz KE, Garza-Rubalcava U, Abriola LM, Pennell KD, Cápiro NL. Biotransformation of 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate and microbial community dynamics in water-saturated one-dimensional flow-through columns. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 252:121146. [PMID: 38306753 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121146] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
Nearly all per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) biotransformation studies reported to date have been limited to laboratory-scale batch reactors. The fate and transport of PFAS in systems that more closely represent field conditions, i.e., in saturated porous media under flowing conditions, remain largely unexplored. This study investigated the biotransformation of 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTS), a representative PFAS of widespread environmental occurrence, in one-dimensional water-saturated flow-through columns packed with soil obtained from a PFAS-contaminated site. The 305-day column experiments demonstrated that 6:2 FTS biotransformation was rate-limited, where a decrease in pore-water velocity from 3.7 to 2.4 cm/day, resulted in a 21.7-26.1 % decrease in effluent concentrations of 6:2 FTS and higher yields (1.0-1.4 mol% vs. 0.3 mol%) of late-stage biotransformation products (C4C7 perfluoroalkyl carboxylates). Flow interruptions (2 and 7 days) were found to enhance 6:2 FTS biotransformation during the 6-7 pore volumes following flow resumption. Model-fitted 6:2 FTS column biotransformation rates (0.039-0.041 cmw3/gs/d) were ∼3.5 times smaller than those observed in microcosms (0.137 cmw3/gs/d). Additionally, during column experiments, planktonic microbial communities remained relatively stable, whereas the composition of the attached microbial communities shifted along the flow path, which may have been attributed to oxygen availability and the toxicity of 6:2 FTS and associated biotransformation products. Genus Pseudomonas dominated in planktonic microbial communities, while in the attached microbial communities, Rhodococcus decreased and Pelotomaculum increased along the flow path, suggesting their potential involvement in early- and late-stage 6:2 FTS biotransformation, respectively. Overall, this study highlights the importance of incorporating realistic environmental conditions into experimental systems to obtain a more representative assessment of in-situ PFAS biotransformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng-Fei Yan
- Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States.
| | - Sheng Dong
- Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | | | - Katherine E Manz
- School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | | | - Linda M Abriola
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Kurt D Pennell
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Natalie L Cápiro
- Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States.
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6
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Sun F, Mellage A, Wang Z, Bakkour R, Griebler C, Thullner M, Cirpka OA, Elsner M. Toward Improved Bioremediation Strategies: Response of BAM-Degradation Activity to Concentration and Flow Changes in an Inoculated Bench-Scale Sediment Tank. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:4050-4061. [PMID: 35263099 PMCID: PMC8988295 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c05259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) can reveal mass-transfer limitations during biodegradation of organic pollutants by enabling the detection of masked isotope fractionation. Here, we applied CSIA to monitor the adaptive response of bacterial degradation in inoculated sediment to low contaminant concentrations over time. We characterized Aminobacter sp. MSH1 activity in a flow-through sediment tank in response to a transient supply of elevated 2,6-dichlorobenzamide (BAM) concentrations as a priming strategy and took advantage of an inadvertent intermittence to investigate the effect of short-term flow fluctuations. Priming and flow fluctuations yielded improved biodegradation performance and increased biodegradation capacity, as evaluated from bacterial activity and residual concentration time series. However, changes in isotope ratios in space and over time evidenced that mass transfer became increasingly limiting for degradation of BAM at low concentrations under such stimulated conditions, and that activity decreased further due to bacterial adaptation at low BAM (μg/L) levels. Isotope ratios, in conjunction with residual substrate concentrations, therefore helped identifying underlying limitations of biodegradation in such a stimulated system, offering important insight for future optimization of remediation schemes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengchao Sun
- Institute
of Groundwater Ecology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstadter Landstrasse 1 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Chair
of Analytical Chemistry and Water Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Lichtenbergstraße 4, 85748, Garching, Germany
| | - Adrian Mellage
- Center
for Applied Geoscience, University of Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstraße 94, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Zhe Wang
- Institute
of Groundwater Ecology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstadter Landstrasse 1 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Chair
of Ecological Microbiology, University of
Bayreuth, Dr.-Hans-Frisch-Straße 1-3, 95448 Bayreuth, Germany
- School
of Life Sciences, Technical University of
Munich, Alte Akademie 8, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Rani Bakkour
- Chair
of Analytical Chemistry and Water Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Lichtenbergstraße 4, 85748, Garching, Germany
| | - Christian Griebler
- Department
of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Thullner
- Department
of Environmental Microbiology, UFZ—Helmholtz
Centre for Environmental Research, Permoserstr. 15, 30418 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Olaf A. Cirpka
- Center
for Applied Geoscience, University of Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstraße 94, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Martin Elsner
- Institute
of Groundwater Ecology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstadter Landstrasse 1 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Chair
of Analytical Chemistry and Water Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Lichtenbergstraße 4, 85748, Garching, Germany
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7
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Huang H, Jiang Y, Zhao J, Li S, Schulz S, Deng L. BTEX biodegradation is linked to bacterial community assembly patterns in contaminated groundwater ecosystem. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 419:126205. [PMID: 34216964 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The control of degrader populations and the stochasticity and certainty of the microbial community in contaminated groundwater are not well-understood. In this study, a long-term contaminated groundwater ecosystem was selected to investigate the impact of BTEX on microbial communities and how microbial communities respond to BTEX pollution. 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metagenomic sequencing provided insights on microbial community assemblage patterns and their role in BTEX cleaning. The operational taxonomy units (OTUs) in the contaminated groundwater ecosystem were clustered distinguishably between the Plume and the Deeper Zone (lower contaminated zone). βNTI analysis revealed that the assembly strategies of abundant and rare OTU subcommunities preferred deterministic processes. Redundancy Analysis (RDA) and mantel testing indicated that benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) strongly drove the abundant OTU subcommunity, while the rare OTU subcommunity was only weakly affected. Deltaproteobacteria, the most dominant degrading microorganism, contains the complete degradation genes in the plume layer. In summary, our finding revealed that BTEX was the major factor in shaping the microbial community structure, and functional bacteria contribute greatly to water cleaning. Investigating the pattern of microbial community assembly will provide insights into the ecological controls of contaminant degradation in groundwater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiying Huang
- Institute of Virology, Helmholtz Zentrum München German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany; Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Yiming Jiang
- Institute of Virology, Helmholtz Zentrum München German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany; Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Jianhua Zhao
- Shanghai Majorbio Bio-pharm Technology Co., Ltd., Building 3, Lane 3399, Kangxin Road, International Medical Zone, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Shasha Li
- Shanghai Majorbio Bio-pharm Technology Co., Ltd., Building 3, Lane 3399, Kangxin Road, International Medical Zone, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Sarah Schulz
- Institute of Virology, Helmholtz Zentrum München German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany; Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Li Deng
- Institute of Virology, Helmholtz Zentrum München German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany; Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
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8
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Sun F, Mellage A, Gharasoo M, Melsbach A, Cao X, Zimmermann R, Griebler C, Thullner M, Cirpka OA, Elsner M. Mass-Transfer-Limited Biodegradation at Low Concentrations-Evidence from Reactive Transport Modeling of Isotope Profiles in a Bench-Scale Aquifer. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:7386-7397. [PMID: 33970610 PMCID: PMC8173607 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c08566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Organic contaminant degradation by suspended bacteria in chemostats has shown that isotope fractionation decreases dramatically when pollutant concentrations fall below the (half-saturation) Monod constant. This masked isotope fractionation implies that membrane transfer is slow relative to the enzyme turnover at μg L-1 substrate levels. Analogous evidence of mass transfer as a bottleneck for biodegradation in aquifer settings, where microbes are attached to the sediment, is lacking. A quasi-two-dimensional flow-through sediment microcosm/tank system enabled us to study the aerobic degradation of 2,6-dichlorobenzamide (BAM), while collecting sufficient samples at the outlet for compound-specific isotope analysis. By feeding an anoxic BAM solution through the center inlet port and dissolved oxygen (DO) above and below, strong transverse concentration cross-gradients of BAM and DO yielded zones of low (μg L-1) steady-state concentrations. We were able to simulate the profiles of concentrations and isotope ratios of the contaminant plume using a reactive transport model that accounted for a mass-transfer limitation into bacterial cells, where apparent isotope enrichment factors *ε decreased strongly below concentrations around 600 μg/L BAM. For the biodegradation of organic micropollutants, mass transfer into the cell emerges as a bottleneck, specifically at low (μg L-1) concentrations. Neglecting this effect when interpreting isotope ratios at field sites may lead to a significant underestimation of biodegradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengchao Sun
- Institute
of Groundwater Ecology, Helmholtz Zentrum
München, Ingolstädter
Landstrasse 1, Neuherberg 85764, Germany
- Chair
of Analytical Chemistry and Water Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Marchioninistrasse 17, Munich 81377, Germany
| | - Adrian Mellage
- Center
for Applied Geoscience, University of Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstrasse 94−96, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Mehdi Gharasoo
- Institute
of Groundwater Ecology, Helmholtz Zentrum
München, Ingolstädter
Landstrasse 1, Neuherberg 85764, Germany
- Department
of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Ecohydrology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Aileen Melsbach
- Institute
of Groundwater Ecology, Helmholtz Zentrum
München, Ingolstädter
Landstrasse 1, Neuherberg 85764, Germany
- Chair
of Analytical Chemistry and Water Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Marchioninistrasse 17, Munich 81377, Germany
| | - Xin Cao
- Joint
Mass Spectrometry Centre, Comprehensive
Molecular Analytics (CMA) Cooperation Group Helmholtz Zentrum, Gmunderstrasse 37, Munich 81379, Germany
| | - Ralf Zimmermann
- Joint
Mass Spectrometry Centre, Comprehensive
Molecular Analytics (CMA) Cooperation Group Helmholtz Zentrum, Gmunderstrasse 37, Munich 81379, Germany
| | - Christian Griebler
- Department
of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Martin Thullner
- Department
of Environmental Microbiology, UFZ—Helmholtz
Centre for Environmental Research, Permoserstrasse 15, Leipzig 30418, Germany
| | - Olaf A. Cirpka
- Center
for Applied Geoscience, University of Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstrasse 94−96, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Martin Elsner
- Institute
of Groundwater Ecology, Helmholtz Zentrum
München, Ingolstädter
Landstrasse 1, Neuherberg 85764, Germany
- Chair
of Analytical Chemistry and Water Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Marchioninistrasse 17, Munich 81377, Germany
- Phone: +49 89 2180-78232
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9
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Yang L, Hnatko JP, Elsey JL, Christ JA, Pennell KD, Cápiro NL, Abriola LM. Exploration of processes governing microbial reductive dechlorination in a heterogeneous aquifer flow cell. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 193:116842. [PMID: 33545437 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.116842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Although microbial reductive dechlorination (MRD) has proven to be an effective approach for in situ treatment of chlorinated ethenes, field implementation of this technology is complicated by many factors, including subsurface heterogeneity, electron donor availability, and distribution of microbial populations. This work presents a coupled experimental and mathematical modeling study designed to explore the influence of heterogeneity on MRD and to assess the suitability of microcosm-derived rate parameters for modeling complex heterogeneous systems. A Monod-based model is applied to simulate a bioremediation experiment conducted in a laboratory-scale aquifer cell packed with aquifer material from the Commerce Street Superfund site in Williston, VT. Results reveal that (uncalibrated) model application of microcosm-derived dechlorination and microbial growth rates for transformation of trichloroethene (TCE), cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cis-DCE), and vinyl chloride (VC) reproduced observed aquifer cell concentration levels and trends. Mean relative errors between predicted and measured effluent concentrations were quantified as 6.7%, 27.0%, 41.5%, 32.0% and 21.6% over time for TCE, cis-DCE, VC, ethene and total volatile fatty acids (fermentable electron donor substrate and carbon source), respectively. The time-averaged extent of MRD (i.e., ethene formation) was well-predicted (4% underprediction), with modeled MRD exhibiting increased deviation from measured values under electron donor limiting conditions (maximum discrepancy of 14%). In contrast, simulations employing a homogeneous (uniform flow) domain resulted in underprediction of MRD extent by an average of 13%, with a maximum discrepancy of 45%. Model sensitivity analysis suggested that trace amounts of natural dissolved organic carbon served as an important fermentable substrate, providing up to 69% of the reducing equivalents consumed for MRD under donor-limiting conditions. Aquifer cell port concentration data and model simulations revealed that ethene formation varied spatially within the domain and was associated with regions of longer residence times. These results demonstrate the strong influence of subsurface heterogeneity on the accuracy of MRD predictions, and highlight the importance of subsurface characterization and the incorporation of flow field uncertainty in model applications for successful design and assessment of in situ bioremediation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lurong Yang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jason P Hnatko
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, USA; ERM, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jack L Elsey
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Kurt D Pennell
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Natalie L Cápiro
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA
| | - Linda M Abriola
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, USA; School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
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10
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Lebon Y, Navel S, Moro M, Voisin J, Cournoyer B, François C, Volatier L, Mermillod-Blondin F. Influence of stormwater infiltration systems on the structure and the activities of groundwater biofilms: Are the effects restricted to rainy periods? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 755:142451. [PMID: 33017764 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142451] [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: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 09/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Stormwater infiltration systems (SIS) have been set up to collect and infiltrate urban stormwater runoff in order to reduce flooding and to artificially recharge aquifers. Such practices produce environmental changes in shallow groundwater ecosystems like an increase in organic matter concentrations that could drive changes in structure and functions of groundwater microbial communities. Previous works suggested that SIS influence groundwater physico-chemistry during either rainy and dry period but no study has examined the impact of SIS on groundwater microorganisms during both periods. This study aimed to fill this gap by assessing SIS impacts on groundwater quality parameters in three SIS with vadose zone thickness < 3 m during two contrasting meteorological conditions (rainy/dry periods). Physicochemical (dissolved organic carbon and nutrient concentrations) and microbial variables (biomass, dehydrogenase and hydrolytic activities, and bacterial community structure) were assessed on SIS-impacted and non-SIS-impacted zones of the aquifers for the three SIS. Using clay beads incubated in the aquifer to collect microbial biofilm, we show that SIS increased microbial activities, bacterial richness and diversity in groundwater biofilms during the rainy period but not during the dry period. In contrast, the significant differences in dissolved organic carbon and nutrient concentrations, biofilm biomass and bacterial community structures (Bray-Curtis distances, relative abundances of main bacterial orders) measured between SIS-impacted and non-SIS-impacted zones of the aquifer were comparable during the two periods. These results suggest that structural indicators of biofilm like biomass were probably controlled by long-term effects of SIS on concentrations of dissolved organic matter and nutrients whereas biofilm activities and bacterial richness were temporally stimulated by stormwater runoff infiltrations during the rainy period. This decoupling between the structural and functional responses of groundwater biofilms to stormwater infiltration practices suggests that biofilms functions were highly reactive to fluxes associated with aquifer recharge events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yohan Lebon
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR5023 LEHNA, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France.
| | - Simon Navel
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR5023 LEHNA, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Maylis Moro
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR5023 LEHNA, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Jérémy Voisin
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR5023 LEHNA, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France; Univ Lyon, UMR Ecologie Microbienne (LEM), Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS 5557, INRA 1418, VetAgro Sup, 69680 Marcy L'Etoile, France
| | - Benoit Cournoyer
- Univ Lyon, UMR Ecologie Microbienne (LEM), Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS 5557, INRA 1418, VetAgro Sup, 69680 Marcy L'Etoile, France
| | - Clémentine François
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR5023 LEHNA, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Laurence Volatier
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR5023 LEHNA, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Florian Mermillod-Blondin
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR5023 LEHNA, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
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11
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Hofmann R, Uhl J, Hertkorn N, Griebler C. Linkage Between Dissolved Organic Matter Transformation, Bacterial Carbon Production, and Diversity in a Shallow Oligotrophic Aquifer: Results From Flow-Through Sediment Microcosm Experiments. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:543567. [PMID: 33250862 PMCID: PMC7674671 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.543567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Aquifers are important reservoirs for organic carbon. A fundamental understanding of the role of groundwater ecosystems in carbon cycling, however, is still missing. Using sediment flow-through microcosms, long-term (171d) experiments were conducted to test two scenarios. First, aquifer sediment microbial communities received dissolved organic matter (DOM) at low concentration and typical to groundwater in terms of composition (DOM-1x). Second, sediments received an elevated concentration of DOM originating from soil (DOM-5x). Changes in DOM composition were analyzed via NMR and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS). Carbon production, physiological adaptations and biodiversity of groundwater, and sediment prokaryotic communities were monitored by total cell counts, substrate use arrays, and deep amplicon sequencing. The experiments showed that groundwater microbial communities do not react very fast to the sudden availability of labile organic carbon from soil in terms of carbon degradation and biomass production. It took days to weeks for incoming DOM being efficiently degraded and pronounced cell production occurred. Once conditioned, the DOM-1x supplied sediments mineralized 294(±230) μgC L−1sed d−1, 10-times less than the DOM-5x fed sediment communities [2.9(±1.1) mgC L−1sed d−1]. However, the overall biomass carbon production was hardly different in the two treatments with 13.7(±4.8) μgC L−1sed d−1 and 14.3(±3.5) μgC L−1sed d−1, respectively, hinting at a significantly lower carbon use efficiency with higher DOM availability. However, the molecularly more diverse DOM from soil fostered a higher bacterial diversity. Taking the irregular inputs of labile DOM into account, shallow aquifers are assumed to have a low resilience. Lacking a highly active and responsive microbial community, oligotrophic aquifers are at high risk of contamination with organic chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roland Hofmann
- Institute of Groundwater Ecology, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Jenny Uhl
- Research Unit Analytical Biogeochemistry, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Norbert Hertkorn
- Research Unit Analytical Biogeochemistry, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Christian Griebler
- Institute of Groundwater Ecology, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany.,Division of Limnology, Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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12
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The Role of Retardation, Attachment and Detachment Processes during Microbial Coal-Bed Methane Production after Organic Amendment. WATER 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/w12113008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Microbially enhanced coal-bed methane could allow for a more sustainable method of harvesting methane from un-mineable coaldbeds. The model presented here is based on a previously validated batch model; however, this model system is based on upflow reactor columns compared to previous experiments and now includes flow, transport and reactions of amendment as well as intermediate products. The model implements filtration and retardation effects, biofilm decay, and attachment and detachment processes of microbial cells due to shear stress. The model provides additional insights into processes that cannot be easily observed in experiments. This study improves the understanding of complex and strongly interacting processes involved in microbially enhanced coal-bed methane production and provides a powerful tool able to model the entire process of enhancing methane production and transport during microbial stimulation.
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13
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Column Experiments on Sorption Coefficients and Biodegradation Rates of Selected Pharmaceuticals in Three Aquifer Sediments. WATER 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/w12010014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The presence of pharmaceuticals in the environment, and in groundwater, has been recognized as a great environmental concern. Biodegradation and sorption are the main processes leading to the removal of contamination from the water phase. The aim of this study was to determine the transport processes of selected pharmaceuticals (antipyrine, atenolol, carbamazepine, caffeine, diclofenac, ketoprofen, sulfamethoxazole) in selected sediments (coarse sand, medium sand, sandy loam) in laboratory experiments. Moreover, the impact of flow velocities on the sorption and degradation rates of the selected compounds was studied. Column experiments were performed at three flow velocities, under abiotic and biotic conditions, applying conservative (bromide) and reactive tracers (pharmaceuticals). From the breakthrough curves, retardation factors and degradation rates were determined and the influence of variable flow conditions on transport parameters was evaluated. Low observed concentrations and recoveries of atenolol indicated a strong influence of sorption on its transport. Diclofenac, caffeine, and carbamazepine were also affected by sorption but to a lesser extent. Sulfamethoxazole, ketoprofen, and antipyrine were recovered nearly completely, indicating an almost conservative transport behavior. Biodegradation was small for all the compounds, as the results from biotic and abiotic column experiments were similar. Transport of the tested pharmaceuticals was not influenced by different flow velocities, as similar modelled degradation rates and retardation factors were found for all tested flow velocities.
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