Biodegradation of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and o-xylene by the bacterium Mycobacterium cosmeticum byf-4

Engineering green wall botanical biofiltration to abate indoor volatile organic compounds: A review on mechanisms, phyllosphere bioaugmentation, and modeling

Indoor air pollution affects the global population, especially in developed countries where people spend around 90% of their time indoors. The recent pandemic exacerbated the exposure by relying on indoor spaces and a teleworking lifestyle. VOCs are a group of indoor air pollutants with harmful effects on human health at low concentrations. It is widespread that plants can remove indoor VOCs. To this day, research has combined principles of phytoremediation, biofiltration, and bioremediation into a holistic and sustainable technology called botanical biofiltration. Overall, it is sustained that its main advantage is the capacity to break down and biodegrade pollutants using low energy input. This differs from traditional systems that transfer VOCs to another phase. Furthermore, it offers additional benefits like decreased indoor air health costs, enhanced work productivity, and well-being. However, many disparities exist within the field regarding the role of plants, substrate, and phyllosphere bacteria. Yet their role has been theorized; its stability is poorly known for an engineering approach. Previous research has not addressed the bioaugmentation of the phyllosphere to increase the performance, which could boost the system. Moreover, most experiments have studied passive potted plant systems at a lab scale using small chambers, making it difficult to extrapolate findings into tangible parameters to engineer the technology. Active systems are believed to be more efficient yet require more maintenance and knowledge expertize; besides, the impact of the active flow on the long term is not fully understood. Besides, modeling the system has been oversimplified, limiting the understanding and optimization. This review sheds light on the field's gains and gaps, like concepts, experiments, and modeling. We believe that embracing a multidisciplinary approach encompassing experiments, multiphysics modeling, microbial community analysis, and coworking with the indoor air sector will enable the optimization of the technology and facilitate its adoption.

Bioaerosols released from multistage biofilter for gaseous benzene removal: Escape behavior and pathogenicity

Biological deodorization systems are widely used to control odors and volatile organic compounds. However, the secondary contamination of bioaerosol emissions is a noteworthy issue in the operation of biofilters for off-gas purification. In this study, a multistage biofilter for benzene treatment was utilized to investigate the bioaerosol emissions under different flow rates and spray intervals. At the outlet of the biofilter, 99-7173 CFU/m3 of bioaerosols were detected, among which pathogens accounted for 8.93-98.73 %. Proteobacteria and Firmicutes dominated bioaerosols at the phylum level. The Mantel test based on the Bray-Curtis distance revealed strong influences of flow rate introduced to the biofilter and biomass colonized on the packing materials (PMs) on bioaerosol emissions. The non-metric multidimensional scaling results suggested a correlation between the bioaerosol community and bacteria on the PMs. Bacillus and Stenotrophomonas were the two main genera stripped from the biofilm on PMs to form the bioaerosols. SourceTracker analysis confirmed that microorganisms from the PMs near outlet contributed an average of 22.3 % to bioaerosols. Pathogenic bacteria carried by bioaerosols included Bacillus, Serratia, Stenotrophomonas, Achromobacter, Enterococcus, and Pseudomonas. Bioaerosols were predicted to cause human diseases, with antimicrobial drug resistance and bacterial infectious disease being the two main pathogenic pathways. Stenotrophomonas sp. LMG 19833, Pseudomonas sp., and Stenotrophomonas sp. were the keystone species in the bioaerosol co-occurrence network. Overall, results of present study promote the insight of bioaerosols, particularly pathogen emissions, and provide a basis for controlling bioaerosol contamination from biofilters.

Biodegradation of naphthalene - Ecofriendly approach for soil pollution mitigation

Naphthalene (NPT), a widely used household pest repellent and insecticide obtained from crude oil, serves as a toxic pollutant to non-target living matter. The stable and resistant nature of NPT makes it difficult to degrade through the physiochemical processes. The present study investigated the bacterial degradation of NPT isolated from crude oil-contaminated soil. Initially, the potent bacteria, Bacillus sp. GN 3.4, were isolated by enrichment culture method and subsequently assessed for NPT biodegradation. The optimum conditions for NPT biodegradation were pH 7.0 at 37 °C, 80 mg/L (initial NPT), 3% v/v (inoculum dose), and 7 days of treatment which showed 100% biodegradation. Furthermore, GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of degradation metabolites, namely, salicylate and hydroquinone indicating potential metabolic pathways. Considering the water-solubility and non-toxic nature of these metabolites, the results imply that Bacillus sp. GN 3.4. could potentially play a role in bioremediation by aiding in eliminating NPT from the soil.

Zinc and copper supplements enhance trichloroethylene removal by Pseudomonas plecoglossicida in water

The effects of two microelements, zinc and copper, on the aerobic co-metabolic removal of trichloroethylene (10 mg/L) by the isolate Pseudomonas plecoglossicida were investigated. The strain was previously isolated from a petroleum-contaminated site using toluene (150 mg/L) as substrate. Different concentrations (1, 10 and 100 mg/L) of microelements provided with SO42- and Cl- were tested. The results showed the supplement of Zn2+ and Cu2+ at the low concentration (1 mg/L) significantly enhanced cell growth. The removal efficiencies for toluene and trichloroethylene were also enhanced at the low concentration (1 mg/L) of Zn2+ and Cu2+. Compared to the control without zinc supplement, higher concentrations of zinc (10 and 100 mg/L) enhanced the removal efficiencies for both toluene and trichloroethylene in the first three days but showed some inhibitory effect afterward. However, the higher concentrations of Cu2+ (10 and 100 mg/L) always showed inhibitory to the toluene removal while showing inhibitory to the TCE removal after three days. For both Zn2+ and Cu2+, the anions SO42- and Cl- did not show significant difference in their effects on the toluene removal. A possible mechanism for Zn2+ and Cu2+ to enhance the removal of toluene and trichloroethylene would be their involvement in toluene oxygenase-based transformation processes. In addition, high concentrations of Zn2+ and Cu2+ ions could be removed from the liquid by the cells accordingly. The results imply a potential of supplementing low concentrations of zinc and copper to enhance bioremediation of the sites co-contaminated with toluene and trichloroethylene.

Boosting o-xylene removal and power generation in an airlift microbial fuel cell system

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are widely acknowledged to be a promising eco-friendly abatement technology of pollutants, and are capable of generating electricity. However, the poor mass transfer and reaction rate in MFCs significantly decrease their treatment capacity for contaminants, especially hydrophobic substances. The present work developed a novel MFC integrated with an airlift (ALR) reactor using a polypyrrole modified anode to promote the bioaccessibility of gaseous o-xylene and attachment of microorganisms. The results indicated that the established ALR-MFC system showed excellent elimination capability, with removal efficiency exceeding 84% even at high o-xylene concentration (1600 mg m^-3). The maximum output voltage of 0.549 V and power density of 13.16 mW m^-2 obtained by the Monod-type model were approximately twice and sixfold higher than that of a conventional MFC, respectively. According to the microbial community analysis, the superior performances of the ALR-MFC in terms of o-xylene removal and power generation were mainly ascribed to the enrichment of degrader (i.e. Shinella) and electrochemical active bacteria (i.e. Proteiniphilum). Moreover, the electricity generation of the ALR-MFC did not decrease at a high O₂ concentration, as O₂ was conducive to o-xylene degradation and electron release. The supplication of an external carbon source such as sodium acetate (NaAc) was conducive to increasing output voltage and coulombic efficiency. The electrochemical analysis revealed that released electrons can be transmitted with the action of NADH dehydrogenase to OmcZ, OmcS, and OmcA outer membrane proteins via a direct or indirect pathway, and ended up transferring to the anode directly.

New insights into the bioremediation of petroleum contaminants: A systematic review

Petroleum product is an essential resource for energy, that has been exploited by wide range of industries and regular life. A carbonaceous contamination of marine and terrestrial environments caused by errant runoffs of consequential petroleum-derived contaminants. Additionally, petroleum hydrocarbons can have adverse effects on human health and global ecosystems and also have negative demographic consequences in petroleum industries. Key contaminants of petroleum products, primarily includes aliphatic hydrocarbons, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), resins, and asphaltenes. On environmental interaction, these pollutants result in ecotoxicity as well as human toxicity. Oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, DNA mutations, and protein dysfunction are a few key causative mechanisms behind the toxic impacts. Henceforth, it becomes very evident to have certain remedial strategies which could help on eliminating these xenobiotics from the environment. This brings the efficacious application of bioremediation to remove or degrade pollutants from the ecosystems. In the recent scenario, extensive research and experimentation have been implemented towards bio-benign remediation of these petroleum-based pollutants, aiming to reduce the load of these toxic molecules in the environment. This review gives a detailed overview of petroleum pollutants, and their toxicity. Methods used for degrading them in the environment using microbes, periphytes, phyto-microbial interactions, genetically modified organisms, and nano-microbial remediation. All of these methods could have a significant impact on environmental management.

Construction and function of a high-efficient synthetic bacterial consortium to degrade aromatic VOCs

Aromatic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a type of common pollution form in chemical contaminated sites. In this study, seven aromatic VOCs such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, chlorobenzene, m-xylene, p-chlorotoluene and p-chlorotrifluorotoluene were used as the only carbon source, and four strains of highly efficient degrading bacteria were screened from the soil of chemical contaminated sites, then the synthetic bacterial consortium was constructed after mixing with an existing functional strain (Bacillus benzoevorans) preserved in the laboratory. After that, the synthetic bacterial consortium was used to explore the degradation effect of simulated aromatic VOCs polluted wastewater. The results showed that the functional bacterium could metabolize with aromatic VOCs as the only carbon source and energy. Meanwhile, the growth of the synthetic bacterial consortium increased with the additional carbon resources and the alternative of organic nitrogen source. Ultimately, the applicability of the synthetic bacterial consortium in organic contaminated sites was explored through the study of broad-spectrum activity.

Biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons based pollutants in contaminated soil by exogenous effective microorganisms and indigenous microbiome

Microbial remediation is an eco-friendly and promising approach for the restoration of sites contaminated by petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs). The degradation of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs), semi volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of the soil samples collected from a petrochemical site by indigenous microbiome and exogenous microbes (Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATCC 204508/S288c, Candida utilis AS2.281, Rhodotorula benthica CBS9124, Lactobacillus plantarum S1L6, Bacillus thuringiensis GDMCC1.817) was evaluated. Community structure and function of soil microbiome and the mechanism involved in degradation were also revealed. After bioremediation for two weeks, the concentration of TPHs in soil samples was reduced from 17,800 to 13,100 mg/kg. The biodegradation efficiencies of naphthalene, benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, dibenzo[a,h]anthracene, 1,2,3-trichloropropane, 1,2-dichloropropane, ethylbenzene and benzene in soil samples with the addition of S. cerevisiae were 38.0%, 35.7%, 36.2%, 40.4%, 33.6%, 36.2%, 12.0%, 43.9%, 43.3% and 43.0%, respectively. The microbial diversity and community structure were improved during the biodegradation process. S. cerevisiae supplemented soil samples exhibited the highest relative abundance of the genus Acinetobacter for bacteria and Saccharomyces for yeast. The findings offer insight into the correlation between microbes and the degradation of PHC-based pollutants during the bioremediation process.

A systematic review on mitigation of common indoor air pollutants using plant-based methods: a phytoremediation approach

Environmental pollution, especially indoor air pollution, has become a global issue and affects nearly all domains of life. Being both natural and anthropogenic substances, indoor air pollutants lead to the deterioration of the ecosystem and have a negative impact on human health. Cost-effective plant-based approaches can help to improve indoor air quality (IAQ), regulate temperature, and protect humans from potential health risks. Thus, in this review, we have highlighted the common indoor air pollutants and their mitigation through plant-based approaches. Potted plants, green walls, and their combination with bio-filtration are such emerging approaches that can efficiently purify the indoor air. Moreover, we have discussed the pathways or mechanisms of phytoremediation, which involve the aerial parts of the plants (phyllosphere), growth media, and roots along with their associated microorganisms (rhizosphere). In conclusion, plants and their associated microbial communities can be key solutions for reducing indoor air pollution. However, there is a dire need to explore advanced omics technologies to get in-depth knowledge of the molecular mechanisms associated with plant-based reduction of indoor air pollutants.

Wheat straw return can lead to biogenic toluene emissions

As a common practice in agricultural system, straw return has been reported to release a large number of trace gases and attracted much attention. However, the role of straw return in toluene emission remains poorly understood. In this study we measured the emissions of toluene as well as other 50 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from wheat straw return for 66 days under flooded and non-flooded conditions, respectively. The results showed that substantial toluene was released from the returned wheat straw particularly under flooded condition, and primarily derived from the secondary product. Toluene emissions from the returned wheat straw were 36.8 and 8.45 mg C/kg, sharing 28.0% and 8.6% of total VOCs released, and over 90% of toluene emissions occurred between days 24-56 and 0-17 under flooded and non-flooded conditions, respectively. The emission rates of toluene were relatively high but decreased sharply at the beginning 2 days, and then was steady until 24 days under the two moisture conditions. After the initial decrease these rose again to form one "peak emission window" between days 24-56 under flooded condition, while these were still very low and steady until the end under non-flooded condition. The toluene emission rates significantly positively correlated with microbial biomass C under flooded condition, but negatively associated with bacteria and fungus number, microbial biomass C, and CO₂ flux under non-flooded condition, suggesting that microorganism might play an important role in toluene emissions from wheat straw return. A rough estimate indicated that straw return might be important for biogenic toluene.

Fate, toxicity and effect of triclocarban on the microbial community in wastewater treatment systems

Triclocarban (TCC), one of the typical antimicrobial agents, is a contaminant of emerging concern commonly found in high concentration in water environments. However, the fate and toxicity of TCC in wastewater treatment systems remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated how TCC impacts chemical oxygen demand and inorganic nitrogen transformation in a hydrolytic anaerobic-anoxic/oxic process. In the anaerobic section, the transformation of TCC was dominated by reductive dechlorination and supplemented by two amid bonds hydrolysis. In the anoxic and oxic sections, the hydrolysis of amid bonds dominated. The toxicity was reduced after the treatment (IC₅₀ from 0.09 to 0.54). TCC inhibited NH₄⁺-N removal in the anaerobic section and led to the NO₃^--N accumulation (2.84-4.13 mg/L) after treatment, with the abundance of N-removal bacteria decreased by 6%. Furthermore, the original ecological niche was gradually replaced by TCC-resistant/degradative bacteria, formating new microbial modules to resist the TCC stress. Importantly, fourteen genera including Methanosaeta, Longilinea, Dokdonella and Mycobacterium as potential bioindicators warning TCC and its intermediates were proposed. Overall, this study provides new insights into the fate of TCC in biological wastewater treatment systems and suggests a great importance for TCC control to ensure the health and resilience of ecosystems.

Study on Gaseous Chlorobenzene Treatment by a Bio-Trickling Filter: Degradation Mechanism and Microbial Community

Large-flow waste gas generated from the pharmaceutical and chemical industry usually contains low concentrations of VOCs (volatile organic compounds), and it is also the key factor that presents challenges in terms of disposal. To date, due to the limitations of mass transfer rate and microbial degradation ability, the degradation performance of VOCs using the biological method has not been ideal. Therefore, in this study, the sludge from a chlorobenzene-containing wastewater treatment plant was inoculated into our experimental bio-trickling filter (BTF) to explore the feasibility of domestication and degradation of gaseous chlorobenzene by highly active microorganisms. The kinetics of its mass transfer reaction and microbial community dynamics were also discussed. Moreover, the main process parameters of BTF for chlorobenzene degradation were optimized. The results showed that the degradation effect of chlorobenzene reached more than 85% at an inlet concentration of chlorobenzene 700 mg·m−3, oxygen concentration of 10%, and an empty bed retention time (EBRT) of 80 s. The mass transfer kinetic analysis indicated that the process of chlorobenzene degradation in the BTF occurred between the zero-stage reaction and the first-stage reaction. This BTF contributed significantly to the biodegradability of chlorobenzene, overcoming the limitation of gas-to-liquid/solid mass transfer of chlorobenzene. The analysis of the species diversity showed that Thermomonas, Petrimona, Comana, and Ottowia were typical organic-matter-degrading bacteria that degraded chlorobenzene efficiently with xylene present.

Microbial bioremediation of produced water under different redox conditions in marine sediments

The discharge of produced water from offshore oil platforms is an emerging concern due to its potential adverse effects on marine ecosystems. In this study, we investigated the feasibility and capability of using marine sediments for the bioremediation of produced water. We utilized a combination of porewater and solid phase analysis in a series of sediment batch incubations amended with produced water and synthetic produced water to determine the biodegradation of hydrocarbons under different redox conditions. Significant removal of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX) compounds was observed under different redox conditions, with biodegradation efficiencies of 93-97% in oxic incubations and 45-93% in anoxic incubations with nitrate, iron oxide or sulfate as the electron acceptor. Higher biodegradation rates of BTEX were obtained by incubations dominated by nitrate reduction (104-149 nmolC/cm³/d) and oxygen respiration (52-57 nmolC/cm³/d), followed by sulfate reduction (14-76 nmolC/cm³/d) and iron reduction (29-39 nmolC/cm³/d). Chemical fingerprint analysis showed that hydrocarbons were biodegraded to smaller alcohols/acids under oxic conditions compared to anoxic conditions with nitrate, indicating that the presence of oxygen facilitated a more complete biodegradation process. Toxicity of treated produced water to the marine copepod Acartia tonsa was reduced by half after sediment incubations with oxygen and nitrate. Our study emphasizes the possibility to use marine sediment as a biofilter for treating produced water at sea without extending the oil and gas platform or implementing a large-scale construction.

Long-term degradation of toluene and phenol in soil: Identification of transformation products and pathways via HRMS-based suspect and non-target screening

In this study, the long-term fate of toluene and phenol in the soil was investigated, and the transformation products (TPs) and pathways of these compounds were studied by a high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS)-based suspect and non-target screening approach for the first time, and 9 and 12 transformation products were identified for toluene and phenol, respectively in the lab-exposed soil samples. Salicylaldehyde, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, and benzaldehyde were identified in toluene-contaminated field soil samples for the first time, and the main mechanisms involved in the biodegradation and detoxification of toluene and phenol in soil were oxidation, carboxylation, dehydroxylation, and ring fission amongst others. 2-oxoglutarate, TP165-A, TP165-B, TP172, and TP195 were identified as novel phenol transformation products, while salicylaldehyde, 2-oxoglutarate, TP165-A, and TP165-B were identified as novel toluene transformation products, providing new possible evidence for additional degradation pathways, which could give new insights into the fate of toluene and phenol during the natural attenuation process in the environment. Finally, salicylaldehyde, 4-OH-benzaldehyde, and 4-OH-benzoic acid which were detected at Level 1 identification confidence were suggested as indicator chemicals of toluene and phenol exposure in the contaminated field.

Mass transfer and reaction simultaneously enhanced airlift microbial electrolytic cell system with high gaseous o-xylene removal capacity

To overcome the limitation of mass transfer and reaction rate involved in the biodegradation of gaseous o-xylene, the airlift reactor and microbial electrolysis cell were integrated to construct an airlift microbial electrolysis cell (AL-MEC) system for the first time, in which the bioanode was modified by polypyrrole to further improve biofilm attachment. The developed AL-MEC system achieved 95.4% o-xylene removal efficiency at optimized conditions, and maintained around 75% removal efficiency even while the inlet o-xylene load was as high as 684 g m^-3 h^-1. The existence of O₂ exhibited a competition in electrons with the bioanode but a positive effect on ring-opening process in the o-xylene oxidation. The limitation of mass transfer had been overcome as the empty bed resistance time in the range of 20-80 s did not influence the system performance significantly. The microbial community analysis confirmed the o-xylene degradation microbes and electroactive bacteria were the dominant, which could be further enriched at 0.3 V against standard hydrogen electrode. This work revealed the feasibility of the AL-MEC system for the degradation of o-xylene and similar compounds, and provided insights into bioelectrochemical system design with high gaseous pollution removal capacity.

Biodegradation of p-xylene-a comparison of three psychrophilic Pseudomonas strains through the lens of gene expression

p-Xylene is considered a recalcitrant compound despite showing a similar aromatic structure to other BTEXs (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene isomers). This study evaluated the p-xylene biodegradation potential of three psychrophilic Pseudomonas strains (Pseudomonas putida S2TR-01, Pseudomonas synxantha S2TR-20, and Pseudomonas azotoformans S2TR-09). The p-xylene metabolism-related catabolic genes (xylM, xylA, and xylE) and the corresponding regulatory genes (xylR and xylS) of the selected strains were investigated. The biodegradation results showed that the P. azotoformans S2TR-09 strain was the only strain that was able to degrade 200 mg/L p-xylene after 60 h at 15 °C. The gene expression study indicated that the xylE (encoding catechol 2,3-dioxygenase) gene represents the bottleneck in p-xylene biodegradation. A lack of xylE expression leads to the accumulation of intermediates and the inhibition of biomass production and complete carbon recovery. The activity of xylene monooxygenase and catechol 2,3-dioxygenase was significantly increased in P. azotoformans S2TR-09 (0.5 and 0.08 U/mg, respectively) in the presence of p-xylene. The expression of the ring cleavage enzyme and its encoding gene (xylE) and activator (xylS) explained the differences in the p-xylene metabolism of the isolated bacteria and can be used as a novel biomarker of efficient p-xylene biodegradation at contaminated sites.

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the Biopreparation in Combination with the Polymer γ-PGA for the Biodegradation of Petroleum Contaminants in Soil

Biodegradation is a method of effectively removing petroleum hydrocarbons from the natural environment. This research focuses on the biodegradation of aliphatic hydrocarbons, monoaromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and all three xylene isomers (BTEX) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as a result of soil inoculation with a biopreparation A1 based on autochthonous microorganisms and a biopreparation A1 with the addition of γ-PGA. The research used biopreparation A1 made of the following strains: Dietzia sp. IN133, Gordonia sp. IN138 Mycolicibacterium frederiksbergense IN53, Rhodococcus erythropolis IN119, Rhodococcus sp. IN136 and Pseudomonas sp. IN132. The experiments were carried out in laboratory conditions (microbiological tests, respirometric tests, and in semi-technical conditions (ex-situ prism method). The biodegradation efficiency was assessed on the basis of respirometric tests, chromatographic analyses and toxicological tests. As a result of inoculation of AB soil with the biopreparation A1 within 6 months, a reduction of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) (66.03%), BTEX (80.08%) and PAHs (38.86%) was achieved and its toxicity was reduced. Inoculation of AB soil with the biopreparation A1 with the addition of γ-PGA reduced the concentration of TPH, BTEX and PAHs by 79.21%, 90.19%, and 51.18%, respectively, and reduced its toxicity. The conducted research has shown that the addition of γ-PGA affects the efficiency of the biodegradation process of petroleum pollutants, increasing the degree of TPH biodegradation by 13.18%, BTEX by 10.11% and PAHs by 12.32% compared to pure biopreparation A1.

Construction of biotreatment platforms for aromatic hydrocarbons and their future perspectives

Aromatic hydrocarbons (AHCs) are one of the major environmental pollutants introduced from both natural and anthropogenic sources. Many AHCs are well known for their toxic, carcinogenic, and mutagenic impact on human health and ecological systems. Biodegradation is an eco-friendly and cost-effective option as microorganisms (e.g., bacteria, fungi, and algae) can efficiently breakdown or transform such pollutants into less harmful and simple metabolites (e.g., carbon dioxide (aerobic), methane (anaerobic), water, and inorganic salts). This paper is organized to offer a state-of-the-art review on the biodegradation of AHCs (monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (MAHs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)) and associated mechanisms. The recent progress in biological treatment using suspended and attached growth bioreactors for the biodegradation of AHCs is also discussed. In addition, various substrate growth and inhibition models are introduced along with the key factors governing their biodegradation kinetics. The growth and inhibition models have helped gain a better understanding of substrate inhibition in biodegradation. Techno-economic analysis (TEA) and life cycle assessment (LCA) aspects are also described to assess the technical, economical, and environmental impacts of the biological treatment system.

Dealing with complex contamination: A novel approach with a combined bio-phytoremediation strategy and effective analytical techniques

Phytoremediation is a sustainable technology capable of efficiently removing low or moderate contamination. However, complex pollution conditions can drastically reduce efficiency, as plants can show themselves sensitive to organic contaminants, growing slowly and thus impairing metals' absorption. In cases where the action of indigenous bacteria degrading hydrocarbons and promoting plant growth is not sufficient, more sophisticated strategies are necessary. This investigation aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a train of technologies that sees advanced phytoremediation in combination with other biological approaches to remediate soil from a disused industrial area contaminated by N-containing compounds, alkyl aromatic hydrocarbons, copper, and nickel. In particular, a stepwise procedure was used with a pre-treatment (landfarming and bioaugmentation), significantly affecting the soil's fertility, increasing germinability up to 85%, and allowing the plants to extract the metals adequately. Furthermore, with EDTA as a mobilizing agent, nickel absorption has increased up to 36% in Helianthus annuus and up to 88% in Zea mays. For copper, an increase of up to 262% in Helianthus annuus and up to 202% in Zea Mays was obtained. Analysis through Fourier-Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry highlighted the biodegradation of some of the N-containing compounds recording, after phytoremediation, a decrease of up to almost 90%. Metagenomic analysis of the soil showed a typical microbial population of oxidizing hydrocarbon strains with a prevalence of the Nocardiaceae family (43%). The results obtained appear to confirm the usefulness of the approach developed, and the employed cutting-edge analytical techniques allowed a top-notch characterization of the remediation scenario.

Comparative Performance Evaluation of Commercial Packing Materials for Malodorants Abatement in Biofiltration

Packing materials used in biofiltration of gaseous pollutants represent a key design parameter, as a proper selection might not only determine the adequate performance of the system but also its cost-effectiveness. This study systematically assessed and compared the performance of a conventional plastic carrier with that of two novel clay-based materials from SAINT GOBAIN for the abatement of a model odorous stream composed of H2S, methylmercaptan and toluene. The packing materials were tested in biotrickling filters, biofilters and a two-phase biotrickling filter. SAINT GOBAIN materials exhibited a higher adsorption potential under abiotic conditions, a higher buffer capacity and a superior performance compared to conventional plastic rings when implemented in biotrickling filters operating at gas residence times as low as 7.5 s. Among the materials tested in biofilters, Filtralite Air AC supported almost complete H2S and toluene removals at a gas residence time of 20 s, while successfully eliminating methylmercaptan at values of ~80%. Interestingly, under most of the conditions tested, clay-based materials also showed comparable pressure drop values than those of plastic rings.

BTEX biodegradation by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subsp. plantarum W1 and its proposed BTEX biodegradation pathways

Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and (p-, m- and o-) xylene (BTEX) are classified as main pollutants by several environmental protection agencies. In this study, a non-pathogenic, Gram-positive rod-shape bacterium with an ability to degrade all six BTEX compounds, employed as an individual substrate or as a mixture, was isolated. The bacterial isolate was identified as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subsp. plantarum strain W1. An overall BTEX biodegradation (as individual substrates) by strain W1 could be ranked as: toluene > benzene, ethylbenzene, p-xylene > m-xylene > o-xylene. When presented in a BTEX mixture, m-xylene and o-xylene biodegradation was slightly improved suggesting an induction effect by other BTEX components. BTEX biodegradation pathways of strain W1 were proposed based on analyses of its metabolic intermediates identified by LC–MS/MS. Detected activity of several putative monooxygenases and dioxygenases suggested the versatility of strain W1. Thus far, this is the first report of biodegradation pathways for all of the six BTEX compounds by a unique bacterium of the genus Bacillus. Moreover, B. amyloliquefaciens subsp. plantarum W1 could be a good candidate for an in situ bioremediation considering its Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status and a possibility to serve as a plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR).

Comparison and application of biofilter and suspended bioreactor in removing gaseous o-xylene

Two bioreactors, suspended-growth bioreactors (SPB) and biofilter (BF), were compared for the performances in removing gaseous o-xylene. Their efficiencies were investigated by varying the o-xylene loadings, gas flow rates, and gas-water ratios. High-throughput techniques were applied for the microbial populations assay. The conversion rate of carbon in o-xylene was calculated, and the relationship between biomass and removal efficiencies was also analyzed. Results indicated that both the SPB and BF could effectively treat gases containing o-xylene. The average removal efficiencies were 91.8% and 93.5%, respectively. The elimination capacity of the BF was much higher than that of the SPB when the intake load was below 150 g m^-3 h^-1. When the o-xylene loadings were over 150 g m^-3 h^-1, both the SPB and BF achieved similar o-xylene removal rates. The maximum elimination capacities were 28.36 g m^-3 h^-1 for the SPB and 30.67 g m^-3 h^-1 for BF. The SPB was more sensitive to the changes in the gas flow rate. Results of microbial assay indicated that bacteria e.g. Mycobacterium sp. and Rhodanobacter sp. might play important roles in removing o-xylene in the SPB, while the bacteria Pseudomonas sp., Sphingomonas sp., and Defluviicoccus sp., and the fungi Aspergillus sp. and Scedosporium sp., were the o-xylene degraders in the BF. The successful application of the integrated bioreactor in treating gases containing o-xylene exhausted from the electroplating plant indicated that the integration of SPB and BF could be an effective method for removing VOCs with Henry coefficient in the range of 0.01-1.

The pathways by which the marine diatom Thalassiosira sp. OUC2 biodegrades p-xylene, combined with a mechanistic analysis at the proteomic level

A marine diatom, Thalassiosira sp. OUC2, was isolated from natural seawater collected from Daya Bay, China. This diatom degraded 1.25-40 mg L^-1p-xylene within five days, at a removal efficiency exceeding 98%. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) analysis indicated that p-xylene was converted into 4-methylbenzyl alcohol, p-toluic acid, and p-cresol in the presence of strain OUC2. Meanwhile, proteomic analysis showed that, after exposure to p-xylene, several algal enzymes were significantly upregulated: including monooxygenase, alcohol dehydrogenase, benzaldehyde dehydrogenase, benzoate 1,2-dioxygenase, and catechol 2,3-dioxygenase. Moreover, ecotoxicological tests suggested that the intermediate metabolites were less toxic than the parent compound (p-xylene). Thalassiosira sp. OUC2 may thus be suitable for the remediation of p-xylene-contaminated marine environments.

Aerobic degradation of BTEX compounds by Streptomyces species isolated from activated sludge and agricultural soils

In this study, we tested the ability of Streptomyces to use for their growth benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and o-, m-, p-xylenes as sole source of carbon and energy. These bacteria were isolated from agricultural soils and activated sludge samples from a wastewater treatment plant. The results show that Streptomyces are capable of degrading at least one of the BTEX compounds. Among them, 3 isolates from activated sludge called (U, F and V) and a single isolate (SA13) isolated from an agricultural soil, can use as the sole source of carbon and energy, all of these BTEX compounds at concentrations of 1500 mg/L. Based on the analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence, two active strains were identified as Streptomyces fimicarius, Streptomyces cavourensis, Streptomyces flavogriseus and Streptomyces pratensis. These strains can be excellent candidates for the bioremediation of the telluric and aquatic sites polluted by these xenobiotics.

P, S. CF, A. G. Exploring the styrene metabolism by aerobic bacterial isolates for the effective management of leachates in an aqueous system

In the present study, the styrene metabolic profile of three aerobic bacterial isolates explored in a batch mode study. The isolates found application in the management of elachates in the waste dump yard. These three bacterial species have different origins and were studied as a single and mixed consortia. The Lysinibacillus strain M01 (from marine sources), Lysinibacillus strain WD03 (from a waste dump yard), and Pseudomonas strain BG07 (from bovine gut) were used in the present study. The styrene concentration was fixed in the range between 0.5 and 1.5 mL L⁻¹. The metabolites obtained upon microbial degradation were assessed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), UV-visible spectroscopy, and FTIR spectroscopy (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy). Furthermore, the genes (Sty A, B, C, D, and E) responsible for the degradation of styrene by the three abovementioned isolates were identified using PCR with respective designed primers. Instrumental analyses revealed the presence of phenylacetic acid (PAA) at significant levels in the growth medium after the scheduled experimental period and confirmed the metabolism of styrene by the chosen isolates. Compared to the case of individual cultures, the results of the mixed consortia support the metabolism of styrene at appreciable levels. The present study provides a suitable biological solution for the management of leachates containing styrene and a way to achieve industrially important chemicals (PAA) through a microbially mediated process.

Profile of the three potential aerobic bacterial isolates responsible for the metabolism of styrene.

Screening of Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds for Detection of Disease in Cattle: Development of Lab-scale Method

The primary hurdle for diagnosis of some diseases is the long incubation required to culture and confirm the presence of bacteria. The concept of using microbial VOCs as "signature markers" could provide a faster and noninvasive diagnosis. Finding biomarkers is challenging due to the specificity required in complex matrices. The objectives of this study were to (1) build/test a lab-scale platform for screening of microbial VOCs and (2) apply it to Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis; the vaccine strain of M. bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guérin; and M. kansasii to demonstrate detection times greater those typically required for culture. SPME-GC-MS was used for sampling, sample preparation, and analyses. For objective (1), a testing platform was built for headspace sampling of bacterial cultures grown in standard culture flasks via a biosecure closed-loop circulating airflow system. For (2), results show that the suites of VOCs produced by Mycobacteria ssp. change over time and that individual strains produce different VOCs. The developed method was successful in discriminating between strains using a pooled multi-group analysis, and in timepoint-specific multi- and pair-wise comparisons. The developed testing platform can be useful for minimally invasive and biosecure collection of biomarkers associated with human, wildlife and livestock diseases for development of diagnostic point-of-care and field surveillance.

Comparative genome sequencing and analyses of Mycobacterium cosmeticum reveal potential for biodesulfization of gasoline

Mycobacterium cosmeticum is a nontuberculous Mycobacterium recovered from different water sources including household potable water and water collected at nail salon. Individual cases of this bacterium have been reported to be associated with gastrointestinal tract infections. Here we present the first whole-genome study and comparative analysis of two new clinically-derived Mycobacterium sp. UM_RHS (referred as UM_RHS after this) and Mycobacterium sp. UM_NYF (referred as UM_NYF after this) isolated from patients in Indonesia and Malaysia respectively to have a better understanding of the biological characteristic of these isolates. Both strains are likely Mycobacterium cosmeticum as supported by the evidence from molecular phylogenetic, comparative genomic and Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) analyses. We found the presence of a considerably large number of putative virulence genes in the genomes of UM_RHS and UM_NYF. Interestingly, we also found a horizontally transferred genomic island carrying a putative dsz operon proposing that they may have potential to perform biodesulfization of dibenzothiophene (DBT) that may be effective in cost reduction and air pollution during fuel combustion. This comparative study may provide new insights into M. cosmeticum and serve as an important reference for future functional studies of this bacterial species.

Environmental Aspects of the Use of Hedera helix Extract in Bioremediation Process

This paper analyzes the impact of saponins from English ivy leaves on the properties of environmental bacterial strains and hydrocarbon degradation ability. For this purpose, two bacterial strains, Raoultella ornitinolytica M03 and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus M1B, have been used in toluene, 4-chlorotoluene, and α,α,α-trifluorotoluene biodegradation supported by Hedera helix extract. Moreover, theeffects of ivy exposition on cell properties and extract toxicity were investigated. The extract was found to cause minor differences in cell surface hydrophobicity, membrane permeability, and Zeta potential, although it adhered to the cell surface. Acinetobacter calcoaceticus M1B was more affected by the ivy extract; thus, the cells were more metabolically active and degraded saponins at greater amounts. Although the extract influenced positively the cells' viability in the presence of hydrocarbons, it could have been used by the bacteria as a carbon source, thus slowing down hydrocarbon degradation. These results show that the use of ivy saponins for hydrocarbon remediation is environmentally acceptable but should be carefully analyzed to assess the efficiency of the selected saponins-rich extract in combination with selected bacterial strains.

Structure and predictive functional profiling of microbial communities in two biotrickling filters treated with continuous/discontinuous waste gases

Two biotrickling filters were operated in continuous (BTF1) and discontinuous (BTF2) modes at a constant empty bed residence time of 60 s for 60 days. From day 60, the operation mode of each BTF was oppositely switched. Higher removal efficiencies of five aromatic pollutants were recorded with BTF1 (> 77.2%). The switch in the operation mode did not alter the removal performance of BTF1. Comparatively, BTF2 was not successfully acclimated in the discontinuous operation mode. Once the mode had been switched to continuous mode, the removal efficiencies of BTF2 on all pollutants increased drastically and finally exceeded the values observed in BTF1, with the single exception of p-xylene. Principle coordinate analysis and analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) showed that the structure of the microbial communities differed considerably between both BTFs (R = 1.000, p < 0.01) as well as before and after the switch in BTF2 (R = 0.996, p < 0.01). The random forest model demonstrated that Mycobacterium, Burkholderia, and Comamonas were the three most important bacterial genera contributing to the differences in microbial communities between the two BTFs. Metagenomics inferred by PICUSt (phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states) indicated that BTF2 had high degradation potential for aromatic pollutants, although those genes involved in biofilm formation were less active in BTF2 than those in BTF1.

Petroleum Hydrocarbon-Degrading Bacteria for the Remediation of Oil Pollution Under Aerobic Conditions: A Perspective Analysis

With the sharp increase in population and modernization of society, environmental pollution resulting from petroleum hydrocarbons has increased, resulting in an urgent need for remediation. Petroleum hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria are ubiquitous in nature and can utilize these compounds as sources of carbon and energy. Bacteria displaying such capabilities are often exploited for the bioremediation of petroleum oil-contaminated environments. Recently, microbial remediation technology has developed rapidly and achieved major gains. However, this technology is not omnipotent. It is affected by many environmental factors that hinder its practical application, limiting the large-scale application of the technology. This paper provides an overview of the recent literature referring to the usage of bacteria as biodegraders, discusses barriers regarding the implementation of this microbial technology, and provides suggestions for further developments.

Nonionic surfactant enhanced biodegradation of m-xylene by mixed bacteria and its application in biotrickling filter

In this study, m-xylene biodegradation was examined in bacteria-water mixed solution and biotrickling filter (BTF) systems amended with the nonionic surfactant Tween 80. The mixed bacteria were obtained from the activated sludge of a coking plant through a multisubstrate acclimatization process. High-throughput sequencing analysis revealed that Rhodanobacter sp. was the dominant species among the mixed bacteria. In the bacteria-water mixed solution, the bacterial density increased with increasing Tween 80 concentration. Hence, Tween 80 could be utilized as substrate by the mixed bacteria. Tween 80, with concentrations of 50-100 mg L^-1, could enhance the bioavailability of m-xylene and consequently improve the degradation efficiency of m-xylene. However, further increasing the initial concentration of Tween 80 would decrease the degradation efficiency of m-xylene. At concentrations exceeding 100 mg L^-1, Tween 80 was preferentially degraded by the mixed bacteria over m-xylene. In BTF systems, when the m-xylene inlet concentration was 1200 mg m^-3 and the empty bed residence time was 20 sec, the removal efficiency and elimination capacity of BTF1 with Tween 80 addition were at most 20% and 24% higher than those of BTF2 without Tween 80 addition. Overall, the integrated application of the mixed bacteria and surfactant was demonstrated to be a highly effective strategy for m-xylene waste gas treatment.

IMPLICATIONS

The integrated application of mixed bacteria and surfactant was demonstrated to be a promising approach for the highly efficient removal of m-xylene. Surfactant can activate mixed bacteria to degrade m-xylene by increasing its bioavailability. Besides, surfactant can be utilized as carbon source by the mixed bacteria so that the growth of mixed bacteria can be promoted. It is expected that the integrated application of both technologies will become more common in future chemical industry.

Aerobic bacteria degrading both n-alkanes and aromatic hydrocarbons: an undervalued strategy for metabolic diversity and flexibility

Environmental pollution with petroleum toxic products has afflicted various ecosystems, causing devastating damage to natural habitats with serious economic implications. Some crude oil components may serve as growth substrates for microorganisms. A number of bacterial strains reveal metabolic capacities to biotransform various organic compounds. Some of the hydrocarbon degraders are highly biochemically specialized, while the others display a versatile metabolism and can utilize both saturated aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. The extended catabolic profiles of the latter group have been subjected to systematic and complex studies relatively rarely thus far. Growing evidence shows that numerous bacteria produce broad biochemical activities towards different hydrocarbon types and such an enhanced metabolic potential can be found in many more species than the already well-known oil-degraders. These strains may play an important role in the removal of heterogeneous contamination. They are thus considered to be a promising solution in bioremediation applications. The main purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the current knowledge on aerobic bacteria involved in the mineralization or transformation of both n-alkanes and aromatic hydrocarbons. Variant scientific approaches enabling to evaluate these features on biochemical as well as genetic levels are presented. The distribution of multidegradative capabilities between bacterial taxa is systematically shown and the possibility of simultaneous transformation of complex hydrocarbon mixtures is discussed. Bioinformatic analysis of the currently available genetic data is employed to enable generation of phylogenetic relationships between environmental strain isolates belonging to the phyla Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Firmicutes. The study proves that the co-occurrence of genes responsible for concomitant metabolic bioconversion reactions of structurally-diverse hydrocarbons is not unique among various systematic groups.

Mycobacterial Response to Organic Solvents and Possible Implications on Cross-Resistance With Antimicrobial Agents

Mycobacterium vaccae, a bacterium found in soil, has been receiving attention as adjuvant to antituberculosis treatment, vaccines and immunotherapies and even as antidepressant. This bacterium is also able to degrade several pollutants, including aromatic compounds. The increasing presence of organic solvents in the environment may lead to M. vaccae adapted populations. A possible relationship between solvent tolerance and decreased susceptibility to other types of chemicals, including antibiotics, may pose a problem during opportunistic infections. The present study thus aimed at assessing if solvent adapted cells presented higher tolerance to antibiotics and efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs). M. vaccae cells were able to thrive and grow in the presence of up 20% (v/v) glycerol, 5% (v/v) ethanol, 1% (v/v) methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and 0.1% (v/v) toluene. During adaptation to increasing concentration of ethanol and MTBE, the cells changed their fatty acid profile, zeta potential and morphology. Adapted cells acquired an improved tolerance toward the EPIs thioridazine and omeprazole, but became more susceptible to the antibiotics levofloxacin and teicoplanin when compared with non-adapted cells.

Optimization of non-thermal plasma efficiency in the simultaneous elimination of benzene, toluene, ethyl-benzene, and xylene from polluted airstreams using response surface methodology

Treatment with a non-thermal plasma (NTP) is a new and effective technology applied recently for conversion of gases for air pollution control. This research was initiated to optimize the efficient application of the NTP process in benzene, toluene, ethyl-benzene, and xylene (BTEX) removal. The effects of four variables including temperature, initial BTEX concentration, voltage, and flow rate on the BTEX elimination efficiency were investigated using response surface methodology (RSM). The constructed model was evaluated by analysis of variance (ANOVA). The model goodness-of-fit and statistical significance was assessed using determination coefficients (R ² and R ²_adj) and the F-test. The results revealed that the R ² proportion was greater than 0.96 for BTEX removal efficiency. The statistical analysis demonstrated that the BTEX removal efficiency was significantly correlated with the temperature, BTEX concentration, voltage, and flow rate. Voltage was the most influential variable affecting the dependent variable as it exerted a significant effect (p < 0.0001) on the response variable. According to the achieved results, NTP can be applied as a progressive, cost-effective, and practical process for treatment of airstreams polluted with BTEX in conditions of low residence time and high concentrations of pollutants.

Bacterial Degraders of Coexisting Dichloromethane, Benzene, and Toluene, Identified by Stable-Isotope Probing

Most bioremediation studies on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have focused on a single contaminant or its derived compounds and degraders have been identified under single contaminant conditions. Bioremediation of multiple contaminants remains a challenging issue. To identify a bacterial consortium that degrades multiple VOCs (dichloromethane (DCM), benzene, and toluene), we applied DNA-stable isotope probing. For individual tests, we combined a ¹³C-labeled VOC with other two unlabeled VOCs, and prepared three unlabeled VOCs as a reference. Over 11 days, DNA was periodically extracted from the consortia, and the bacterial community was evaluated by next-generation sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA gene amplicons. Density gradient fractions of the DNA extracts were amplified by universal bacterial primers for the 16S rRNA gene sequences, and the amplicons were analyzed by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) using restriction enzymes: HhaI and MspI. The T-RFLP fragments were identified by 16S rRNA gene cloning and sequencing. Under all test conditions, the consortia were dominated by Rhodanobacter, Bradyrhizobium/Afipia, Rhizobium, and Hyphomicrobium. DNA derived from Hyphomicrobium and Propioniferax shifted toward heavier fractions under the condition added with ¹³C-DCM and ¹³C-benzene, respectively, compared with the reference, but no shifts were induced by ¹³C-toluene addition. This implies that Hyphomicrobium and Propioniferax were the main DCM and benzene degraders, respectively, under the coexisting condition. The known benzene degrader Pseudomonas sp. was present but not actively involved in the degradation.

Toluene biodegradation in an algal-bacterial airlift photobioreactor: Influence of the biomass concentration and of the presence of an organic phase

The potential of algal-bacterial symbiosis for off-gas abatement was investigated for the first time by comparatively evaluating the performance of a bacterial (CB) and an algal-bacterial (PB) airlift bioreactors during the treatment of a 6 g m^-3 toluene laden air emission. The influence of biomass concentration and of the addition of a non-aqueous phase was also investigated. A poor and fluctuating performance was recorded during the initial stages of the experiment, which was attributed to the low biomass concentration present in both reactors and to the accumulation of toxic metabolites. In this sense, an increase in the dilution rate from 0.23 to 0.45 d^-1 and in biomass concentration from ∼1 to ∼5 g L^-1 resulted in elimination capacities (ECs) of 300 g m^-3 h^-1 (corresponding to removal efficiencies ∼ 90%). Microalgae activity allowed for a reduction in the emitted CO₂ and an increase in dissolved O₂ concentration in the PB. However, excess biomass growth over 11 g L^-1 hindered light penetration and severely decreased photosynthetic activity. The addition of silicone oil at 20% (on a volume basis) stabilized system performance, leading to dissolved O₂ concentrations of 7 mg L^-1 and steady ECs of 320 g m^-3 h^-1 in the PB. The ECs here recorded were considerably higher than those previously reported in toluene-degrading bioreactors. Finally, microbial population analysis by DGGE-sequencing demonstrated the differential specialization of the microbial community in both reactors, likely resulting in different toluene degradation pathways and metabolites production.

Biodegradation of lignin by fungi, bacteria and laccases

Indulin AT biodegradation by basidiomycetous fungi, actinobacteria and commercial laccases was evaluated using a suite of chemical analysis methods. The extent of microbial degradation was confirmed by novel thermal carbon analysis (TCA), as the treatments altered the carbon desorption and pyrolysis temperature profiles in supernatants. Laccase treatments caused only minor changes, though with increases occurring in the 850°C and char precursor fractions. After fungal treatments, lignin showed a similar change in the TCA profile, along with a gradual decrease of the total carbon, signifying lignin mineralization (combined with polymerization). By contrast, bacteria produced phenolic monomers without their further catabolism. After 54days of cultivation, a 20wt% weight loss was observed only for fungi, Coriolus versicolor, corroborating the near-80% carbon mass balance closure obtained by TCA. Compositional changes in lignin as a result of biodegradation were confirmed by thermal desorption (TD)-pyrolysis-GC-MS validating the carbon fractionation obtained by TCA.

Enhanced stable long-term operation of biotrickling filters treating VOCs by low-dose ozonation and its affecting mechanism on biofilm

For long-term operation of highly loaded biotrickling filters (BTFs), the prevention of excess biomass accumulation was essential for avoiding BTF failure. In this study, we proposed low-dose ozonation as a biomass control strategy to maintain high removal efficiencies of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) over extended operation of BTFs. To obtain an optimized biomass control strategy, the relative performance of five parallel BTFs receiving different ozone doses was determined, and the affecting mechanism of ozonation on biofilm was elucidated. Experimental results showed that the decline in ozone-free BTF performance began from day 150, which was correlated with excess biomass accumulation, abundant excretion of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and a decline in metabolic activity of biofilm over extended operation. Ozone of 5-10 mg m(-3) was effective in preventing excessive growth and uneven distribution of biomass, and eventually maintaining long-term stable operations. Ozone of over 20 mg m(-3) possibly inhibited microorganism growth severely, thereby deteriorating the elimination performance instead. Comparison of the biofilm EPS indicated that the presence of ozone reduce EPS contents to different extents, which was possibly beneficial for mass transfer and metabolic activity. Comparative community analysis showed that ozonation resulted in different microbial communities in the BTFs. Dyella was found to be the most abundant bacterial genera in all BTFs regardless of ozonation, indicating strong resistance to ozonation. Chryseobacterium and Burkholderia members were markedly enriched in the ozone-added biofilm, implying good adaptation to ozone presence. These findings provided an improved understanding of low-dose ozonation in maintaining a stable long-term operation of BTF.

Microcosm-based interaction studies between members of two ecophysiological groups of bioemulsifier producer and a hydrocarbon degrader from the Indian intertidal zone

Isolates were obtained from intertidal zone site samples from all five western and one eastern coastal states of India and were screened. These ecophysiological groups of aerobic, mesophilic, heterotrophic, sporulating, and bioemulsifier-producing bacteria were from Planococcaceae and Bacillaceae. This is the first report of bioemulsifier production by Sporosarcina spp., Lysinibacillus spp., B. thuringiensis, and B. flexus. In this group, Solibacillus silvestris AM1 was found to produce the highest emulsification activity (62.5 %EI) and the sample that yielded it was used to isolate the ecophysiological group of non-bioemulsifier-producing, hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria (belonging to Chromatiales and Bacillales). These yielded hitherto unreported degrader, Rheinheimera sp. CO6 which was selected for the interaction studies (in a microcosm) with bioemulsifier-producing S. silvestris AM1. The gas chromatographic study of these microcosm experiments revealed increased degradation of benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX) and the growth of Rheinheimera sp. CO6 in the presence of bioemulsifier produced by S. silvestris AM1. Enhancement of the growth of S. silvestris AM1 in the presence of Rheinheimera sp. CO6 was observed possibly due to reduced toxicity of BTX suggesting mutualistic association between the two. This study elucidates the presence and interaction between enhancers and degraders in a hydrocarbon-contaminated intertidal zone and contributes to the knowledge during application of the two in remediation processes.

Air-borne xylene degradation by Bougainvillea buttiana and the role of epiphytic bacteria in the degradation

The efficiency of xylene removal from contaminated air by thirteen perennial plants was studied. The results showed that Bougainvillea buttiana had the highest xylene removal efficiency. Different parts of B. buttiana such as stems, epicuticular waxes, and plant stomata (including microorganism-associated plant leaves) can uptake xylene 53.1±1.9%, 32.3±0.9, and 14.6±0.0%, respectively. Metabolite products found in treated plants may result from stress or defense compounds triggered by exposure to xylene. Moreover, possible degradation products in B. buttiana stems were analyzed after treatment with xylene at 100 ppm. Various metabolites in B. buttiana stems such as 2,6-dimethoxyphenol, 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxy benzoic acid, 1-isopropyl-4-methylbenzene, p-tolualdehyde, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylbenzaldehyde, 2,4-dihydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-3(2H)-furanone, 3-methyl-2-butenal, dihydroxy acetone, propanedial, and many organic acids are related to the xylene degradation pathway. In addition, microorganism-associated B. buttiana leaves especially Enterobacter cloacae LSRC11, Staphylococcus sp. A1 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa enhanced the plant resulting in quicker xylene removal.

Carbon and Hydrogen Stable Isotope Fractionation Associated with the Aerobic and Anaerobic Degradation of Saturated and Alkylated Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Saturated hydrocarbons (alkanes) and alkylated aromatic hydrocarbons are abundant environmental compounds. Hydrocarbons are primarily removed from the environment by biodegradation, a process usually associated with moderate carbon and significant hydrogen isotope fractionation allowing monitoring of biodegradation processes in the environment. Here, we review the carbon and hydrogen stable isotope fractionation associated with the cleavage of C-H bonds at alkyl chains of hydrocarbons. Propane, <i>n</i>-butane and ethylbenzene were used as model components for alkyl moieties of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons with emphasis on the cleavage of the C-H bond without the involvement of molecular oxygen. The carbon and hydrogen isotope fractionation factors were further used to explore the diagnostic potential for characterizing the mode of bond cleavage under oxic and anoxic conditions. &#x039B; factors, calculated to correlate carbon and hydrogen fractionation, allowed to distinguish between aerobic and anaerobic biodegradation processes in the environment.

Application of nitrate to enhance biodegradation of gasoline components in soil by indigenous microorganisms under anoxic condition

Anaerobic/anoxic biodegradation of hydrocarbons offers an attractive approach to the removal of these compounds from polluted environments such as aquifers, aquatic sediments, submerged soils and subsurface soils. The application of nitrate was investigated to accelerate the degradation of gasoline components such as mono-aromatic hydrocarbons and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in soil by indigenous microorganisms under anoxic condition. The addition of nitrate had little effect on the degradation of mono-aromatic hydrocarbons m- & p-xylene, o-xylene, sec-butylbenzene and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, but facilitated the degradation of TPH (C6-C12) and mono-aromatic hydrocarbons toluene and ethylbenzene markedly. Furthermore, the more nitrate added, the higher the percentage of toluene, ethylbenzene and TPH (C6-C12) degraded after 180 days of anoxic incubation. Microorganisms capable of degrading toluene, ethylbenzene and TPH (C6-C12) with nitrate as the electron acceptor under anaerobic/anoxic condition are composed predominantly of Alpha-, Beta-, Gamma- or Delta-proteobacteria. Beta- and Gamma-proteobacteria were the main components of indigenous microorganisms, and accounted for 83-100% of the total amount of indigenous microorganisms in soil used in this study. Furthermore, the total amount of indigenous microorganisms increased with nitrate added. The addition of nitrate stimulated the growth of indigenous microorganisms, and therefore facilitated the degradation of toluene, ethylbenzene and TPH (C6-C12).

Removal of trimethylamine (fishy odor) by C₃ and CAM plants

From screening 23 plant species, it was found that Pterocarpus indicus (C3) and Sansevieria trifasciata (crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM)) were the most effective in polar gaseous trimethylamine (TMA) uptake, reaching up to 90% uptake of initial TMA (100 ppm) within 8 h, and could remove TMA at cycles 1-4 without affecting photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry. Up to 55 and 45% of TMA was taken up by S. trifasciata stomata and leaf epicuticular wax, respectively. During cycles 1-4, interestingly, S. trifasciata changed its stomata apertures, which was directly induced by gaseous TMA and light treatments. In contrast, for P. indicus the leaf epicuticular wax and stem were the major pathways of TMA removal, followed by stomata; these pathways accounted for 46, 46, and 8%, respectively, of TMA removal percentages. Fatty acids, particularly tetradecanoic (C14) acid and octadecanoic (C18) acid, were found to be the main cuticular wax components in both plants, and were associated with TMA removal ability. Moreover, the plants could degrade TMA via multiple metabolic pathways associated with carbon/nitrogen interactions. In CAM plants, one of the crucial pathways enabled 78% of TMA to be transformed directly to dimethylamine (DMA) and methylamine (MA), which differed from C3 plant pathways. Various metabolites were also produced for further detoxification and mineralization so that TMA was completely degraded by plants.

Kenaf biomass biodecomposition by basidiomycetes and actinobacteria in submerged fermentation for production of carbohydrates and phenolic compounds

The efficiency and dynamics of simultaneous kenaf biomass decomposition by basidiomycetous fungi and actinobacteria were investigated. After 8weeks of incubation, up to 34wt.% of the kenaf biomass was degraded, with the combination of fungi and bacteria being the most efficient. Lignin decomposition accounted for ∼20% of the observed biomass reduction, regardless of the culture used. The remaining 80% of biomass degradation was due to carbohydrate based polymers. Major monosaccharides were produced in tangible yields (26-38%) at different times. Glucose, fructose and xylose were then fully consumed by day 25 while some galactose persisted until day 45. Once monosaccharides were depleted, the production of laccase, manganese-dependent peroxidase and lignin peroxidase enzymes, essential for lignin decomposition, was induced. The products of lignin biodecomposition were shown to be water-soluble and characterized by thermal desorption-pyrolysis-gas chromatography.