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Ren Y, Qi Y, Wang X, Duan X, Ye X. Effects of microplastics on litter decomposition in wetland soil. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 343:123145. [PMID: 38097161 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) may interfere with the primary ecological processes of soil, which has become a growing global environmental issue. In terrestrial ecosystems, litter decomposition is the main process of nutrient cycling, particularly for carbon (C) and nitrogen (N). However, how microplastic pollution could alter wetland litter decomposition has barely been investigated. Therefore, a 100-day lab-scale litter decomposition experiment was conducted using Shengjin Lake wetland soil, which was treated with two types of MPs (polyethylene, PE and polyvinyl chloride, PVC) at three concentrations (0.1%, 0.5%, and 2.5%, w/w), to explore if and how MPs accumulation could affect wetland litter decomposition processes. According to our research, the PE and PVC greatly slowed the decomposition rate of wetland litter. Compared with control treatments, the addition of MPs decreased litter quality (high C:N), reduced litter decomposition-related soil enzyme activity, decreased the diversity of bacteria, and altered microbial community structure and potential functional gene abundance linked to litter decomposition. These findings revealed that MPs could affect the main process of C and N cycling in wetland ecosystems, providing important cues for further research on the wetland ecosystem function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujing Ren
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecosystem Protection and Restoration, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, 230601, China
| | - Yueling Qi
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecosystem Protection and Restoration, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, 230601, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecosystem Protection and Restoration, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, 230601, China
| | - Xinyi Duan
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecosystem Protection and Restoration, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, 230601, China
| | - Xiaoxin Ye
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecosystem Protection and Restoration, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, 230601, China.
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2
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Garrison CE, Pachiadaki MG, Soliman S, Helfrich A, Taylor GT. Microbes and microplastics: Community shifts along an urban coastal contaminant gradient. Environ Microbiol 2024; 26:e16563. [PMID: 38151777 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Plastic substrates introduced to the environment during the Anthropocene have introduced new pathways for microbial selection and dispersal. Some plastic-colonising microorganisms have adapted phenotypes for plastic degradation (selection), while the spatial transport (dispersal) potential of plastic colonisers remains controlled by polymer-specific density, hydrography and currents. Plastic-degrading enzyme abundances have recently been correlated with concentrations of plastic debris in open ocean environments, making it critical to better understand colonisation of hydrocarbon degraders with plastic degradation potential in urbanised watersheds where plastic pollution often originates. We found that microbial colonisation by reputed hydrocarbon degraders on microplastics (MPs) correlated with a spatial contaminant gradient (New York City/Long Island waterways), polymer types, temporal scales, microbial domains and putative cell activity (DNA vs. RNA). Hydrocarbon-degrading taxa enriched on polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride substrates relative to other polymers and were more commonly recovered in samples proximal to New York City. These differences in MP colonisation could indicate phenotypic adaptation processes resulting from increased exposure to urban plastic runoff as well as differences in carbon bioavailability across polymer types. Shifts in MP community potential across urban coastal contaminant gradients and polymer types improve our understanding of environmental plastic discharge impacts toward biogeochemical cycling across the global ocean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cody E Garrison
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | | | | | - Anthony Helfrich
- School of Professional Development, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Gordon T Taylor
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
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3
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Antonioli R, de Faria Poloni J, Riveros Escalona MA, Dorn M. Functional response of microbial communities in lab-controlled oil-contaminated marine sediment. Mol Omics 2023; 19:756-768. [PMID: 37477619 DOI: 10.1039/d3mo00007a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Crude oil contamination is one of the biggest problems in modern society. As oil enters into contact with the environment, especially if the point of contact is a body of water, it begins a weathering process by mixing and spreading. This is dangerous to local living organisms' communities and can impact diversity. However, despite unfavorable conditions, some microorganisms in these environments can survive using hydrocarbons as a nutrient source. Thus, understanding the local community dynamics of contaminated areas is essential. In this work, we analyzed the 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and metatranscriptomic data of uncontaminated versus contaminated shallow marine sediment from publicly available datasets. We investigated the local population's taxonomic composition, species diversity, and fluctuations over time. Co-expression analysis coupled with functional enrichment showed us a prevalence of hydrocarbon-degrading functionality while keeping a distinct transcriptional profile between the late stages of oil contamination and the uncontaminated control. Processes related to the degradation of aromatic compounds and the metabolism of propanoate and butanoate were coupled with evidence of enhanced activity such as flagellar assembly and two-component system. Many enzymes of the anaerobic toluene degradation pathways were also enriched in our results. Furthermore, our diversity and taxonomical analyses showed a prevalence of the class Desulfobacteria, indicating interesting targets for bioremediation applications on marine sediment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regis Antonioli
- Center for Biotechnology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, 91501-970, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Joice de Faria Poloni
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, 90619-900, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | - Márcio Dorn
- Center for Biotechnology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, 91501-970, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology - Forensic Science, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Institute of Informatics, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, 91501-970, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
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Zhou Y, Zhu B, Yang T, Liu Y, Zhang KQ, Liu J. Hollow polyester/kapok/hollow polyester fiber-based needle punched nonwoven composite materials for rapid and efficient oil sorption. RSC Adv 2023; 13:27077-27087. [PMID: 37701279 PMCID: PMC10493646 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra03695b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Nowadays oil pollution poses a serious threat to the environment and people's daily life. As reusable and environmentally friendly materials, fiber-based oil sorption materials can effectively alleviate this phenomenon. However, maintaining a high sorption rate along with improved mechanical properties remains a challenge for oil sorption materials. Herein, we report a novel hollow PET/kapok/hollow PET nonwoven with high porosity and oil retention, outstanding cyclic oil sorption rate and improved mechanical performance using kapok as the oil preserver and hollow PET as the conductor and structure enhancer. Benefiting from the three-layer composite structure fabricated by carding and needle punching reinforcement, the resulting oil sorption materials, with kapok proportion more than or equal to 60%, exhibited high oil sorption rate and oil sorption speed. The materials of 20HP/60K/20HP component content present a high initial oil sorption rate of 28.22 g g-1, a maximum oil sorption rate of 31.17 g g-1 and a sorption rate constant of the Quasi second-order kinetic equation of 0.067 in plant oil. On the other hand, when the proportion of kapok fiber in the material was below 60%, due to the introduction of hollow PET, the mechanical properties were significantly boosted, and its oil retention and reusability were distinguished, with a reuse rate stabilizing at a relatively high level (>93%) in plant oil after undergoing three oil sorption cycles. The successful fabrication of hollow PET/kapok/hollow PET nonwovens could provide a new approach for the design and development of oil sorption materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxuan Zhou
- College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, Soochow University Suzhou 215123 China
| | - Borong Zhu
- College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, Soochow University Suzhou 215123 China
| | - Ting Yang
- College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, Soochow University Suzhou 215123 China
| | - Yuqing Liu
- College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, Soochow University Suzhou 215123 China
| | - Ke-Qin Zhang
- College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, Soochow University Suzhou 215123 China
| | - Jinxin Liu
- College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, Soochow University Suzhou 215123 China
- China National Textile and Apparel Council Key Laboratory for Silk Functional Materials and Technology, Soochow University Suzhou 215123 China
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Sun J, Li R, Wang X, Zhao C, Song Q, Liu F, Wang Z, Liu C, Zhang X. Marine oil spill remediation by Candelilla wax modified coal fly ash cenospheres. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 330:138619. [PMID: 37031841 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Biodegradable candelilla wax (CW) was creatively used for hydrophobic modification of coal fly ash cenospheres (FACs), a waste product from thermal power plants, and a new spherical hollow particulate adsorbent with fast oil adsorption rate and easy agglomeration was prepared. CW was confirmed to physically coat FACs and the optimum mass of wax added to 3 g of FACs was 0.05 g. From a series of batch scale experiments, CW-FACs were found to adsorb oil, reaching adsorption efficiency of 80.6% within 10 s, and aggregate into floating clumps which were easily removed from the water's surface. The oil adsorption efficiency was highly dependent on hydrophobicity of the used adsorbent, the adsorption of Venezuela oil onto CW-FACs was found to be a homogenous monolayer, and the capacity and intensity of the adsorption decreased as temperature increased from 10 to 40 °C. The Langmuir isotherm model was the best fit, with the maximum adsorption capacity achieved at 649.38 mg/g. CW-FACs were also found to be highly stable in concentrated acid, alkaline and salt solutions, as well as for spills of different oil products. Furthermore, the retention rate of the oil adsorption capacity of the CW-FACs after 6 cycles of adsorption-extraction was as high as 93.2%. Therefore, CW-FACs can be widely used, easily recycled, and reused for marine oil spill remediation, which is also a good alternative disposal solution for FACs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Sun
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, China.
| | - Ran Li
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, China
| | - Xiaoyang Wang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, China
| | - Chaocheng Zhao
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, China
| | - Quanwei Song
- State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Pollution Control, Beijing, 102206, China; CNPC Safety and Environmental Protection Technology Research Institute, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Fang Liu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, China
| | - Zihao Wang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, China
| | - Chunshuang Liu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, China
| | - Xiuxia Zhang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, China
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Vogel AL, Thompson KJ, Straub D, App CB, Gutierrez T, Löffler FE, Kleindienst S. Substrate-independent expression of key functional genes in Cycloclasticus pugetii strain PS-1 limits their use as markers for PAH biodegradation. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1185619. [PMID: 37455737 PMCID: PMC10338962 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1185619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbial degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons is a crucial process for the clean-up of oil-contaminated environments. Cycloclasticus spp. are well-known polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) degraders that possess PAH-degradation marker genes including rhd3α, rhd2α, and pahE. However, it remains unknown if the expression of these genes can serve as an indicator for active PAH degradation. Here, we determined transcript-to-gene (TtG) ratios with (reverse transcription) qPCR in cultures of Cycloclasticus pugetii strain PS-1 grown with naphthalene, phenanthrene, a mixture of these PAHs, or alternate substrates (i.e., no PAHs). Mean TtG ratios of 1.99 × 10-2, 1.80 × 10-3, and 3.20 × 10-3 for rhd3α, rhd2α, and pahE, respectively, were measured in the presence or absence of PAHs. The TtG values suggested that marker-gene expression is independent of PAH degradation. Measurement of TtG ratios in Arctic seawater microcosms amended with water-accommodated crude oil fractions, and incubated under in situ temperature conditions (i.e., 1.5°C), only detected Cycloclasticus spp. rhd2α genes and transcripts (mean TtG ratio of 4.15 × 10-1). The other marker genes-rhd3α and pahE-were not detected, suggesting that not all Cycloclasticus spp. carry these genes and a broader yet-to-be-identified repertoire of PAH-degradation genes exists. The results indicate that the expression of PAH marker genes may not correlate with PAH-degradation activity, and transcription data should be interpreted cautiously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjela L. Vogel
- Department of Geosciences, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, Institute for Sanitary Engineering, Water Quality and Solid Waste Management (ISWA), University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Katharine J. Thompson
- Department of Geosciences, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, Institute for Sanitary Engineering, Water Quality and Solid Waste Management (ISWA), University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Daniel Straub
- Quantitative Biology Center (QBiC), Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence: EXC 2124: Controlling Microbes to Fight Infection, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Constantin B. App
- Department of Geosciences, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Tony Gutierrez
- School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Frank E. Löffler
- Center for Environmental Biotechnology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
- Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Sara Kleindienst
- Department of Geosciences, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, Institute for Sanitary Engineering, Water Quality and Solid Waste Management (ISWA), University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
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7
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Wang X, Wang X, Wu F, Zhang J, Ai S, Liu Z. Microbial community composition and degradation potential of petroleum-contaminated sites under heavy metal stress. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 457:131814. [PMID: 37307728 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Total petroleum hydrocarbons (n-alkanes), semi-volatile organic compounds, and heavy metals pose major ecological risks at petrochemical-contaminated sites. The efficiency of natural remediation in situ is often unsatisfactory, particularly under heavy metal pollution stress. This study aimed to verify the hypothesis that after long-term contamination and restoration, microbial communities in situ exhibit significantly different biodegradation efficiencies under different concentrations of heavy metals. Moreover, they determine the appropriate microbial community to restore the contaminated soil. Therefore, we investigated the heavy metals in petroleum-contaminated soils and observed that heavy metals effects on distinct ecological clusters varied significantly. Finally, alterations in the native microbial community degradation ability were demonstrated through the occurrence of petroleum pollutant degradation function genes in different communities at the tested sites. Furthermore, structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to explain the influence of all factors on the degradation function of petroleum pollution. These results suggest that heavy metal contamination from petroleum-contaminated sites reduces the efficiency of natural remediation. In addition, it infers that MOD1 microorganisms have greater degradation potential under heavy metal stress. Utilizing appropriate microorganisms in situ may effectively help resist the stress of heavy metals and continuously degrade petroleum pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xusheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China
| | - Xiaonan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, PR China.
| | - Fan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, PR China
| | - Jiawen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, PR China
| | - Shunhao Ai
- The College of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330047, PR China
| | - Zhengtao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China.
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