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Ou C, Yuan S, Manabu F, Shi K, Elsamadony M, Zhang J, Qin J, Shi J, Liao Z. Insight into the mechanism of chlorinated nitroaromatic compounds anaerobic reduction with mackinawite (FeS) nanoparticles. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 471:134451. [PMID: 38691935 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134451] [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: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Anaerobic biotechnology for wastewaters treatment can nowadays be considered as state of the art methods. Nonetheless, this technology exhibits certain inherent limitations when employed for industrial wastewater treatment, encompassing elevated substrate consumption, diminished electron transfer efficiency, and compromised system stability. To address the above issues, increasing interest is being given to the potential of using conductive non-biological materials, e,g., iron sulfide (FeS), as a readily accessible electron donor and electron shuttle in the biological decontamination process. In this study, Mackinawite nanoparticles (FeS NPs) were studied for their ability to serve as electron donors for p-chloronitrobenzene (p-CNB) anaerobic reduction within a coupled system. This coupled system achieved an impressive p-CNB removal efficiency of 78.3 ± 2.9% at a FeS NPs dosage of 1 mg/L, surpassing the efficiencies of 62.1 ± 1.5% of abiotic and 30.6 ± 1.6% of biotic control systems, respectively. Notably, the coupled system exhibited exclusive formation of aniline (AN), indicating the partial dechlorination of p-CNB. The improvements observed in the coupled system were attributed to the increased activity in the electron transport system (ETS), which enhanced the sludge conductivity and nitroaromatic reductases activity. The analysis of equivalent electron donors confirmed that the S2- ions dominated the anaerobic reduction of p-CNB in the coupled system. However, the anaerobic reduction of p-CNB would be adversely inhibited when the FeS NPs dosage exceeded 5 g/L. In a continuous operation, the p-CNB concentration and HRT were optimized as 125 mg/L and 40 h, respectively, resulting in an outstanding p-CNB removal efficiency exceeding 94.0% after 160 days. During the anaerobic reduction process, as contributed by the predominant bacterium of Thiobacillus with a 6.6% relative abundance, a mass of p-chloroaniline (p-CAN) and AN were generated. Additionally, Desulfomonile was emerged with abundances ranging from 0.3 to 0.7%, which was also beneficial for the reduction of p-CNB to AN. The long-term stable performance of the coupled system highlighted that anaerobic technology mediated by FeS NPs has a promising potential for the treatment of wastewater containing chlorinated nitroaromatic compounds, especially without the aid of organic co-substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changjin Ou
- Nantong Key Laboratory of Intelligent and New Energy Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nantong University, Nantong 222100, China
| | - Sujuan Yuan
- Nantong Key Laboratory of Intelligent and New Energy Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nantong University, Nantong 222100, China
| | - Fujii Manabu
- Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, School of Environment and Society, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Meguro-Ku, Tokyo 152-8552, Japan
| | - Ke Shi
- Nantong Key Laboratory of Intelligent and New Energy Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nantong University, Nantong 222100, China
| | - Mohamed Elsamadony
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia; Interdisciplinary Research Center for Refining & Advanced Chemicals, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
| | - Juntong Zhang
- Nantong Key Laboratory of Intelligent and New Energy Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nantong University, Nantong 222100, China
| | - Juan Qin
- Nantong Key Laboratory of Intelligent and New Energy Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nantong University, Nantong 222100, China
| | - Jian Shi
- Nantong Key Laboratory of Intelligent and New Energy Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nantong University, Nantong 222100, China.
| | - Zhipeng Liao
- Nantong Key Laboratory of Intelligent and New Energy Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nantong University, Nantong 222100, China.
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2
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Yin X, Hua H, Dyer J, Landis R, Fennell D, Axe L. Degradation of chlorinated solvents with reactive iron minerals in subsurface sediments from redox transition zones. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 445:130470. [PMID: 36493644 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Reactive iron (Fe) mineral coatings found in subsurface reduction-oxidation transition zones (RTZs) contribute to the attenuation of contaminants. An 18.3-m anoxic core was collected from the site, where constituents of concern (COCs) in groundwater included chlorinated solvents. Reactive Fe mineral coatings were found to be abundant in the RTZs. This research focused on evaluating reaction kinetics with anoxic sediments bearing ferrous mineral nano-coatings spiked with either tetrachloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), or 1,4-dichlorobenzene (1,4-DCB). Reaction kinetics with RTZ sediments followed pseudo-first-order reactions for the three contaminants with 90% degradation achieved in less than 39 days. The second-order rate constants for the three COCs ranged from 6.20 × 10-4 to 1.73 × 10-3 Lg-1h-1 with pyrite (FeS2), 4.97 × 10-5 to 1.24 × 10-3 Lg-1h-1with mackinawite (FeS), 1.25 × 10-4 to 1.89 × 10-4 Lg-1h-1 with siderite (FeCO3), and 1.79 × 10-4 to 1.10 × 10-3 Lg-1h-1 with magnetite (Fe3O4). For these three chlorinated solvents, the trend for the rate constants followed: Fe(II) sulfide minerals > magnetite > siderite. The high reactivity of Fe mineral coatings is hypothesized to be due to the large surface areas of the nano-mineral coatings. As a result, these surfaces are expected to play an important role in the attenuation of chlorinated solvents in contaminated subsurface environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Yin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07032, USA
| | - Han Hua
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07032, USA; Department of Civil, Construction & Environmental Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - James Dyer
- Savannah River National Laboratory, Aiken, SC 29808, USA
| | | | - Donna Fennell
- Rutgers University, Department of Environmental Sciences, 14 College Farm Road, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Lisa Axe
- Otto H. York Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technzhaology, Newark, NJ 07032, USA.
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De Vera J, Chen W, Phillips E, Gilevska T, Morgan SA, Norcross S, West K, Mack EE, Lollar BS. Compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) evaluation of degradation of chlorinated benzenes (CBs) and benzene in a contaminated aquifer. JOURNAL OF CONTAMINANT HYDROLOGY 2022; 250:104051. [PMID: 35901656 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconhyd.2022.104051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) has become a valuable tool in understanding the fate of organic contaminants at field sites. However, its application to chlorinated benzenes (CBs), a group of toxic and persistent groundwater contaminants, has received less attention. This study employed CSIA to investigate the occurrence of natural degradation of various CBs and benzene in a contaminated aquifer. Despite the complexity of the study area (e.g., installation of a sheet pile barrier and the presence of a complex set of contaminants), the substantial enrichments in δ13C values (i.e., >2‰) for all CBs and benzene across the sampling wells indicate in situ degradation of these compounds. In particular, the 13C enrichments for 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (1,2,4-TCB) and 1,2-dichlorobenzene (1,2-DCB) display good correlations with decreasing groundwater concentrations, consistent with the effects of in situ biodegradation. Using the Rayleigh model, the extent of degradation (EoD) is estimated to be 47-99% for 1,2-DCB, and 21-73% for 1,2,4-TCB. The enrichments observed for the other CBs (1,4-DCB and chlorobenzene (MCB)) and benzene at the site are also suggestive of in situ biodegradation. Due to simultaneous degradation and production of 1,4-DCB (a major 1,2,4-TCB degradation product), MCB (from DCB degradation), and benzene (from MCB degradation), the estimation of EoD for these intermediate compounds is more complex but a modelling simulation supports in situ biodegradation of these daughter products. In particular, the fact that the δ13C values of MCB and benzene (i.e., daughter products of 1,2,4-TCB) are more enriched than the original δ13C value of their parent 1,2,4-TCB provides definitive evidence for the occurrence of in situ biodegradation of the MCB and benzene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joan De Vera
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, 22 Ursula Franklin Street, M5S 3B1, Ontario, Canada
| | - Weibin Chen
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, 22 Ursula Franklin Street, M5S 3B1, Ontario, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Phillips
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, 22 Ursula Franklin Street, M5S 3B1, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tetyana Gilevska
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, 22 Ursula Franklin Street, M5S 3B1, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | - Kathryn West
- AECOM, 1 Canal Rd, Pennsville, NJ 08023, United States
| | - E Erin Mack
- Corteva Agriscience, 974 Centre Road, Wilmington, DE 19805, United States
| | - Barbara Sherwood Lollar
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, 22 Ursula Franklin Street, M5S 3B1, Ontario, Canada.
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4
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Trueba-Santiso A, Palau J, Soder-Walz JM, Vicent T, Marco-Urrea E. Assessment of aerobic biodegradation of lower-chlorinated benzenes in contaminated groundwater using field-derived microcosms and compound-specific carbon isotope fractionation. J Environ Sci (China) 2022; 118:204-213. [PMID: 35305769 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2021.12.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Biodegradation of lower chlorinated benzenes (tri-, di- and monochlorobenzene) was assessed at a coastal aquifer contaminated with multiple chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons. Field-derived microcosms, established with groundwater from the source zone and amended with a mixture of lower chlorinated benzenes, evidenced biodegradation of monochlorobenzene (MCB) and 1,4-dichlorobenzene (1,4-DCB) in aerobic microcosms, whereas the addition of lactate in anaerobic microcosms did not enhance anaerobic reductive dechlorination. Aerobic microcosms established with groundwater from the plume consumed several doses of MCB and concomitantly degraded the three isomers of dichlorobenzene with no observable inhibitory effect. In the light of these results, we assessed the applicability of compound stable isotope analysis to monitor a potential aerobic remediation treatment of MCB and 1,4-DCB in this site. The carbon isotopic fractionation factors (ε) obtained from field-derived microcosms were -0.7‰ ± 0.1 ‰ and -1.0‰ ± 0.2 ‰ for MCB and 1,4-DCB, respectively. For 1,4-DCB, the carbon isotope fractionation during aerobic biodegradation was reported for the first time. The weak carbon isotope fractionation values for the aerobic pathway would only allow tracing of in situ degradation in aquifer parts with high extent of biodegradation. However, based on the carbon isotope effects measured in this and previous studies, relatively high carbon isotope shifts (i.e., ∆δ13C > 4.0 ‰) of MCB or 1,4-DCB in contaminated groundwater would suggest that their biodegradation is controlled by anaerobic reductive dechlorination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Trueba-Santiso
- Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Jordi Palau
- MAiMA group, SGR Applied Mineralogy, Geochemistry and Geomicrobiology, Department of Mineralogy, Petrology and Applied Geology, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Martí Franquès s/n, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jesica M Soder-Walz
- Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Teresa Vicent
- Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Ernest Marco-Urrea
- Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Bellaterra, Spain.
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5
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Gilevska T, Sullivan Ojeda A, Kümmel S, Gehre M, Seger E, West K, Morgan SA, Mack EE, Sherwood Lollar B. Multi-element isotopic evidence for monochlorobenzene and benzene degradation under anaerobic conditions in contaminated sediments. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 207:117809. [PMID: 34741903 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117809] [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: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Industrial chemicals are frequently detected in sediments due to a legacy of chemical spills. Globally, site remedies for groundwater and sediment decontamination include natural attenuation by in situ abiotic and biotic processes. Compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) is a diagnostic tool to identify, quantify, and characterize degradation processes in situ, and in some cases can differentiate between abiotic degradation and biodegradation. This study reports high-resolution carbon, chlorine, and hydrogen stable isotope profiles for monochlorobenzene (MCB), and carbon and hydrogen stable isotope profiles for benzene, coupled with measurements of pore water concentrations in contaminated sediments. Multi-element isotopic analysis of δ13C and δ37Cl for MCB were used to generate dual-isotope plots, which for 2 locations at the study site resulted in ΛC/Cl(130) values of 1.42 ± 0.19 and ΛC/Cl(131) values of 1.70 ± 0.15, consistent with theoretical calculations for carbon-chlorine bond cleavage (ΛT = 1.80 ± 0.31) via microbial reductive dechlorination. For benzene, significant δ2H (122‰) and δ13C (6‰) depletion trends, followed by enrichment trends in δ13C (1.6‰) in the upper part of the sediment, were observed at the same location, indicating not only production of benzene due to biodegradation of MCB, but subsequent biotransformation of benzene itself to nontoxic end-products. Degradation rate constants calculated independently using chlorine isotopic data and carbon isotopic data, respectively, agreed within uncertainty thus providing multiple lines of evidence for in situ contaminant degradation via reductive dechlorination and providing the foundation for a novel approach to determine site-specific in situ rate estimates essential for the prediction of remediation outcomes and timelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetyana Gilevska
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3B1, Canada; CNRS/EOST, ITES UMR 7063, Earth and Environment Institute of Strasbourg (ITES), University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, 67084, France
| | - Ann Sullivan Ojeda
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3B1, Canada; Department of Geosciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, United States
| | - Steffen Kümmel
- Department of Isotope Biogeochemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, UFZ, Leipzig, 04318, Germany
| | - Matthias Gehre
- Department of Isotope Biogeochemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, UFZ, Leipzig, 04318, Germany
| | - Edward Seger
- The Chemours Company, Wilmington, DE 19810, United States
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Ebrahimbabaie P, Pichtel J. Biotechnology and nanotechnology for remediation of chlorinated volatile organic compounds: current perspectives. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:7710-7741. [PMID: 33403642 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-11598-y] [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: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) are persistent organic pollutants which are harmful to public health and the environment. Many CVOCs occur in substantial quantities in groundwater and soil, even though their use has been more carefully managed and restricted in recent years. This review summarizes recent data on several innovative treatment solutions for CVOC-affected media including bioremediation, phytoremediation, nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI)-based reductive dehalogenation, and photooxidation. There is no optimally developed single technology; therefore, the possibility of using combined technologies for CVOC remediation, for example bioremediation integrated with reduction by nZVI, is presented. Some methods are still in the development stage. Advantages and disadvantages of each treatment strategy are provided. It is hoped that this paper can provide a basic framework for selection of successful CVOC remediation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parisa Ebrahimbabaie
- Department of Environment, Geology, and Natural Resources, Ball State University, Muncie, IN, 47306, USA
| | - John Pichtel
- Department of Environment, Geology, and Natural Resources, Ball State University, Muncie, IN, 47306, USA.
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7
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Dean RK, Schneider CR, Almnehlawi HS, Dawson KS, Fennell DE. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo- p-dioxin Dechlorination is Differentially Enhanced by Dichlorobenzene Amendment in Passaic River, NJ Sediments. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:8380-8389. [PMID: 32432863 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c00876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) are a class of toxic organic compounds released by a number of industrial processes. Sediments of the Passaic River in New Jersey are contaminated by these compounds. To explore the ability of native organohalide respiring bacteria to dechlorinate PCDDs, we first enriched bacteria from sediments of the Passaic River on two organohalides, trichloroethene (TCE) and 1,2-dichlorobenzene (DCB). We then used these enriched sediment cultures and original, unamended sediment as the inocula in a secondary experiment with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TeCDD), 1,2,3,4-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (1,2,3,4-TeCDD), and 2,7-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,7-DiCDD) as target organohalides. We observed dechlorination of 1,2,3,4-TeCDD by all inocula, although to different extents. We observed progressive dechlorination of 2,3,7,8-TeCDD only in bottles inoculated with the DCB enrichment culture, and dechlorination of 2,7-DiCDD almost exclusively in bottles inoculated with the original, unamended river sediment. Dechlorination of 1,2,3,4-TeCDD was more rapid than that of the other amended congeners. Phylotypes within the class Dehalococcoidia associated with organohalide dechlorination were differentially enriched in DCB versus TCE enrichment cultures, indicating that they may play a role in dechlorination of the PCDDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel K Dean
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University, 14 College Farm Road, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, United States
| | - Cassidy R Schneider
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University, 14 College Farm Road, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, United States
| | - Haider S Almnehlawi
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University, 14 College Farm Road, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, United States
- College of Science, Al-Muthanna University, Samawah, AL-Muthanna 66001 Iraq
| | - Katherine S Dawson
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University, 14 College Farm Road, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, United States
| | - Donna E Fennell
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University, 14 College Farm Road, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, United States
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Chow SJ, Lorah MM, Wadhawan AR, Durant ND, Bouwer EJ. Sequential biodegradation of 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene at oxic-anoxic groundwater interfaces in model laboratory columns. JOURNAL OF CONTAMINANT HYDROLOGY 2020; 231:103639. [PMID: 32283437 DOI: 10.7281/t1/i3ilxo] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2019] [Revised: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Halogenated organic solvents such as chlorobenzenes (CBs) are frequent groundwater contaminants due to legacy spills. When contaminated anaerobic groundwater discharges into surface water through wetlands and other transition zones, aeration can occur from various physical and biological processes at shallow depths, resulting in oxic-anoxic interfaces (OAIs). This study investigated the potential for 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (1,2,4-TCB) biodegradation at OAIs. A novel upflow column system was developed to create stable anaerobic and aerobic zones, simulating a natural groundwater OAI. Two columns containing (1) sand and (2) a mixture of wetland sediment and sand were operated continuously for 295 days with varied doses of 0.14-1.4 mM sodium lactate (NaLac) as a model electron donor. Both column matrices supported anaerobic reductive dechlorination and aerobic degradation of 1,2,4-TCB spatially separated between anaerobic and aerobic zones. Reductive dechlorination produced a mixture of di- and monochlorobenzene daughter products, with estimated zero-order dechlorination rates up to 31.3 μM/h. Aerobic CB degradation, limited by available dissolved oxygen, occurred for 1,2,4-TCB and all dechlorinated daughter products. Initial reductive dechlorination did not enhance the overall observed extent or rate of subsequent aerobic CB degradation. Increasing NaLac dose increased the extent of reductive dechlorination, but suppressed aerobic CB degradation at 1.4 mM NaLac due to increased oxygen demand. 16S-rRNA sequencing of biofilm microbial communities revealed strong stratification of functional anaerobic and aerobic organisms between redox zones including the sole putative reductive dechlorinator detected in the columns, Dehalobacter. The sediment mixture column supported enhanced reductive dechlorination compared to the sand column at all tested NaLac doses and growth of Dehalobacter populations up to 4.1 × 108 copies/g (51% relative abundance), highlighting the potential benefit of sediments in reductive dechlorination processes. Results from these model systems suggest both substantial anaerobic and aerobic CB degradation can co-occur along the OAI at contaminated sites where bioavailable electron donors and oxygen are both present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven J Chow
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Address: 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, United States
| | - Michelle M Lorah
- U.S. Geological Survey, MD-DE-DC Water Science Center, Address: 5522 Research Park Drive, Baltimore, MD 21228, United States.
| | - Amar R Wadhawan
- Arcadis U.S. Inc., Address: 7550 Teague Road Suite 210, Hanover, MD 21076, United States
| | - Neal D Durant
- Geosyntec Consultants, Address: 10211 Wincopin Cir Floor 4, Columbia, MD 21044, United States
| | - Edward J Bouwer
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Address: 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, United States
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Chow SJ, Lorah MM, Wadhawan AR, Durant ND, Bouwer EJ. Sequential biodegradation of 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene at oxic-anoxic groundwater interfaces in model laboratory columns. JOURNAL OF CONTAMINANT HYDROLOGY 2020; 231:103639. [PMID: 32283437 PMCID: PMC7217665 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconhyd.2020.103639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2019] [Revised: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Halogenated organic solvents such as chlorobenzenes (CBs) are frequent groundwater contaminants due to legacy spills. When contaminated anaerobic groundwater discharges into surface water through wetlands and other transition zones, aeration can occur from various physical and biological processes at shallow depths, resulting in oxic-anoxic interfaces (OAIs). This study investigated the potential for 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (1,2,4-TCB) biodegradation at OAIs. A novel upflow column system was developed to create stable anaerobic and aerobic zones, simulating a natural groundwater OAI. Two columns containing (1) sand and (2) a mixture of wetland sediment and sand were operated continuously for 295 days with varied doses of 0.14-1.4 mM sodium lactate (NaLac) as a model electron donor. Both column matrices supported anaerobic reductive dechlorination and aerobic degradation of 1,2,4-TCB spatially separated between anaerobic and aerobic zones. Reductive dechlorination produced a mixture of di- and monochlorobenzene daughter products, with estimated zero-order dechlorination rates up to 31.3 μM/h. Aerobic CB degradation, limited by available dissolved oxygen, occurred for 1,2,4-TCB and all dechlorinated daughter products. Initial reductive dechlorination did not enhance the overall observed extent or rate of subsequent aerobic CB degradation. Increasing NaLac dose increased the extent of reductive dechlorination, but suppressed aerobic CB degradation at 1.4 mM NaLac due to increased oxygen demand. 16S-rRNA sequencing of biofilm microbial communities revealed strong stratification of functional anaerobic and aerobic organisms between redox zones including the sole putative reductive dechlorinator detected in the columns, Dehalobacter. The sediment mixture column supported enhanced reductive dechlorination compared to the sand column at all tested NaLac doses and growth of Dehalobacter populations up to 4.1 × 108 copies/g (51% relative abundance), highlighting the potential benefit of sediments in reductive dechlorination processes. Results from these model systems suggest both substantial anaerobic and aerobic CB degradation can co-occur along the OAI at contaminated sites where bioavailable electron donors and oxygen are both present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven J Chow
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Address: 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, United States
| | - Michelle M Lorah
- U.S. Geological Survey, MD-DE-DC Water Science Center, Address: 5522 Research Park Drive, Baltimore, MD 21228, United States.
| | - Amar R Wadhawan
- Arcadis U.S. Inc., Address: 7550 Teague Road Suite 210, Hanover, MD 21076, United States
| | - Neal D Durant
- Geosyntec Consultants, Address: 10211 Wincopin Cir Floor 4, Columbia, MD 21044, United States
| | - Edward J Bouwer
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Address: 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, United States
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Gilevska T, Passeport E, Shayan M, Seger E, Lutz EJ, West KA, Morgan SA, Mack EE, Sherwood Lollar B. Determination of in situ biodegradation rates via a novel high resolution isotopic approach in contaminated sediments. WATER RESEARCH 2019; 149:632-639. [PMID: 30583106 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2018.11.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Revised: 11/06/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
A key challenge in conceptual models for contaminated sites is identification of the multiplicity of processes controlling contaminant concentrations and distribution as well as quantification of the rates at which such processes occur. Conventional protocol for calculating biodegradation rates can lead to overestimation by attributing concentration decreases to degradation alone. This study reports a novel approach of assessing in situ biodegradation rates of monochlorobenzene (MCB) and benzene in contaminated sediments. Passive diffusion samplers allowing cm-scale vertical resolution across the sediment-water interface were coupled with measurements of concentrations and stable carbon isotope signatures to identify zones of active biodegradation of both compounds. Large isotopic enrichment trends in 13C were observed for MCB (1.9-5.7‰), with correlated isotopic depletion in 13C for benzene (1.0-7.0‰), consistent with expected isotope signatures for substrate and daughter product produced by in situ biodegradation. Importantly in the uppermost sediments, benzene too showed a pronounced 13C enrichment trend of up to 2.2‰, providing definitive evidence for simultaneous degradation as well as production of benzene. The hydrogeological concept of representative elementary volume was applied to CSIA data for the first time and identified a critical zone of 10-15 cm with highest biodegradation potential in the sediments. Using both stable isotope-derived rate calculations and numerical modeling, we show that MCB degraded at a slower rate (0.1-1.4 yr-1 and 0.2-3.2 yr-1, respectively) than benzene (3.3-84.0 yr-1) within the most biologically active zone of the sediment, contributing to detoxification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetyana Gilevska
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3B1, Canada
| | - Elodie Passeport
- Department of Civil and Mineral Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A4, Canada; Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3E5, Canada
| | - Mahsa Shayan
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3B1, Canada
| | - Edward Seger
- The Chemours Company, Wilmington, DE, 19810, USA
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11
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Qiao W, Luo F, Lomheim L, Mack EE, Ye S, Wu J, Edwards EA. A Dehalogenimonas Population Respires 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene and Dichlorobenzenes. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2018; 52:13391-13398. [PMID: 30371071 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b04239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Chlorobenzenes are ubiquitous contaminants in groundwater and soil at many industrial sites. Previously, we demonstrated the natural attenuation of chlorobenzenes and benzene at a contaminated site inferred from a 5 year site investigation and parallel laboratory microcosm studies. To identify the microbes responsible for the observed dechlorination of chlorobenzenes, the microbial community was surveyed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Members of the Dehalobacter and Dehalococcoides are reported to respire chlorobenzenes; however, neither were abundant in our sediment microcosms. Instead, we observed a significant increase in the relative abundance of Dehalogenimonas from <1% to 16-30% during dechlorination of 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (TCB), 1,2-dichlorobenzene (DCB), and 1,3-DCB over 19 months. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) confirmed that Dehalogenimonas gene copies increased by 2 orders of magnitude with an average yield of 3.6 ± 2.3 g cells per mol Cl- released ( N = 12). In transfer cultures derived from sediment microcosms, dechlorination of 1,4-DCB and monochlorobenzene (MCB) was carried out by Dehalobacter spp. with a growth yield of 3.0 ± 2.1 g cells per mol Cl- released ( N = 5). Here we show that a Dehalogenimonas population respire 1,2,4-TCB and 1,2-/1,3-DCB isomers. This finding emphasizes the need to monitor a broader spectrum of organohalide-respiring bacteria, including Dehalogenimonas, at sites contaminated with halogenated organic compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Qiao
- Key Laboratory of Surficial Geochemistry, Ministry of Education; School of Earth Sciences and Engineering , Nanjing University , Nanjing 210023 , China
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry , University of Toronto , Toronto , Ontario M5S 3E5 , Canada
| | - Fei Luo
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry , University of Toronto , Toronto , Ontario M5S 3E5 , Canada
| | - Line Lomheim
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry , University of Toronto , Toronto , Ontario M5S 3E5 , Canada
| | - E Erin Mack
- DuPont Corporate Remediation Group , Wilmington , Delaware 19805 , United States
| | - Shujun Ye
- Key Laboratory of Surficial Geochemistry, Ministry of Education; School of Earth Sciences and Engineering , Nanjing University , Nanjing 210023 , China
| | - Jichun Wu
- Key Laboratory of Surficial Geochemistry, Ministry of Education; School of Earth Sciences and Engineering , Nanjing University , Nanjing 210023 , China
| | - Elizabeth A Edwards
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry , University of Toronto , Toronto , Ontario M5S 3E5 , Canada
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12
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Capozzi SL, Rodenburg LA, Krumins V, Fennell DE, Mack EE. Using positive matrix factorization to investigate microbial dehalogenation of chlorinated benzenes in groundwater at a historically contaminated site. CHEMOSPHERE 2018; 211:515-523. [PMID: 30086528 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.07.180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Revised: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 07/29/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Chlorinated benzenes are common groundwater contaminants in the United States, so demonstrating whether they undergo degradation in the subsurface is important in determining the best remedy for this contamination. The purpose of this work was to use a new data mining approach to investigate chlorinated benzene degradation pathways in the subsurface. Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) was used to analyze long-term measurements of chlorinated benzene concentrations in groundwater at a contaminated site in New Jersey. A dataset containing 597 groundwater samples and 5 chlorinated benzenes and benzene collected from 144 wells over 20 years was investigated using PMF2 software. Despite the heterogeneity of this dataset, PMF analysis revealed patterns indicative of microbial dechlorination in the groundwater and provided insight about where dechlorination is occurring, to what extent, and under which geochemical conditions. PMF resolved a factor indicative of a source of 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene and 1,2-dichlorobenzene and two factors representing stages of dechlorination, one more advanced than the other. The PMF results indicated that virtually all of the 1,2-dichlorobenzene at the site arises from its use onsite, not from the dechlorination of trichlorobenzenes. Factors were further interpreted using ancillary data such as geochemical indicators and field parameters also measured in the samples. Analysis suggested that the partial and advanced dechlorination signals occur under different subsurface physical conditions. The results provided field validation of the current understanding of anaerobic dechlorination of chlorinated benzenes in the subsurface developed from laboratory studies. PMF is thereby shown to be a useful tool for investigating chlorinated benzene dechlorination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Staci L Capozzi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States.
| | - Lisa A Rodenburg
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - Valdis Krumins
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - Donna E Fennell
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - E Erin Mack
- Corporate Remediation Group, E. I. DuPont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, DE, 19805, United States
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13
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Xie Y, Chen L, Liu R, Tian J. Reduction of AOX in pharmaceutical wastewater in the cathode chamber of bio-electrochemical reactor. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2018; 265:437-442. [PMID: 29935452 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2018.06.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Revised: 06/10/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
A bio-electrochemical reactor (BER) operating at different cathode potentials ranging from -300 to -1000 mV (vs standard hydrogen electrode, SHE) was used to reduce adsorbable organic halogens (AOX) in pharmaceutical wastewater. Cathode polarization enriched the electron donor of the biological system. Thus, the AOX removal efficiency in the BER improved from 59.9% to 70.2%, and the AOX removal rate increased from 0.87 to 1.17 mg AOX/h when the cathode potential was reduced from -300 to -1000 mV with the addition of methyl viologen, a known redox mediator. The decrease of the cathode potential was also beneficial for methane production, and the inhibition of the methanogenic process enhanced the AOX removal. Additionally, cathode coulombic efficiency analysis demonstrated that the proportion of electrons used for AOX reduction decreases with decreasing potential, from 37.6% at -300 mV to 17.3% at -1000 mV, although the AOX removal efficiency improves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yawei Xie
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Lujun Chen
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Water Science and Technology, Zhejiang 314006, China.
| | - Rui Liu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Water Science and Technology, Zhejiang 314006, China
| | - Jinping Tian
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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14
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El-Sayed WS. Characterization of a Highly Enriched Microbial Consortium Reductively Dechlorinating 2,3-Dichlorophenol and 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol and the Corresponding cprA Genes from River Sediment. Pol J Microbiol 2018; 65:341-352. [PMID: 29334051 DOI: 10.5604/17331331.1215613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Anaerobic reductive dechlorination of 2,3-dichlorophenol (2,3DCP) and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6TCP) was investigated in microcosms from River Nile sediment. A stable sediment-free anaerobic microbial consortium reductively dechlorinating 2,3DCP and 2,4,6TCP was established. Defined sediment-free cultures showing stable dechlorination were restricted to ortho chlorine when enriched with hydrogen as the electron donor, acetate as the carbon source, and either 2,3-DCP or 2,4,6-TCP as electron acceptors. When acetate, formate, or pyruvate were used as electron donors, dechlorination activity was lost. Only lactate can replace dihydrogen as an electron donor. However, the dechlorination potential was decreased after successive transfers. To reveal chlororespiring species, the microbial community structure of chlorophenol-reductive dechlorinating enrichment cultures was analyzed by PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of 16S rRNA gene fragments. Eight dominant bacteria were detected in the dechlorinating microcosms including members of the genera Citrobacter, Geobacter, Pseudomonas, Desulfitobacterium, Desulfovibrio and Clostridium. Highly enriched dechlorinating cultures were dominated by four bacterial species belonging to the genera Pseudomonas, Desulfitobacterium, and Clostridium. Desulfitobacterium represented the major fraction in DGGE profiles indicating its importance in dechlorination activity, which was further confirmed by its absence resulting in complete loss of dechlorination. Reductive dechlorination was confirmed by the stoichiometric dechlorination of 2,3DCP and 2,4,6TCP to metabolites with less chloride groups and by the detection of chlorophenol RD cprA gene fragments in dechlorinating cultures. PCR amplified cprA gene fragments were cloned and sequenced and found to cluster with the cprA/pceA type genes of Dehalobacter restrictus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wael S El-Sayed
- Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Taibah University, Almadinah Almunawarah, KSA; Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
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15
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Marchesi M, Alberti L, Shouakar-Stash O, Pietrini I, de Ferra F, Carpani G, Aravena R, Franzetti A, Stella T. 37Cl-compound specific isotope analysis and assessment of functional genes for monitoring monochlorobenzene (MCB) biodegradation under aerobic conditions. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 619-620:784-793. [PMID: 29161603 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Revised: 11/13/2017] [Accepted: 11/14/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
A laboratory approach was adopted in this study to explore the potential of 37Cl-CSIA in combination with 13C-CSIA and Biological Molecular Tools (BMTs) to estimate the occurrence of monochloroenzene (MCB) aerobic biodegradation. A new analytical method for 37Cl-CSIA of MCB was developed in this study. This methodology using a GC-IRMS allowed to determine δ37Cl values within an internal error of ±0.3‰. Samples from a heavily MCB contaminated site were collected and MCB aerobic biodegradation microcosms with indigenous cultures in natural and enhanced conditions were set up. The microcosms data show a negligible fractionation for 13C associated to MCB mass decrease of >95% over the incubation time. Conversely, an enrichment factor of -0.6±0.1‰ was estimated for 37Cl, which is a reflection of a secondary isotope effect. Moreover, the dual isotope approach showed a pattern for aerobic degradation which differ from the theoretical trend for reductive dehalogenation. Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) results showed a significant increase in todC gene copy number with respect to its initial levels for both natural attenuation and biostimulated microcosms, suggesting its involvement in the MCB aerobic degradation, whereas phe gene copy number increased only in the biostimulated ones. Indeed, 37Cl fractionation in combination with the dual carbon‑chlorine isotope approach and the todC gene copy number represent valuable indicators for a qualitative assessment of MCB aerobic biodegradation in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Marchesi
- Politecnico di Milano, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Alberti
- Politecnico di Milano, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Orfan Shouakar-Stash
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave. West, Waterloo N2L 3G1, Canada; Isotope Tracer Technologies Inc., Waterloo N2V 1Z5, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ilaria Pietrini
- Politecnico di Milano, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca de Ferra
- Research Center for Non-Conventional Energy, Istituto Eni Donegani Environmental Technologies, via Maritano 26, 20097 San Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanna Carpani
- Research Center for Non-Conventional Energy, Istituto Eni Donegani Environmental Technologies, via Maritano 26, 20097 San Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy
| | - Ramon Aravena
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave. West, Waterloo N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Andrea Franzetti
- University of Milano-Bicocca, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Piazza della Scienza, 1, 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Tatiana Stella
- University of Milano-Bicocca, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Piazza della Scienza, 1, 20126 Milan, Italy
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16
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Nijenhuis I, Stollberg R, Lechner U. Anaerobic microbial dehalogenation and its key players in the contaminated Bitterfeld-Wolfen megasite. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2018; 94:4828323. [PMID: 29385441 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiy012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2017] [Accepted: 01/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The megasite Bitterfeld-Wolfen is highly contaminated as a result of accidents and because of dumping of wastes from local chemical industries in the last century. A variety of contaminants including chlorinated ethenes and benzenes, hexachlorohexanes and chlorinated dioxins can still be found in the groundwater and (river) sediments. Investigations of the in situ microbial transformation of organohalides have been performed only over the last two decades at this megasite. In this review, we summarise the research on the activity of anaerobic dehalogenating bacteria at the field site in Bitterfeld-Wolfen, focusing on chlorinated ethenes, monochlorobenzene and chlorinated dioxins. Various methods and concepts were applied including ex situ cultivation and isolation, and in situ analysis of hydrochemical parameters, compound-specific stable isotope analysis of contaminants, 13C-tracer studies and molecular markers. Overall, biotransformation of organohalides is ongoing at the field site and Dehalococcoides mccartyi species play an important role in the detoxification process in the Bitterfeld-Wolfen region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivonne Nijenhuis
- Department of Isotope Biogeochemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Reiner Stollberg
- Department of Groundwater Remediation, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ute Lechner
- Institute of Biology/Microbiology Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Str. 3, 06120 Halle, Germany
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17
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Wan XF, Guo C, Liu Y, Chai XS, Li Y, Chen G. Kinetic research on dechlorinating dichlorobenzene in aqueous system by nano-scale nickel/iron loaded with CMC/NFC hydrogel. CHEMOSPHERE 2018; 194:297-305. [PMID: 29216549 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.11.142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2017] [Revised: 10/28/2017] [Accepted: 11/23/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we reported on the nano-scale nickel/iron particles loaded in carboxymethyl/nanofibrillated cellulose (CMC/NFC) hydrogel for the dechlorination of o-dichlorobenzene (DCB) in aqueous solution. The biodegradable hydrogel may provide an ideal supporting material for fastening the bimetallic nano-scale particles, which was examined and characterized by TEM, SEM-EDX, FT-IR and BET. The performance of the selected bimetallic particles was evaluated by conducting the dechlorination of DCB in the solution under different reaction conditions (e.g., pH, dosage of nickel/iron nanoparticles and temperature). The results showed that about 70% of DCB could be dechlorinated at 20 °C in 8 h, which indicated that the immobilized reactive material had a high reduction activity when Ni/Fe loading dosage in the hydrogel (18 wt%) was considered. Moreover, the reduction behavior agreed to the pseudo-first order reaction, in which the dechlorination rate was irrelative to the pH aqueous solution. A kinetic model for predicting the concentration of DCB during the reduction reaction was established based on the experimental data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Fang Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Congbao Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xin-Sheng Chai
- State Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Youming Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guangxue Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
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18
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Puentes Jácome LA, Edwards EA. A switch of chlorinated substrate causes emergence of a previously undetected native Dehalobacter population in an established Dehalococcoides-dominated chloroethene-dechlorinating enrichment culture. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2018; 93:4569067. [PMID: 29088371 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fix141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2017] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Chlorobenzenes are soil and groundwater pollutants of concern that can be reductively dehalogenated by organohalide-respiring bacteria from the genera Dehalococcoides and Dehalobacter. The bioaugmentation culture KB-1® harbours Dehalococcoides mccartyi spp. that reductively dehalogenate trichloroethene to ethene. It contains more than 30 reductive dehalogenase genes; some of them are highly similar to genes found in the chlorobenzene-respiring Dehalococcoides mccartyi strain CBDB1. We explored the chlorobenzene dehalogenation capability of the KB-1 enrichment culture using 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (1,2,4-TCB). We achieved adaptation of KB-1 to 1,2,4-TCB that is dehalogenated to a mixture of dichlorobenzenes, and subsequently to monochlorobenzene and benzene. Surprisingly, a native Dehalobacter population, and not a Dehalococcoides population, couples the dechlorination of 1,2,4-TCB to growth achieving an average yield of 1.1 ± 0.6 × 1013 cells per mole of Cl- released. Interestingly, the dechlorination of 1,2,4-TCB occurs alongside the complete dechlorination of trichloroethene to ethene in cultures fed both electron acceptors. Dehalobacter was not previously identified as a major player in KB-1, but its ecological niche was favoured by the introduction of 1,2,4-TCB. Based on 16S rRNA phylogeny, Dehalobacter populations seem to cluster into specialised clades, and are likely undergoing substrate specialisation as a strategy to reduce competition for electron acceptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luz A Puentes Jácome
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E5, Canada
| | - Elizabeth A Edwards
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E5, Canada.,Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1, Canada
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19
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Sohn SY, Kuntze K, Nijenhuis I, Häggblom MM. Evaluation of carbon isotope fractionation during anaerobic reductive dehalogenation of chlorinated and brominated benzenes. CHEMOSPHERE 2018; 193:785-792. [PMID: 29175406 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.11.089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2017] [Revised: 11/15/2017] [Accepted: 11/18/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Compound specific stable isotope analysis (CSIA) has been established as a useful tool to evaluate in situ biodegradation. Here, CSIA was used to determine microbial dehalogenation of chloro- and bromobenzenes in microcosms derived from Hackensack River sediments. Gas chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-IRMS) was used to measure carbon isotope fractionation during reductive dehalogenation of hexachlorobenzene (HCB), pentachlorobenzene (PeCB), 1,2,3,5-tetrachlorobenzene (TeCB), 1,2,3,5-tetrabromobenzene (TeBB), and 1,3,5-tribromobenzene (TriBB). Strong evidence of isotope fractionation coupled to dehalogenation was not observed in the substrate, possibly due to the low solubilities of the highly halogenated benzene substrates and a dilution of the isotope signal. Nonetheless, we could measure a depletion of the δ13C value in the dichlorobenzene product during dechlorination of HCB, the sequential depletion and enrichment of δ13C value for trichlorobenzene in TeCB dechlorinating cultures, and the enrichment of δ13C during debromination of TriBB. This indicates that a measurable isotope fractionation occurred during reductive dehalogenation of highly halogenated chloro- and bromobenzenes in aquatic sediments. Thus, although more quantitative measurements will be needed, the data suggests that CSIA may have application for monitoring in situ microbial reductive dehalogenation of highly halogenated benzenes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seo Yean Sohn
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, 76 Lipman Drive, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Kevin Kuntze
- Department of Isotope Biogeochemistry, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, D-04318, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ivonne Nijenhuis
- Department of Isotope Biogeochemistry, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, D-04318, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Max M Häggblom
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, 76 Lipman Drive, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.
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20
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Qiao W, Luo F, Lomheim L, Mack EE, Ye S, Wu J, Edwards EA. Natural Attenuation and Anaerobic Benzene Detoxification Processes at a Chlorobenzene-Contaminated Industrial Site Inferred from Field Investigations and Microcosm Studies. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2018; 52:22-31. [PMID: 29178800 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b04145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
A five-year site investigation was conducted at a former chemical plant in Nanjing, China. The main contaminants were 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (TCB) reaching concentrations up to 7300 μg/L, dichlorobenzene (DCB) isomers, monochlorobenzene (MCB), and benzene. Over time, these contaminants naturally attenuated to below regulatory levels under anaerobic conditions. To confirm the transformation processes and to explore the mechanisms, a corresponding laboratory microcosm study was completed demonstrating that 1,2,4-TCB was dechlorinated to 1,2-DCB, 1,3-DCB, and 1,4-DCB in approximately 2%/10%/88% molar proportions. The DCB isomers were dechlorinated via MCB to benzene, and, finally, benzene was degraded under prevailing sulfate-reducing conditions. Dechlorination could not be attributed to known dechlorinators Dehalobacter or Dehalococcoides, while anaerobic benzene degradation was mediated by microbes affiliated to a Deltaproteobacterium ORM2, previously associated with this activity. Unidentified organic compounds, possibly aromatic compounds related to past on-site production processes, were fueling the dechlorination reactions in situ. The microcosm study confirmed transformation processes inferred from field data and provided needed assurance for natural attenuation. Activity-based microcosm studies are often omitted from site characterization in favor of rapid and less expensive molecular surveys. However, the value of microcosm studies for confirming transformation processes, establishing electron balances, assessing cocontaminant inhibition, and validating appropriate monitoring tools is clear. At complex sites impacted by multiple compounds with poorly characterized transformation mechanisms, activity assays provide valuable data to incorporate into the conceptual site model to most effectively inform remediation alternatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Qiao
- Key Laboratory of Surficial Geochemistry, Ministry of Education, School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University , Nanjing 210046, China
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto , Toronto M5S 3E5, Canada
| | - Fei Luo
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto , Toronto M5S 3E5, Canada
| | - Line Lomheim
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto , Toronto M5S 3E5, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Erin Mack
- DuPont Corporate Remediation Group , Wilmington, Delaware 19805, United States
| | - Shujun Ye
- Key Laboratory of Surficial Geochemistry, Ministry of Education, School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University , Nanjing 210046, China
| | - Jichun Wu
- Key Laboratory of Surficial Geochemistry, Ministry of Education, School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University , Nanjing 210046, China
| | - Elizabeth A Edwards
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto , Toronto M5S 3E5, Canada
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Lu Y, Ramiro-Garcia J, Vandermeeren P, Herrmann S, Cichocka D, Springael D, Atashgahi S, Smidt H. Dechlorination of three tetrachlorobenzene isomers by contaminated harbor sludge-derived enrichment cultures follows thermodynamically favorable reactions. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2017; 101:2589-2601. [PMID: 27909745 PMCID: PMC5320011 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-016-8004-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2016] [Revised: 11/09/2016] [Accepted: 11/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Dechlorination patterns of three tetrachlorobenzene isomers, 1,2,3,4-, 1,2,3,5-, and 1,2,4,5-TeCB, were studied in anoxic microcosms derived from contaminated harbor sludge. The removal of doubly, singly, and un-flanked chlorine atoms was noted in 1,2,3,4- and 1,2,3,5-TeCB fed microcosms, whereas only singly flanked chlorine was removed in 1,2,4,5-TeCB microcosms. The thermodynamically more favorable reactions were selectively followed by the enriched cultures with di- and/or mono-chlorobenzene as the main end products of the reductive dechlorination of all three isomers. Based on quantitative PCR analysis targeting 16S rRNA genes of known organohalide-respiring bacteria, the growth of Dehalococcoides was found to be associated with the reductive dechlorination of all three isomers, while growth of Dehalobacter, another known TeCB dechlorinator, was only observed in one 1,2,3,5-TeCB enriched microcosm among biological triplicates. Numbers of Desulfitobacterium and Geobacter as facultative dechlorinators were rather stable suggesting that they were not (directly) involved in the observed TeCB dechlorination. Bacterial community profiling suggested bacteria belonging to the phylum Bacteroidetes and the order Clostridiales as well as sulfate-reducing members of the class Deltaproteobacteria as putative stimulating guilds that provide electron donor and/or organic cofactors to fastidious dechlorinators. Our results provide a better understanding of thermodynamically preferred TeCB dechlorinating pathways in harbor environments and microbial guilds enriched and active in anoxic TeCB dechlorinating microcosms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Lu
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, People's Republic of China
| | - Javier Ramiro-Garcia
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Steffi Herrmann
- Division of Soil and Water Management, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Danuta Cichocka
- Division of Soil and Water Management, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dirk Springael
- Division of Soil and Water Management, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Siavash Atashgahi
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Hauke Smidt
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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22
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Passeport E, Landis R, Lacrampe-Couloume G, Lutz EJ, Mack EE, West K, Morgan S, Sherwood Lollar B. Sediment Monitored Natural Recovery Evidenced by Compound Specific Isotope Analysis and High-Resolution Pore Water Sampling. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2016; 50:12197-12204. [PMID: 27771950 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b02961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Monitoring natural recovery of contaminated sediments requires the use of techniques that can provide definitive evidence of in situ contaminant degradation. In this study, a passive diffusion sampler, called "peeper", was combined with Compound Specific Isotope Analysis to determine benzene and monochlorobenzene (MCB) stable carbon isotope values at a fine vertical resolution (3 cm) across the sediment water interface at a contaminated site. Results indicated significant decrease in concentrations of MCB from the bottom to the top layers of the sediment over 25 cm, and a 3.5 ‰ enrichment in δ13C values of MCB over that distance. Benzene was always at lower concentrations than MCB, with consistently more depleted δ13C values than MCB. The redox conditions were dominated by iron reduction along most of the sediment profile. These results provide multiple lines of evidence for in situ reductive dechlorination of MCB to benzene. Stable isotope analysis of contaminants in pore water is a valuable method to demonstrate in situ natural recovery of contaminated sediments. This novel high-resolution approach is critical to deciphering the combined effects of parent contaminant (e.g., MCB) degradation and both production and simultaneous degradation of daughter products, especially benzene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elodie Passeport
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3B1, Canada
| | - Richard Landis
- DuPont Engineering and Technology, Wilmington, Delaware 19803, United States
| | | | - Edward J Lutz
- The Chemours Company, Corporate Remediation Group, Wilmington, Delaware 19899, United States
| | - E Erin Mack
- DuPont Corporate Remediation Group, Wilmington, Delaware 19803, United States
| | - Kathryn West
- AECOM, Deepwater, New Jersey 02907, United States
| | - Scott Morgan
- AECOM, Deepwater, New Jersey 02907, United States
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23
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Kuppusamy S, Palanisami T, Megharaj M, Venkateswarlu K, Naidu R. Ex-Situ Remediation Technologies for Environmental Pollutants: A Critical Perspective. REVIEWS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2016; 236:117-192. [PMID: 26423074 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-20013-2_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Pollution and the global health impacts from toxic environmental pollutants are presently of great concern. At present, more than 100 million people are at risk from exposure to a plethora of toxic organic and inorganic pollutants. This review is an exploration of the ex-situ technologies for cleaning-up the contaminated soil, groundwater and air emissions, highlighting their principles, advantages, deficiencies and the knowledge gaps. Challenges and strategies for removing different types of contaminants, mainly heavy metals and priority organic pollutants, are also described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saranya Kuppusamy
- CERAR-Centre for Environmental Risk Assessment and Remediation, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA, 5095, Australia
- CRC CARE-Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of Environment, 486, Salisbury South, SA, 5106, Australia
| | - Thavamani Palanisami
- CRC CARE-Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of Environment, 486, Salisbury South, SA, 5106, Australia
- GIER- Global Institute for Environmental Research, Faculty of Science and Information Technology, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
| | - Mallavarapu Megharaj
- CRC CARE-Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of Environment, 486, Salisbury South, SA, 5106, Australia.
- GIER- Global Institute for Environmental Research, Faculty of Science and Information Technology, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.
| | - Kadiyala Venkateswarlu
- Formerly Department of Microbiology, Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapur, 515055, India
| | - Ravi Naidu
- CRC CARE-Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of Environment, 486, Salisbury South, SA, 5106, Australia
- GIER- Global Institute for Environmental Research, Faculty of Science and Information Technology, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
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24
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Sun W, Li Y, McGuinness LR, Luo S, Huang W, Kerkhof LJ, Mack EE, Häggblom MM, Fennell DE. Identification of Anaerobic Aniline-Degrading Bacteria at a Contaminated Industrial Site. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2015; 49:11079-11088. [PMID: 26280684 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b02166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Anaerobic aniline biodegradation was investigated under different electron-accepting conditions using contaminated canal and groundwater aquifer sediments from an industrial site. Aniline loss was observed in nitrate- and sulfate-amended microcosms and in microcosms established to promote methanogenic conditions. Lag times of 37 days (sulfate amended) to more than 100 days (methanogenic) were observed prior to activity. Time-series DNA-stable isotope probing (SIP) was used to identify bacteria that incorporated (13)C-labeled aniline in the microcosms established to promote methanogenic conditions. In microcosms from heavily contaminated aquifer sediments, a phylotype with 92.7% sequence similarity to Ignavibacterium album was identified as a dominant aniline degrader as indicated by incorporation of (13)C-aniline into its DNA. In microcosms from contaminated canal sediments, a bacterial phylotype within the family Anaerolineaceae, but without a match to any known genus, demonstrated the assimilation of (13)C-aniline. Acidovorax spp. were also identified as putative aniline degraders in both of these two treatments, indicating that these species were present and active in both the canal and aquifer sediments. There were multiple bacterial phylotypes associated with anaerobic degradation of aniline at this complex industrial site, which suggests that anaerobic transformation of aniline is an important process at the site. Furthermore, the aniline degrading phylotypes identified in the current study are not related to any known aniline-degrading bacteria. The identification of novel putative aniline degraders expands current knowledge regarding the potential fate of aniline under anaerobic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weimin Sun
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University , 14 College Farm Road, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, United States
| | - Yun Li
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University , 14 College Farm Road, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, United States
| | | | - Shuai Luo
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University , 14 College Farm Road, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, United States
| | - Weilin Huang
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University , 14 College Farm Road, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, United States
| | | | - E Erin Mack
- DuPont, Corporate Remediation Group, Wilmington, Delaware 19714, United States
| | | | - Donna E Fennell
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University , 14 College Farm Road, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, United States
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25
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Diversity of dechlorination pathways and organohalide respiring bacteria in chlorobenzene dechlorinating enrichment cultures originating from river sludge. Biodegradation 2014; 25:757-76. [DOI: 10.1007/s10532-014-9697-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2013] [Accepted: 06/25/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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26
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Liang X, Mundle SOC, Nelson JL, Passeport E, Chan CCH, Lacrampe-Couloume G, Zinder SH, Sherwood Lollar B. Distinct carbon isotope fractionation during anaerobic degradation of dichlorobenzene isomers. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2014; 48:4844-4851. [PMID: 24758692 DOI: 10.1021/es4054384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Chlorinated benzenes are ubiquitous organic contaminants found in groundwater and soils. Compound specific isotope analysis (CSIA) has been increasingly used to assess natural attenuation of chlorinated contaminants, in which anaerobic reductive dechlorination plays an essential role. In this work, carbon isotope fractionation of the three dichlorobenzene (DCB) isomers was investigated during anaerobic reductive dehalogenation in methanogenic laboratory microcosms. Large isotope fractionation of 1,3-DCB and 1,4-DCB was observed while only a small isotope effect occurred for 1,2-DCB. Bulk enrichment factors (εbulk) were determined from a Rayleigh model: -0.8 ± 0.1 ‰ for 1,2-DCB, -5.4 ± 0.4 ‰ for 1,3-DCB, and -6.3 ± 0.2 ‰ for 1,4-DCB. εbulk values were converted to apparent kinetic isotope effects for carbon (AKIE) in order to characterize the carbon isotope effect at the reactive positions for the DCB isomers. AKIE values are 1.005 ± 0.001, 1.034 ± 0.003, and 1.039 ± 0.001 for 1,2-DCB, 1,3-DCB, and 1,4-DCB, respectively. The large difference in AKIE values between 1,2-DCB and 1,3-DCB (or 1,4-DCB) suggests distinct reaction pathways may be involved for different DCB isomers during microbial reductive dechlorination by the methanogenic cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoming Liang
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B1, Canada
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27
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Nelson JL, Jiang J, Zinder SH. Dehalogenation of chlorobenzenes, dichlorotoluenes, and tetrachloroethene by three Dehalobacter spp. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2014; 48:3776-3782. [PMID: 24593835 DOI: 10.1021/es4044769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Three enrichment cultures containing Dehalobacter spp. were developed that dehalogenate each of the dichlorobenzene (DCB) isomers to monochlorobenzene (MCB), and the strains using 1,2-DCB (12DCB1) or 1,3-DCB (13DCB1) are now considered isolated, whereas the strain using 1,4-DCB (14DCB1) is considered highly enriched. In this study, we examined the dehalogenation capability of each strain to use chlorobenzenes with three or more chlorines, tetrachloroethene (PCE), or dichlorotoluene (DCT) isomers. Strain 12DCB1 preferentially dehalogenated singly flanked chlorines, but not doubly flanked or unflanked chlorines. It dehalogenated pentachlorobenzene to MCB with little buildup of intermediates. Strain 13DCB1, which could use either 1,3-DCB or 1,2-DCB, demonstrated the widest dehalogenation spectrum of electron acceptors tested, and dehalogenated every chlorobenzene isomer except 1,4-DCB. Notably, strain 13DCB1 dehalogenated the recalcitrant 1,3,5-trichlorobenzene isomer to MCB, and qPCR of 16S rRNA genes indicated that strain 13DCB1 grew. Strain 14DCB1 exhibited the narrowest range of substrate utilization, but was the only strain to dehalogenate para-substituted chlorines. Strains 12DCB1 and 13DCB1 dehalogenated PCE to cis-dichloroethene, and all strains dehalogenated 3,4-DCT to monochlorotoluene. These findings show that Dehalobacter spp., like Dehalococcoides spp., are versatile dehalogenators and should be considered when determining the fate of chlorinated organics at contaminated sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Nelson
- Department of Microbiology, 270 Wing Hall, Cornell University , Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
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28
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Schmidt M, Wolfram D, Birkigt J, Ahlheim J, Paschke H, Richnow HH, Nijenhuis I. Iron oxides stimulate microbial monochlorobenzene in situ transformation in constructed wetlands and laboratory systems. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2014; 472:185-193. [PMID: 24291561 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.10.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2013] [Revised: 10/30/2013] [Accepted: 10/30/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Natural wetlands are transition zones between anoxic ground and oxic surface water which may enhance the (bio)transformation potential for recalcitrant chloro-organic contaminants due to the unique geochemical conditions and gradients. Monochlorobenzene (MCB) is a frequently detected groundwater contaminant which is toxic and was thought to be persistent under anoxic conditions. Furthermore, to date, no degradation pathways for anoxic MCB removal have been proven in the field. Hence, it is important to investigate MCB biodegradation in the environment, as groundwater is an important drinking water source in many European countries. Therefore, two pilot-scale horizontal subsurface-flow constructed wetlands, planted and unplanted, were used to investigate the processes in situ contributing to the biotransformation of MCB in these gradient systems. The wetlands were fed with anoxic MCB-contaminated groundwater from a nearby aquifer in Bitterfeld, Germany. An overall MCB removal was observed in both wetlands, whereas just 10% of the original MCB inflow concentration was detected in the ponds. In particular in the gravel bed of the planted wetland, MCB removal was highest in summer season with 73 ± 9% compared to the unplanted one with 40 ± 5%. Whereas the MCB concentrations rapidly decreased in the transition zone of unplanted gravel to the pond, a significant MCB removal was already determined in the anoxic gravel bed of the planted system. The investigation of hydro-geochemical parameters revealed that iron and sulphate reduction were relevant redox processes in both wetlands. In parallel, the addition of ferric iron or nitrate stimulated the mineralisation of MCB in laboratory microcosms with anoxic groundwater from the same source, indicating that the potential for anaerobic microbial degradation of MCB is present at the field site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Schmidt
- Department of Isotope Biogeochemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Diana Wolfram
- Department of Isotope Biogeochemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jan Birkigt
- Department of Isotope Biogeochemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jörg Ahlheim
- Department of Groundwater Remediation, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Heidrun Paschke
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Hans-Hermann Richnow
- Department of Isotope Biogeochemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ivonne Nijenhuis
- Department of Isotope Biogeochemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany.
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29
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Fullerton H, Crawford M, Bakenne A, Freedman DL, Zinder SH. Anaerobic oxidation of ethene coupled to sulfate reduction in microcosms and enrichment cultures. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2013; 47:12374-12381. [PMID: 24033278 DOI: 10.1021/es4029765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Ethene is considered recalcitrant under anaerobic conditions, but biological reduction to ethane and oxidation to CO2 have been reported; however, little is known about these processes or the organisms carrying them out. In this report we describe sulfate dependent ethene consumption in microcosms prepared with sediments from a freshwater canal. A first dose of 0.6 mmol/L ethene was consumed within 77 days, and a second dose was largely consumed twelve days later. Material from this microcosm was transferred into growth medium with ethene as the only electron donor (except for trace amounts of vitamins) and sulfate as the electron acceptor. Four doses of ethene were consumed at increasing rates, and the cultures have been transferred at least eight times in this medium. Conversion of [(14)C]ethene primarily to (14)CO2 was demonstrated in fifth and sixth generation cultures, as well as production of sulfide in other cultures, confirming the ethene/sulfate couple. Ovoid cells 1-2 μm in diameter were found in cultures containing ethene and sulfate, and quantitative PCR showed large increases in bacterial 16S rRNA gene copy number. Over half of a 16S rRNA gene clone library from a sixth-generation culture was a phylotype with a sequence ca. 90% identical with a clade of Deltaproteobacteria that includes Desulfovirga adipica and several Syntrophobacter spp. These studies have solidified the concept that deficits in mass balances for chloroethene fate in sulfate reducing zones of contaminated groundwater sites may be due to ethene oxidation, and suggest a unique phylotype is involved in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather Fullerton
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University , Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
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30
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Kurt Z, Spain JC. Biodegradation of chlorobenzene, 1,2-dichlorobenzene, and 1,4-dichlorobenzene in the vadose zone. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2013; 47:6846-6854. [PMID: 23473240 DOI: 10.1021/es3049465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Much of the microbial activity in nature takes place at interfaces, which are often associated with redox discontinuities. One example is the oxic/anoxic interface where polluted groundwater interacts with the overlying vadose zone. We tested whether microbes in the vadose zone can use synthetic chemicals as electron donors and thus protect the overlying air and buildings from groundwater pollutants. Samples from the vadose zone of a site contaminated with chlorobenzene (CB), 1,2-dichlorobenzene (12DCB), and 1,4-dichlorobenzene (14DCB) were packed in a multiport column to simulate the interface of the vadose zone with an underlying groundwater plume. A mixture of CB, 12DCB, and 14DCB in anoxic water was pumped continuously through the bottom of column to an outlet below the first sampling port to create an oxic/anoxic interface and a capillary fringe. Removal to below the detection limits by rapid biodegradation with rates of 21 ± 1 mg of CB • m(-2) • d(-1), 3.7 ± 0.5 mg of 12DCB • m(-2) • d(-1), and 7.4 ± 0.7 mg of 1.4 DCB • m(-2) • d(-1) indicated that natural attenuation in the capillary fringe can prevent the migration of CB, 12DCB, and 14DCB vapors. Enumeration of bacteria capable of degrading chlorobenzenes suggested that most of the biodegradation takes place within the first 10 cm above the saturated zone. Biodegradation also increased the upward flux of contaminants and thus enhanced their elimination from the underlying water. The results revealed a substantial biodegradation capacity for chlorinated aromatic compounds at the oxic/anoxic interface and illustrate the role of microbes in creating steep redox gradients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zohre Kurt
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0512, United States
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31
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Burns M, Sublette KL, Sobieraj J, Ogles D, Koenigsberg S. Concurrent and Complete Anaerobic Reduction and Microaerophilic Degradation of Mono-, Di-, and Trichlorobenzenes. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013. [DOI: 10.1002/rem.21356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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32
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Liang X, Devine CE, Nelson J, Sherwood Lollar B, Zinder S, Edwards EA. Anaerobic conversion of chlorobenzene and benzene to CH4 and CO2 in bioaugmented microcosms. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2013; 47:2378-85. [PMID: 23360185 DOI: 10.1021/es3043092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Chlorobenzene is a widespread groundwater contaminant found at many industrial sites. Reductive dechlorination of chlorobenzene requires input of electron donor and results in problematic accumulation of benzene, which is more toxic than chlorobenzene. We hypothesized that coupling a culture capable of reductive dechlorination of chlorobenzene to benzene with a second benzene-degrading methanogenic culture would completely detoxify chlorobenzene. To this end, active chlorobenzene-dechlorinating microcosms that were producing benzene were inoculated with a previously described enriched methanogenic benzene-degrading consortium. The combination resulted in the transformation of chlorobenzene via benzene to the nontoxic degradation products, CO2 and CH4. Sustainable degradation of chlorobenzene and benzene was observed in the microcosms and was further confirmed by shifts in the carbon isotopic ratios of chlorobenzene and benzene during degradation. Moreover, we could show that benzene derived electrons fueled chlorobenzene dechlorination removing the need to provide exogenous electron donor. The results have promising implications for sustainable bioremediation of sites contaminated with chlorinated benzenes and benzene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoming Liang
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto , Toronto, ON M5S 3E5, Canada
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33
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Duan TH, Adrian L. Enrichment of hexachlorobenzene and 1,3,5-trichlorobenzene transforming bacteria from sediments in Germany and Vietnam. Biodegradation 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s10532-012-9607-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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34
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Elango V, Kurtz HD, Anderson C, Freedman DL. Use of γ-hexachlorocyclohexane as a terminal electron acceptor by an anaerobic enrichment culture. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2011; 197:204-210. [PMID: 21983168 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2011.09.080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2011] [Revised: 09/05/2011] [Accepted: 09/20/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The use of γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) as a terminal electron acceptor via organohalide respiration was demonstrated for the first time with an enrichment culture grown in a sulfate-free HEPES-buffered anaerobic mineral salts medium. The enrichment culture was initially developed with soil and groundwater from an industrial site contaminated with HCH isomers, chlorinated benzenes, and chlorinated ethenes. When hydrogen served as the electron donor, 79-90% of the electron equivalents from hydrogen were used by the enrichment culture for reductive dechlorination of the γ-HCH, which was provided at a saturation concentration of approximately 10 mg/L. Benzene and chlorobenzene were the only volatile transformation products detected, accounting for 25% and 75% of the γ-HCH consumed (on a molar basis), respectively. The enrichment culture remained active with only hydrogen as the electron donor and γ-HCH as the electron acceptor through several transfers to fresh mineral salts medium for more than one year. Addition of vancomycin to the culture significantly slowed the rate of γ-HCH dechlorination, suggesting that a Gram-positive organism is responsible for the reduction of γ-HCH. Analysis of the γ-HCH dechlorinating enrichment culture did not detect any known chlororespiring genera, including Dehalobacter. In bicarbonate-buffered medium, reductive dechlorination of γ-HCH was accompanied by significant levels of acetogenesis as well as methanogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vijai Elango
- Hazardous Substance Research Center/South and Southwest, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
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35
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Liang X, Howlett MR, Nelson JL, Grant G, Dworatzek S, Lacrampe-Couloume G, Zinder SH, Edwards EA, Sherwood Lollar B. Pathway-dependent isotope fractionation during aerobic and anaerobic degradation of monochlorobenzene and 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2011; 45:8321-8327. [PMID: 21851082 DOI: 10.1021/es201224x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Stable carbon isotope fractionation is a valuable tool for monitoring natural attenuation and to establish the fate of groundwater contaminants. In this study, we measured carbon isotope fractionation during aerobic and anaerobic degradation of two chlorinated benzenes: monochlorobenzene (MCB) and 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (1,2,4-TCB). MCB isotope fractionation was measured in anaerobic methanogenic microcosms, while 1,2,4-TCB isotope experiments were carried out in both aerobic and anaerobic microcosms. Large isotope fractionation was observed in both the anaerobic microcosm experiments. Enrichment factors (ε) for anaerobic reductive dechlorination of MCB and 1,2,4-TCB were -5.0‰ ± 0.2‰ and -3.0‰ ± 0.4‰, respectively. In contrast, no significant isotope fractionation was found during aerobic microbial degradation of 1,2,4-TCB. The cleavage of a C-Cl σ bond occurs during anaerobic reductive dechlorination of MCB and 1,2,4-TCB, while no σ bond cleavage is involved during aerobic degradation via dioxygenase. The difference in isotope fractionation for aerobic versus anaerobic biodegradation of MCB and 1,2,4-TCB can be explained by the difference in the initial step of aerobic versus anaerobic biodegradation pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoming Liang
- Department of Geology, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B1, Canada
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Nelson JL, Fung JM, Cadillo-Quiroz H, Cheng X, Zinder SH. A role for Dehalobacter spp. in the reductive dehalogenation of dichlorobenzenes and monochlorobenzene. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2011; 45:6806-13. [PMID: 21732639 DOI: 10.1021/es200480k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Previously, we demonstrated the reductive dehalogenation of dichlorobenzene (DCB) isomers to monochlorobenzene (MCB), and MCB to benzene in sediment microcosms derived from a chlorobenzene-contaminated site. In this study, enrichment cultures were established for each DCB isomer and each produced MCB and trace amounts of benzene as end products. MCB dehalogenation activity could only be transferred in sediment microcosms. The 1,2-DCB-dehalogenating culture was studied the most intensively. Whereas Dehalococcoides spp. were not detected in any of the microcosms or cultures, Dehalobacter spp. were detected in 16S rRNA gene clone libraries from 1,2-DCB enrichment cultures, and by PCR using Dehalobacter-specific primers in 1,3-DCB and 1,4-DCB enrichments and MCB-dehalogenating microcosms. Quantitative PCR showed Dehalobacter 16S rRNA gene copies increased up to 3 orders of magnitude upon dehalogenation of DCBs or MCB, and that nearly all of bacterial 16S rRNA genes in a 1,2-DCB-dehalogenating culture belonged to Dehalobacter spp. Dehalobacter 16S rRNA genes from DCB enrichment cultures and MCB-dehalogenating microcosms showed considerable diversity, implying that 16S rRNA sequences do not predict dehalogenation-spectra of Dehalobacter spp. These studies support a role for Dehalobacter spp. in the reductive dehalogenation of DCBs and MCB, and this genus should be considered for its potential impact on chlorobenzene fate at contaminated sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Nelson
- Department of Microbiology, Wing Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
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Detection of monochlorobenzene metabolizing bacteria under anoxic conditions by DNA-stable isotope probing. Biodegradation 2011; 22:973-82. [DOI: 10.1007/s10532-011-9456-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2010] [Accepted: 01/27/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Hölscher T, Lisec J, Baani M, Duan TH, Adrian L. Bacterial cultures preferentially removing singly flanked chlorine substituents from chlorobenzenes. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2010; 44:8936-8942. [PMID: 21043517 DOI: 10.1021/es101971m] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The wide though not ubiquitous distribution of chlorobenzene-dechlorinating bacteria in anaerobic sludge from German sewage plants is demonstrated. The model substrates 1,2,3- and 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (TCB) were dechlorinated to dichlorobenzenes (DCBs) and monochlorobenzene (MCB) via distinct pathways. For easy visualization and differentiation of the pathways, a novel plotting method was developed. While many of the cultures showed a dechlorination pattern similar to that previously found for Dehalococcoides species, removing doubly flanked rather than singly flanked chlorine substituents from TCBs, some cultures formed 1,2-DCB from 1,2,3-TCB and/or 1,3-DCB from 1,2,4-TCB. Stable cultures preferentially catalyzing the removal of singly flanked chlorines were obtained by repeated subcultivation in sediment-free synthetic medium. This dechlorination pattern is potentially of great benefit for remediation as the accumulation of persistent intermediates such as 1,3,5-TCB from highly chlorinated compounds can be avoided. In addition, the cultures dechlorinated 1,3,5-TCB, pentachlorobenzene (PeCB), and hexachlorobenzene (HCB). Nested PCR demonstrated the presence of low numbers of Dehalococcoides species. However, the observed insensitivity of the dechlorinating bacteria in our cultures to oxygen and sensitivity to vancomycin is not in accordance with the reported properties of Dehalococcoides species, suggesting that other bacteria than Dehalococcoides catalyzed the removal of singly flanked chlorines from TCB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina Hölscher
- Department Isotopenbiogeochemie, Helmholtzzentrum für Umweltforschung-UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, D-04318 Leipzig, Germany
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Liou JSC, Szostek B, DeRito CM, Madsen EL. Investigating the biodegradability of perfluorooctanoic acid. CHEMOSPHERE 2010; 80:176-183. [PMID: 20363490 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2010.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2009] [Revised: 02/10/2010] [Accepted: 03/06/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is an industrial chemical that has become disseminated globally in aquatic and terrestrial habitats, humans, and wildlife. Understanding PFOA's biodegradability (susceptibility to microbial metabolic attack) is a crucial element in developing an informed strategy for predicting and managing this compound's environmental fate. Reasoning that PFOA might be susceptible to reductive defluorination by anaerobic microbial communities, we embarked on a 2-phase experimental approach examining the potential of five different microbial communities (from a municipal waste-water treatment plant, industrial site sediment, an agricultural soil, and soils from two fire training areas) to alter PFOA's molecular structure. A series of primarily anaerobic incubations (up to 259d in duration) were established with acetate, lactate, ethanol, and/or hydrogen gas as electron donors and PFOA (at concentrations of 100 ppm and 100 ppb) as the electron acceptor. Cometabolism of PFOA during reductive dechlorination of trichloroethene (TCE) and during reduction of nitrate, iron, sulfate, and methanogenesis were also examined. Endpoints of potential PFOA transformation included release of fluoride and detection of potential transformation products by LC/Orbitrap MS and LC/accurate radioisotope counting in a (14)C radiotracer study. The strongest indication of PFOA transformation occurred during its potential cometabolism at the 100 ppb concentration during reductive dechlorination of TCE. Despite an extensive search for transformation products to corroborate potential cometabolism of PFOA, we were unable to document any alteration of PFOA's chemical structure. We conclude that, under conditions examined, PFOA is microbiologically inert, hence environmentally persistent.
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Affiliation(s)
- J S-C Liou
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-8101, USA
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