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Wang F, Zhang J, Xu L, Ma A, Zhuang G, Huo S, Zou B, Qian J, Cui Y. Selenium volatilization in plants, microalgae, and microorganisms. Heliyon 2024; 10:e26023. [PMID: 38390045 PMCID: PMC10881343 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The augmented prevalence of Se (Se) pollution can be attributed to various human activities, such as mining, coal combustion, oil extraction and refining, and agricultural irrigation. Although Se is vital for animals, humans, and microorganisms, excessive concentrations of this element can give rise to potential hazards. Consequently, numerous approaches have been devised to mitigate Se pollution, encompassing physicochemical techniques and bioremediation. The recognition of Se volatilization as a potential strategy for mitigating Se pollution in contaminated environments is underscored in this review. This study delves into the volatilization mechanisms in various organisms, including plants, microalgae, and microorganisms. By assessing the efficacy of Se removal and identifying the rate-limiting steps associated with volatilization, this paper provides insightful recommendations for Se mitigation. Constructed wetlands are a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative in the treatment of Se volatilization. The fate, behavior, bioavailability, and toxicity of Se within complex environmental systems are comprehensively reviewed. This knowledge forms the basis for developing management plans that aimed at mitigating Se contamination in wetlands and protecting the associated ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Wang
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China
- Institute of Agricultural Products Processing Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China
| | - Ling Xu
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China
- Institute of Agricultural Products Processing Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China
| | - Anzhou Ma
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Guoqiang Zhuang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Shuhao Huo
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China
| | - Bin Zou
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China
| | - Jingya Qian
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China
| | - Yi Cui
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China
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Mohammadi E, Baldwin SA. Developing a versatile tool for studying kinetics of Selenate-Se removal from aqueous solution using a chemostat bioreactor. Heliyon 2024; 10:e24914. [PMID: 38317929 PMCID: PMC10839987 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding the impact of various parameters on the kinetics of dissolved selenium (Se) removal in bioreactors can be a challenging task, primarily due to the mass transfer limitations inherent in bioreactors employing attached growth configurations. This study successfully established a proof-of-concept for the efficient removal of Se from aqueous solutions using a chemostat bioreactor that relies solely on suspended growth. The research investigated the effect of selenate-Se feed concentrations under two distinct Se concentration conditions. One experiment was conducted at a considerably elevated concentration of 25 mg/L to impose stress on the system and evaluate its response. Another experiment replicated an environmentally relevant concentration of 1 mg/L, mirroring the typical Se concentrations in mine water. The bioreactor, featuring a working volume of 0.35 L, was operated as an anaerobic, fully mixed chemostat with hydraulic retention times (HRTs) ranging from 5 to 0.25 days. The outcomes revealed the chemostat's capacity to remove up to 25 mg/L of dissolved Se from water for all HRTs exceeding 1 day, under otherwise optimal conditions encompassing temperature, pH, and salinity. The research's significance lies in the development of a versatile tool designed to examine Se removal kinetics within a system devoid of mass transfer limitations. Furthermore, this study verified the ability of the bacterial consortium, obtained from a mine-influenced environment and enriched in the laboratory, to grow and sustain Se removal activities within a chemostat operating with HRTs as short as 1 day.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elnaz Mohammadi
- Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of British Columbia, 2360 East Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Susan A. Baldwin
- Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of British Columbia, 2360 East Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z3, Canada
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3
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Wang Y, Wu M, Lai CY, Lu X, Guo J. Methane Oxidation Coupled to Selenate Reduction in a Membrane Bioreactor under Oxygen-Limiting Conditions. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:21715-21726. [PMID: 38079577 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c04958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
Microbial methane oxidation coupled to a selenate reduction process has been proposed as a promising solution to treat contaminated water, yet the underlying microbial mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, a novel methane-based membrane bioreactor system integrating hollow fiber membranes for efficient gas delivery and ultrafiltration membranes for biomass retention was established to successfully enrich abundant suspended cultures able to perform methane-dependent selenate reduction under oxygen-limiting conditions. The microbial metabolic mechanisms were then systematically investigated through a combination of short-term batch tests, DNA-based stable isotope probing (SIP) microcosm incubation, and high-throughput sequencing analyses of 16S rRNA gene and functional genes (pmoA and narG). We confirmed that the methane-supported selenate reduction process was accomplished by a microbial consortia consisting of type-II aerobic methanotrophs and several heterotrophic selenate reducers. The mass balance and validation tests on possible intermediates suggested that methane was partially oxidized into acetate under oxygen-limiting conditions, which was consumed as a carbon source for selenate-reducing bacteria. High-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing, DNA-SIP incubation with 13CH4, and subsequent functional gene (pmoA and narG) sequencing results collectively proved that Methylocystis actively executed partial methane oxidation and Acidovorax and Denitratisoma were dominant selenate-reducing bacteria, thus forming a syntrophic partnership to drive selenate reduction. The findings not only advance our understanding of methane oxidation coupled to selenate reduction under oxygen-limiting conditions but also offer useful information on developing methane-based biotechnology for bioremediation of selenate-contaminated water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulu Wang
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACWEB, Formerly AWMC), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Acton, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Mengxiong Wu
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACWEB, Formerly AWMC), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Chun-Yu Lai
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACWEB, Formerly AWMC), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Xuanyu Lu
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACWEB, Formerly AWMC), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Jianhua Guo
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACWEB, Formerly AWMC), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
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Yang C, Zeng Z, Wang Y, He G, Hu Y, Gao D, Dai Y, Li Q, Zhang H. Ecological risk assessment and identification of the distinct microbial groups in heavy metal-polluted river sediments. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2023; 45:1311-1329. [PMID: 35939250 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-022-01343-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
To assess the health of river ecosystems, it is essential to quantify the ecological risk of heavy metals in river sediments and the structure of microbial communities. As important tributaries of the Tuo River in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, the Mianyuan River and the Shiting River, are closely related to the economic development and human daily life in the region. This study assessed the ecological risks of heavy-metal-polluted river sediments, the heavy-metal-driven bacterial communities were revealed, and the relationships between the ecological risks and the identical bacterial communities were discussed. The Cd content was significantly greater than the environmental background value, leading to a serious pollution and very high ecological risk at the confluence of the two rivers and the upper reaches of the Mianyuan River. Microbial community analysis showed that Rhodobacter, Nocardioides, Sphingomonas, and Pseudarthrobacter were the dominant bacterial genera in the sediments of the Shiting River. However, the dominant bacterial genera in the Mianyuan River were Kouleothrix, Dechloromonas, Gaiella, Pedomicrobium, and Hyphomicrobium. Mantel test results showed (r = 0.5977, P = 0.005) that the Cd, As, Zn, Pb, Cr, and Cu were important factors that influenced differences in the distribution of sediment bacterial communities Mianyuan and Shiting rivers. A correlation heatmap showed that heavy metals were negatively correlated for most bacterial communities, but some bacterial communities were tolerant and showed a positive correlation. Overall, the microbial structure of the river sediments showed a diverse spatial distribution due to the influence of heavy metals. The results will improve the understanding of rivers contaminated by heavy metals and provide theoretical support for conservation and in situ ecological restoration of river ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Yang
- Faculty of Geosciences and Environmental Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, China
| | - Zhuo Zeng
- Faculty of Geosciences and Environmental Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, China
| | - Yuanyuan Wang
- Faculty of Geosciences and Environmental Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, China
| | - Guangyi He
- Faculty of Geosciences and Environmental Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, China
| | - Yuansi Hu
- Faculty of Geosciences and Environmental Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, China
| | - Dongdong Gao
- Sichuan Academy of Environmental Science, Chengdu, 610000, China
| | - Yonghong Dai
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610075, China
| | - Qingyu Li
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610075, China
| | - Han Zhang
- Faculty of Geosciences and Environmental Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, China.
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Ullah H, Lun L, Rashid A, Zada N, Chen B, Shahab A, Li P, Ali MU, Lin S, Wong MH. A critical analysis of sources, pollution, and remediation of selenium, an emerging contaminant. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2023; 45:1359-1389. [PMID: 35972610 PMCID: PMC9379879 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-022-01354-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Selenium (Se) is an essential metalloid and is categorized as emerging anthropogenic contaminant released to the environment. The rise of Se release into the environment has raised concern about its bioaccumulation, toxicity, and potential to cause serious damages to aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem. Therefore, it is extremely important to monitor Se level in environment on a regular basis. Understanding Se release, anthropogenic sources, and environmental behavior is critical for developing an effective Se containment strategy. The ongoing efforts of Se remediation have mostly emphasized monitoring and remediation as an independent topics of research. However, our paper has integrated both by explaining the attributes of monitoring on effective scale followed by a candid review of widespread technological options available with specific focus on Se removal from environmental media. Another novel approach demonstrated in the article is the presentation of an overwhelming evidence of limitations that various researchers are confronted with to overcome achieving effective remediation. Furthermore, we followed a holistic approach to discuss ways to remediate Se for cleaner environment especially related to introducing weak magnetic field for ZVI reactivity enhancement. We linked this phenomenal process to electrokinetics and presented convincing facts in support of Se remediation, which has led to emerge 'membrane technology', as another viable option for remediation. Hence, an interesting, innovative and future oriented review is presented, which will undoubtedly seek attention from global researchers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Habib Ullah
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058 Zhejiang China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollutant Process and Control, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058 Zhejiang China
| | - Lu Lun
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou, 510655 China
| | - Audil Rashid
- Faculty of Sciences, Department of Botany, University of Gujrat, Gujrat, 50700 Pakistan
| | - Noor Zada
- Department of Chemistry, Government Post Graduate College, Lower Dir, Timergara, 18300 Pakistan
| | - Baoliang Chen
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058 Zhejiang China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollutant Process and Control, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058 Zhejiang China
| | - Asfandyar Shahab
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin, China
| | - Ping Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Science, Guiyang, 550081 China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Quaternary Science and Global Change in XI’an, Xi’an, 710061 China
| | - Muhammad Ubaid Ali
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Science, Guiyang, 550081 China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Quaternary Science and Global Change in XI’an, Xi’an, 710061 China
| | - Siyi Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, 999077 China
| | - Ming Hung Wong
- Consortium On Health, Environment, Education, and Research (CHEER), Department of Science and Environmental Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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6
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Restoration Insights Gained from a Field Deployment of Dithionite and Acetate at a Uranium In Situ Recovery Mine. MINERALS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/min12060711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Mining uranium by in situ recovery (ISR) typically involves injecting an oxidant and a complexing agent to mobilize and extract uranium in a saturated ore zone. This strategy involves less infrastructure and invasive techniques than traditional mining, but ISR often results in persistently elevated concentrations of U and other contaminants of concern in groundwater after mining. These concentrations may remain elevated for an extended period without remediation. Here, we describe a field experiment at an ISR facility in which both a chemical reductant (sodium dithionite) and a biostimulant (sodium acetate) were sequentially introduced into a previously mined ore zone in an attempt to establish reducing geochemical conditions that, in principle, should decrease and stabilize aqueous U concentrations. While several lines of evidence indicated that reducing conditions were established, U concentrations did not decrease, and in fact increased after the amendment deployments. We discuss likely reasons for this behavior, and we also discuss how the results provide insights into improvements that could be made to the restoration process to benefit from the seemingly detrimental behavior.
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7
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Wang Z, Wang Y, Gomes RL, Gomes HI. Selenium (Se) recovery for technological applications from environmental matrices based on biotic and abiotic mechanisms. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 427:128122. [PMID: 34979385 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.128122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Selenium (Se) is an essential element with application in manufacturing from food to medical industries. Water contamination by Se is of concern due to anthropogenic activities. Recently, Se remediation has received increasing attention. Hence, different types of remediation techniques are listed in this work, and their potential for Se recovery is evaluated. Sorption, co-precipitation, coagulation and precipitation are effective for low-cost Se removal. In photocatalytic, zero-valent iron and electrochemical systems, the above mechanisms occur with reduction as an immobilization and detoxification process. In combination with magnetic separation, the above techniques are promising for Se recovery. Biological Se oxyanions reduction has been widely recognized as a cost-effective method for Se remediation, simultaneously generating biosynthetic Se nanoparticles (BioSeNPs). Increasing the extracellular production of BioSeNPs and controlling their morphology will benefit its recovery. However, the mechanism of the microbial production of BioSeNPs is not well understood. Se containing products from both microbial reduction and abiotic methods need to be refined to obtain pure Se. Eco-friendly and cost-effective Se refinery methods need to be developed. Overall, this review offers insight into the necessity of shifting attention from Se remediation to Se recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongli Wang
- Food Water Waste Research Group, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom.
| | - Yanming Wang
- Sustainable Process Technologies Research Group, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel L Gomes
- Food Water Waste Research Group, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom
| | - Helena I Gomes
- Food Water Waste Research Group, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom
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8
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Li L, Zhang B, He C, Zhang H. Hydrodynamics- and hydrochemistry-affected microbial selenate reduction in aquifer: Performance and mechanisms. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 768:145331. [PMID: 33736316 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Selenate [Se(VI)] with higher content in groundwater will be harmful for human beings. Hence, effective treatment for Se(VI) in aquifer should be conducted reasonably. Microbial reduction of Se(VI) to elemental selenium with weak movability and toxicity has attracted significant attention due to its high efficiency and no secondary contamination. However, hydrodynamic and hydrochemical influences with corresponding mechanisms during Se(VI) bioreduction are still not clear. In this study, influences of flow rate, initial Se(VI) and organic concentrations, coexisting nitrate were evaluated. Se(VI) removal efficiency and capacity reached 96.42 ± 6.82% and 41.28 ± 3.41 (g/m3·d) with flow rate of 0.56 mL/min, initial Se(VI) and chemical organic demand concentrations of 10 mg/L and 400 mg/L. Dechloromonas and Pseudomonas were presumably contributed to Se(VI) reduction, with upregulated serA and tatC genes. Solid Se0 was identified as the final product from Se(VI) reduction. These results will be beneficial for the further comprehending of Se(VI) remediation in aquifer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liuliu Li
- School of Water Resources and Environment, Key Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Environmental Evolution (China University of Geosciences Beijing), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Baogang Zhang
- School of Water Resources and Environment, Key Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Environmental Evolution (China University of Geosciences Beijing), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100083, China.
| | - Chao He
- School of Water Resources and Environment, Key Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Environmental Evolution (China University of Geosciences Beijing), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Han Zhang
- School of Water Resources and Environment, Key Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Environmental Evolution (China University of Geosciences Beijing), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100083, China
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Meena M, Sonigra P, Yadav G. Biological-based methods for the removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and heavy metals. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:2485-2508. [PMID: 33095900 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-11112-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The current scenario of increased population and industrial advancement leads to the spoliation of freshwater and tapper of the quality of water. These results decrease in freshwater bodies near all of the areas. Besides, organic and inorganic compounds discharged from different sources into the available natural water bodies are the cause of pollution. The occurrence of heavy metals in water and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the air is responsible for a vast range of negative impacts on the atmosphere and human health. Nonetheless, high uses of heavy metals for human purposes may alter the biochemical and geochemical equilibrium. The major air contaminants which are released into the surroundings known as VOCs are produced through different kinds of sources, such as petrochemical and pharmaceutical industries. VOCs are known to cause various health hazards. VOCs are a pivotal group of chemicals that evaporate readily at room temperature. To get over this problem, biofiltration technology has been evolved for the treatment of heavy metals using biological entities such as plants, algae, fungi, and bacteria. Biofiltration technology is a beneficial and sustainable method for the elimination of toxic pollutants from the aquatic environment. Various types of biological technologies ranging from biotrickling filters to biofilters have been developed and they are cost-effective, simple to fabricate, and easy to perform. A significant advantage of this process is the pollutant that is transformed into biodegradable trashes which can decompose within an average time period, thus yielding no secondary pollutants. The aim of this article is to scrutinize the role of biofiltration in the removal of heavy metals in wastewater and VOCs and also to analyze the recent bioremediation technologies and methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mukesh Meena
- Laboratory of Phytopathology and Microbial Biotechnology, Department of Botany, Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, Rajasthan, 313001, India.
| | - Priyankaraj Sonigra
- Laboratory of Phytopathology and Microbial Biotechnology, Department of Botany, Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, Rajasthan, 313001, India
| | - Garima Yadav
- Laboratory of Phytopathology and Microbial Biotechnology, Department of Botany, Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, Rajasthan, 313001, India
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Shi LD, Lv PL, Wang M, Lai CY, Zhao HP. A mixed consortium of methanotrophic archaea and bacteria boosts methane-dependent selenate reduction. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 732:139310. [PMID: 32442771 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Though methane-based selenate reduction has been reported, neither the selenate load nor the removal rate could satisfy practical applications, thus limiting this technique to bio-remediate selenate pollution. In the present study, using a membrane biofilm batch reactor (MBBR), we successfully enriched a consortium performing methane-dependent selenate reduction, with enhanced reduction rates from 16.1 to 28.9 μM-day-1 under a comparable Se concentration to industrial wastewaters (i.e., ~500 μM). During active reduction, 16S rRNA gene copies of Archaea and Bacteria were both increased more than one order of magnitude. Clone library construction and high-throughput sequencing indicated that Methanosarcina and Methylocystis were the only methane-oxidizing microorganisms. The presence of 20 mM bromoethanesulphonate or 0.15 mM acetylene both significantly, but not completely, inhibited methane-dependent selenate reduction, indicating the concurrent contributions of methanotrophic archaea and bacteria. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) revealed that archaea directly adhered to the surface of the membrane while bacteria were in the outer layer, together forming the mature biofilm. This study highlights the crucial role of both methanotrophic archaea and bacteria in methane-dependent selenate reduction, and lays foundations in applying methane to bio-remediate practical selenate pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling-Dong Shi
- MOE Key Lab of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, College of Environmental and Resource Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Zhejiang Prov Key Lab Water Pollut Control & Envi, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Pan-Long Lv
- MOE Key Lab of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, College of Environmental and Resource Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Zhejiang Prov Key Lab Water Pollut Control & Envi, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Min Wang
- MOE Key Lab of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, College of Environmental and Resource Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Chun-Yu Lai
- MOE Key Lab of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, College of Environmental and Resource Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - He-Ping Zhao
- MOE Key Lab of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, College of Environmental and Resource Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Zhejiang Prov Key Lab Water Pollut Control & Envi, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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11
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Xia L, Schellenger AEP, Onnis-Hayden A, Jaisi D, Larese-Casanova P. Isolation of selenate from selenite, carbonate, phosphate, and arsenate solutions for δ 18O-selenate determination. ISOTOPES IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH STUDIES 2020; 56:297-313. [PMID: 32138548 DOI: 10.1080/10256016.2020.1733552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Selenium and oxygen isotope systematics can be useful tools for tracing sources and fate of Se oxyanions in water. In order to measure δ18O values of selenate, SeO4 2- must first be sequestered from water by precipitation as BaSeO4(s). However, other dissolved oxyanions insoluble with Ba2+ require removal. Dissolved selenate was separated from dissolved selenite, carbonate, phosphate, and arsenate by addition of Ce3+ cations that quantitatively removed these oxyanions by precipitation as insoluble Ce2(SeO3)3(s), Ce2(CO3)3(s), CePO4(s), and CeAsO4(s), respectively. δ18O-selenate (-8.19 ± 0.17 ‰) did not change after four replicates of selenite removal by Ce2(SeO3)3(s) precipitation and Ce3+ removal by cation exchange (-8.20 ± 0.14, -8.32 ± 0.09, -8.17 ± 0.13, and -8.29 ± 0.13 ‰). δ18O-selenate values (-10.86 ± 0.45 ‰) were preserved also when selenate was pre-concentrated on anion exchange resin, quantitatively retrieved by elution, and processed with Ce3+ to remove interfering oxyanions (-10.77 ± 0.07 ‰). The extraction and purification steps developed here successfully isolated dissolved selenate from interfering oxyanions while preserving δ18O-selenate values. This method should be useful for characterizing δ18O-selenate when present with the co-occurring oxyanions above in laboratory experiments and field sites with high Se concentrations, although further research is required for methods to eliminate any co-occurring sulphate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lichao Xia
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA
| | | | - Annalisa Onnis-Hayden
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Deb Jaisi
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Philip Larese-Casanova
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
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12
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Lavy A, McGrath DG, Matheus Carnevali PB, Wan J, Dong W, Tokunaga TK, Thomas BC, Williams KH, Hubbard SS, Banfield JF. Microbial communities across a hillslope-riparian transect shaped by proximity to the stream, groundwater table, and weathered bedrock. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:6869-6900. [PMID: 31380022 PMCID: PMC6662431 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Revised: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Watersheds are important suppliers of freshwater for human societies. Within mountainous watersheds, microbial communities impact water chemistry and element fluxes as water from precipitation events discharge through soils and underlying weathered rock, yet there is limited information regarding the structure and function of these communities. Within the East River, CO watershed, we conducted a depth-resolved, hillslope to riparian zone transect study to identify factors that control how microorganisms are distributed and their functions. Metagenomic and geochemical analyses indicate that distance from the East River and proximity to groundwater and underlying weathered shale strongly impact microbial community structure and metabolic potential. Riparian zone microbial communities are compositionally distinct, from the phylum down to the species level, from all hillslope communities. Bacteria from phyla lacking isolated representatives consistently increase in abundance with increasing depth, but only in the riparian zone saturated sediments we found Candidate Phyla Radiation bacteria. Riparian zone microbial communities are functionally differentiated from hillslope communities based on their capacities for carbon and nitrogen fixation and sulfate reduction. Selenium reduction is prominent at depth in weathered shale and saturated riparian zone sediments and could impact water quality. We anticipate that the drivers of community composition and metabolic potential identified throughout the studied transect will predict patterns across the larger watershed hillslope system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adi Lavy
- Earth and Planetary ScienceUniversity of CaliforniaBerkeleyCalifornia
- Earth and Environmental SciencesLawrence Berkeley National LabBerkeleyCalifornia
| | | | | | - Jiamin Wan
- Earth and Environmental SciencesLawrence Berkeley National LabBerkeleyCalifornia
| | - Wenming Dong
- Earth and Environmental SciencesLawrence Berkeley National LabBerkeleyCalifornia
| | - Tetsu K. Tokunaga
- Earth and Environmental SciencesLawrence Berkeley National LabBerkeleyCalifornia
| | - Brian C. Thomas
- Earth and Planetary ScienceUniversity of CaliforniaBerkeleyCalifornia
| | - Kenneth H. Williams
- Earth and Environmental SciencesLawrence Berkeley National LabBerkeleyCalifornia
| | - Susan S. Hubbard
- Earth and Environmental SciencesLawrence Berkeley National LabBerkeleyCalifornia
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13
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Ullah H, Liu G, Yousaf B, Ali MU, Irshad S, Abbas Q, Ahmad R. A comprehensive review on environmental transformation of selenium: recent advances and research perspectives. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2019; 41:1003-1035. [PMID: 30267320 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-018-0195-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2018] [Accepted: 09/21/2018] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Selenium (Se) is an important micronutrient and essential trace element for both humans and animals, which exist in the environment ubiquitously. Selenium deficiency is an important issue worldwide, with various reported cases of its deficiency. Low selenium contents in some specific terrestrial environments have resulted in its deficiency in humans. However, high levels of selenium in the geochemical environment may have harmful influences and can cause a severe toxicity to living things. Due to its extremely narrow deficiency and toxicity limits, selenium is becoming a serious matter of discussion for the scientists who deals with selenium-related environmental and health issues. Based on available relevant literature, this review provides a comprehensive data about Se sources, levels, production and factors affecting selenium bioavailability/speciation in soil, characteristics of Se, biogeochemical cycling, deficiency and toxicity, and its environmental transformation to know the Se distribution in the environment. Further research should focus on thoroughly understanding the concentration, speciation, Se cycling in the environment and food chain to effectively utilize Se resources, remediate Se deficiency/toxicity, and evaluate the Se states and eco-effects on human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Habib Ullah
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and the Environments, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, People's Republic of China
| | - Guijian Liu
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and the Environments, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, People's Republic of China.
| | - Balal Yousaf
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and the Environments, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, People's Republic of China
| | - Muhammad Ubaid Ali
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and the Environments, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, People's Republic of China
| | - Samina Irshad
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and the Environments, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, People's Republic of China
| | - Qumber Abbas
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and the Environments, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, People's Republic of China
| | - Rafay Ahmad
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and the Environments, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, People's Republic of China
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14
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Persistent Bacterial and Fungal Community Shifts Exhibited in Selenium-Contaminated Reclaimed Mine Soils. Appl Environ Microbiol 2018; 84:AEM.01394-18. [PMID: 29915105 PMCID: PMC6070768 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01394-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Mining and other industrial activities worldwide have resulted in Se-enriched surface soils, which pose risks to human and environmental health. Although not well studied, microbial activity can alter Se bioavailability and distribution, even in oxic environments. We used high-throughput sequencing to profile bacterial and fungal communities inhabiting mine soils in southeastern Idaho, comparing mined and unmined locations within two reclaimed phosphate mine areas containing various Se concentrations. The goal was to determine whether microbial communities differed in (i) different mines, (ii) mined areas compared to unmined areas, and (iii) various soil Se concentrations. Though reclamation occurred 20 to 30 years ago, microbial community structures in mined soils were significantly altered compared to unmined soils, suggesting persistent mining-related impacts on soil processes. Additionally, operational taxonomic unit with a 97% sequence similarity cutoff (OTU0.03) richness and diversity were significantly diminished with increasing Se, though not with other geochemical parameters, suggesting that Se contamination shapes communities in favor of Se-tolerant microorganisms. Two bacterial phyla, Actinobacteria and Gemmatimonadetes, were enriched in high-Se soils, while for fungi, Ascomycota dominated all soils regardless of Se concentration. Combining diversity analyses and taxonomic patterns enables us to move toward connecting physiological function of microbial groups to Se biogeochemical cycling in oxic soil environments.IMPORTANCE Selenium contamination in natural environments is of great concern globally, and microbial processes are known to mediate Se transformations. Such transformations alter Se mobility, bioavailability, and toxicity, which can amplify or mitigate Se pollution. To date, nearly all studies investigating Se-microbe interactions have used culture-based approaches with anaerobic bacteria despite growing knowledge that (i) aerobic Se transformations can occur, (ii) such transformations can be mediated by microorganisms other than bacteria, and (iii) microbial community dynamics, rather than individual organismal activities, are important for metal(loid) cycling in natural environments. We examined bacterial and fungal communities in Se-contaminated reclaimed mine soils and found significant declines in diversity at high Se concentrations. Additionally, we identified specific taxonomic groups that tolerate excess Se and may be useful for bioremediation purposes. These patterns were similar across mines of different ages, suggesting that microbial community impacts may persist long after physicochemical parameters indicate complete site recovery.
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15
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Fakra SC, Luef B, Castelle CJ, Mullin SW, Williams KH, Marcus MA, Schichnes D, Banfield JF. Correlative Cryogenic Spectromicroscopy to Investigate Selenium Bioreduction Products. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2018; 52:503-512. [PMID: 26371540 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b01409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Accurate mapping of the composition and structure of minerals and associated biological materials is critical in geomicrobiology and environmental research. Here, we have developed an apparatus that allows the correlation of cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) and synchrotron hard X-ray microprobe (SHXM) data sets to precisely determine the distribution, valence state, and structure of selenium in biofilms sampled from a contaminated aquifer near Rifle, CO. Results were replicated in the laboratory via anaerobic selenate-reducing enrichment cultures. 16S rRNA analyses of field-derived biofilm indicated the dominance of Betaproteobacteria from the Comamonadaceae family and uncultivated members of the Simplicispira genus. The major product in field and culture-derived biofilms is ∼25-300 nm red amorphous Se0 aggregates of colloidal nanoparticles. Correlative analyses of the cultures provided direct evidence for the microbial dissimilatory reduction of Se(VI) to Se(IV) to Se0. Extended X-ray absorption fine-structure spectroscopy showed red amorphous Se0 with a first shell Se-Se interatomic distance of 2.339 ± 0.003 Å. Complementary scanning transmission X-ray microscopy revealed that these aggregates are strongly associated with a protein-rich biofilm matrix. These findings have important implications for predicting the stability and mobility of Se bioremediation products and understanding of Se biogeochemical cycling. The approach, involving the correlation of cryo-SHXM and cryo-TEM data sets from the same specimen area, is broadly applicable to biological and environmental samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sirine C Fakra
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science and ‡Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of California , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Advanced Light Source and ∥Earth Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Birgit Luef
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science and ‡Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of California , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Advanced Light Source and ∥Earth Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Cindy J Castelle
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science and ‡Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of California , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Advanced Light Source and ∥Earth Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Sean W Mullin
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science and ‡Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of California , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Advanced Light Source and ∥Earth Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Kenneth H Williams
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science and ‡Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of California , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Advanced Light Source and ∥Earth Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Matthew A Marcus
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science and ‡Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of California , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Advanced Light Source and ∥Earth Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Denise Schichnes
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science and ‡Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of California , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Advanced Light Source and ∥Earth Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Jillian F Banfield
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science and ‡Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of California , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Advanced Light Source and ∥Earth Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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16
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Wadgaonkar SL, Nancharaiah YV, Esposito G, Lens PNL. Environmental impact and bioremediation of seleniferous soils and sediments. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2018; 38:941-956. [DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2017.1420623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Yarlagadda V. Nancharaiah
- Biofouling and Biofilm Processes Section of Water and Steam Chemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushakti Nagar Complex, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Giovanni Esposito
- Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, Cassino, FR, Italy
| | - Piet N. L. Lens
- UNESCO IHE Institute for Water Education, Delft, The Netherlands
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17
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Tugarova AV, Kamnev AA. Proteins in microbial synthesis of selenium nanoparticles. Talanta 2017; 174:539-547. [PMID: 28738620 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2017.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2017] [Revised: 05/28/2017] [Accepted: 06/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Biogenic formation of nano-sized particles composed of various materials (in particular, selenium) by live microorganisms is widespread in nature. This phenomenon has been increasingly attracting the attention of researchers over the last decade not only owing to a range of diverse applications of such nanoparticles (NPs) in nanobiotechnology, but also because of the specificity of methodologies and mechanisms of NPs formation related to "green synthesis". In this mini-review, recent data are discussed on the multifaceted role of proteins in the processes of microbial reduction of selenium oxyanions and the formation of Se NPs. Besides the involvement of proteins in reducing selenites and selenates, their participation in the microbially driven growth and stabilisation of Se NPs is analysed, which results in the formation of unique nanostructured materials differing from those obtained chemically. This mini-review is thus focussed on proteins involved in microbial synthesis of Se NPs and on instrumental analysis of these processes and their products (biogenic nanostructured selenium particles functionalised by a surface-capping layer of various biomacromolecules).
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna V Tugarova
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Plants and Microorganisms, Russian Academy of Sciences, 13 Prosp. Entuziastov, 410049 Saratov, Russia.
| | - Alexander A Kamnev
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Plants and Microorganisms, Russian Academy of Sciences, 13 Prosp. Entuziastov, 410049 Saratov, Russia.
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18
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Yabusaki SB, Wilkins MJ, Fang Y, Williams KH, Arora B, Bargar J, Beller HR, Bouskill NJ, Brodie EL, Christensen JN, Conrad ME, Danczak RE, King E, Soltanian MR, Spycher NF, Steefel CI, Tokunaga TK, Versteeg R, Waichler SR, Wainwright HM. Water Table Dynamics and Biogeochemical Cycling in a Shallow, Variably-Saturated Floodplain. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2017; 51:3307-3317. [PMID: 28218533 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b04873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Three-dimensional variably saturated flow and multicomponent biogeochemical reactive transport modeling, based on published and newly generated data, is used to better understand the interplay of hydrology, geochemistry, and biology controlling the cycling of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, iron, sulfur, and uranium in a shallow floodplain. In this system, aerobic respiration generally maintains anoxic groundwater below an oxic vadose zone until seasonal snowmelt-driven water table peaking transports dissolved oxygen (DO) and nitrate from the vadose zone into the alluvial aquifer. The response to this perturbation is localized due to distinct physico-biogeochemical environments and relatively long time scales for transport through the floodplain aquifer and vadose zone. Naturally reduced zones (NRZs) containing sediments higher in organic matter, iron sulfides, and non-crystalline U(IV) rapidly consume DO and nitrate to maintain anoxic conditions, yielding Fe(II) from FeS oxidative dissolution, nitrite from denitrification, and U(VI) from nitrite-promoted U(IV) oxidation. Redox cycling is a key factor for sustaining the observed aquifer behaviors despite continuous oxygen influx and the annual hydrologically induced oxidation event. Depth-dependent activity of fermenters, aerobes, nitrate reducers, sulfate reducers, and chemolithoautotrophs (e.g., oxidizing Fe(II), S compounds, and ammonium) is linked to the presence of DO, which has higher concentrations near the water table.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven B Yabusaki
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory , Richland, Washington 99354, United States
| | | | - Yilin Fang
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory , Richland, Washington 99354, United States
| | - Kenneth H Williams
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Bhavna Arora
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - John Bargar
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory , Menlo Park, California 94025, United States
| | - Harry R Beller
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Nicholas J Bouskill
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Eoin L Brodie
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - John N Christensen
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Mark E Conrad
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | | | - Eric King
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | | | - Nicolas F Spycher
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Carl I Steefel
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Tetsu K Tokunaga
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Roelof Versteeg
- Subsurface Insights , Hanover, New Hampshire 03755, United States
| | - Scott R Waichler
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory , Richland, Washington 99354, United States
| | - Haruko M Wainwright
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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19
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Jewell TNM, Karaoz U, Bill M, Chakraborty R, Brodie EL, Williams KH, Beller HR. Metatranscriptomic Analysis Reveals Unexpectedly Diverse Microbial Metabolism in a Biogeochemical Hot Spot in an Alluvial Aquifer. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:40. [PMID: 28179898 PMCID: PMC5264521 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2016] [Accepted: 01/06/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Organic matter deposits in alluvial aquifers have been shown to result in the formation of naturally reduced zones (NRZs), which can modulate aquifer redox status and influence the speciation and mobility of metals, affecting groundwater geochemistry. In this study, we sought to better understand how natural organic matter fuels microbial communities within anoxic biogeochemical hot spots (NRZs) in a shallow alluvial aquifer at the Rifle (CO) site. We conducted a 20-day microcosm experiment in which NRZ sediments, which were enriched in buried woody plant material, served as the sole source of electron donors and microorganisms. The microcosms were constructed and incubated under anaerobic conditions in serum bottles with an initial N2 headspace and were sampled every 5 days for metagenome and metatranscriptome profiles in combination with biogeochemical measurements. Biogeochemical data indicated that the decomposition of native organic matter occurred in different phases, beginning with mineralization of dissolved organic matter (DOM) to CO2 during the first week of incubation, followed by a pulse of acetogenesis that dominated carbon flux after 2 weeks. A pulse of methanogenesis co-occurred with acetogenesis, but only accounted for a small fraction of carbon flux. The depletion of DOM over time was strongly correlated with increases in expression of many genes associated with heterotrophy (e.g., amino acid, fatty acid, and carbohydrate metabolism) belonging to a Hydrogenophaga strain that accounted for a relatively large percentage (~8%) of the metatranscriptome. This Hydrogenophaga strain also expressed genes indicative of chemolithoautotrophy, including CO2 fixation, H2 oxidation, S-compound oxidation, and denitrification. The pulse of acetogenesis appears to have been collectively catalyzed by a number of different organisms and metabolisms, most prominently pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase. Unexpected genes were identified among the most highly expressed (>98th percentile) transcripts, including acetone carboxylase and cell-wall-associated hydrolases with unknown substrates (numerous lesser expressed cell-wall-associated hydrolases targeted peptidoglycan). Many of the most highly expressed hydrolases belonged to a Ca. Bathyarchaeota strain and may have been associated with recycling of bacterial biomass. Overall, these results highlight the complex nature of organic matter transformation in NRZs and the microbial metabolic pathways that interact to mediate redox status and elemental cycling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talia N M Jewell
- Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Ulas Karaoz
- Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Markus Bill
- Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Romy Chakraborty
- Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Eoin L Brodie
- Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Kenneth H Williams
- Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Harry R Beller
- Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley, CA, USA
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20
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Basu A, Schilling K, Brown ST, Johnson TM, Christensen JN, Hartmann M, Reimus PW, Heikoop JM, Woldegabriel G, DePaolo DJ. Se Isotopes as Groundwater Redox Indicators: Detecting Natural Attenuation of Se at an in Situ Recovery U Mine. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2016; 50:10833-10842. [PMID: 27547844 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b01464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
One of the major ecological concerns associated with the in situ recovery (ISR) of uranium (U) is the environmental release of soluble, toxic selenium (Se) oxyanions generated by mining. Post-mining natural attenuation by the residual reductants in the ore body and reduced down-gradient sediments should mitigate the risk of Se contamination in groundwater. In this work, we investigate the Se concentrations and Se isotope systematics of groundwater and of U ore bearing sediments from an ISR site at Rosita, TX, USA. Our results show that selenate (Se(VI)) is the dominant Se species in Rosita groundwater, and while several up-gradient wells have elevated Se(VI), the majority of the ore zone and down-gradient wells have little or no Se oxyanions. In addition, the δ82SeVI of Rosita groundwater is generally elevated relative to the U ore up to +6.14‰, with the most enriched values observed in the ore-zone wells. Increasing δ82Se with decreasing Se(VI) conforms to a Rayleigh type distillation model with an ε of -2.25‰ ± 0.61‰, suggesting natural Se(VI) reduction occurring along the hydraulic gradient at the Rosita ISR site. Furthermore, our results show that Se isotopes are excellent sensors for detecting and monitoring post-mining natural attenuation of Se oxyanions at ISR sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anirban Basu
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California , 307 McCone Hall, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Kathrin Schilling
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California , 130 Mulford Hall, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Shaun T Brown
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California , 307 McCone Hall, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Thomas M Johnson
- Department of Geology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , 605 East Springfield Avenue, Champaign, Illinois 61820, United States
| | - John N Christensen
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Matt Hartmann
- Uranium Resources, Inc. , 6950 South Potomac Street, Suite 300, Centennial, Colorado 80112, United States
| | - Paul W Reimus
- Earth and Environmental Sciences Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory , Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Jeffrey M Heikoop
- Earth and Environmental Sciences Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory , Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Giday Woldegabriel
- Earth and Environmental Sciences Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory , Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Donald J DePaolo
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California , 307 McCone Hall, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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21
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Microbial Transformations of Selenium Species of Relevance to Bioremediation. Appl Environ Microbiol 2016; 82:4848-59. [PMID: 27260359 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00877-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Selenium species, particularly the oxyanions selenite (SeO3 (2-)) and selenate (SeO4 (2-)), are significant pollutants in the environment that leach from rocks and are released by anthropogenic activities. Selenium is also an essential micronutrient for organisms across the tree of life, including microorganisms and human beings, particularly because of its presence in the 21st genetically encoded amino acid, selenocysteine. Environmental microorganisms are known to be capable of a range of transformations of selenium species, including reduction, methylation, oxidation, and demethylation. Assimilatory reduction of selenium species is necessary for the synthesis of selenoproteins. Dissimilatory reduction of selenate is known to support the anaerobic respiration of a number of microorganisms, and the dissimilatory reduction of soluble selenate and selenite to nanoparticulate elemental selenium greatly reduces the toxicity and bioavailability of selenium and has a major role in bioremediation and potentially in the production of selenium nanospheres for technological applications. Also, microbial methylation after reduction of Se oxyanions is another potentially effective detoxification process if limitations with low reaction rates and capture of the volatile methylated selenium species can be overcome. This review discusses microbial transformations of different forms of Se in an environmental context, with special emphasis on bioremediation of Se pollution.
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22
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Gonzalez-Gil G, Lens PNL, Saikaly PE. Selenite Reduction by Anaerobic Microbial Aggregates: Microbial Community Structure, and Proteins Associated to the Produced Selenium Spheres. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:571. [PMID: 27199909 PMCID: PMC4844624 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2015] [Accepted: 04/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Certain types of anaerobic granular sludge, which consists of microbial aggregates, can reduce selenium oxyanions. To envisage strategies for removing those oxyanions from wastewater and recovering the produced elemental selenium (Se(0)), insights into the microbial community structure and synthesis of Se(0) within these microbial aggregates are required. High-throughput sequencing showed that Veillonellaceae (c.a. 20%) and Pseudomonadaceae (c.a.10%) were the most abundant microbial phylotypes in selenite reducing microbial aggregates. The majority of the Pseudomonadaceae sequences were affiliated to the genus Pseudomonas. A distinct outer layer (∼200 μm) of selenium deposits indicated that bioreduction occurred in the outer zone of the microbial aggregates. In that outer layer, SEM analysis showed abundant intracellular and extracellular Se(0) (nano)spheres, with some cells having high numbers of intracellular Se(0) spheres. Electron tomography showed that microbial cells can harbor a single large intracellular sphere that stretches the cell body. The Se(0) spheres produced by the microorganisms were capped with organic material. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis of extracted Se(0) spheres, combined with a mathematical approach to analyzing XPS spectra from biological origin, indicated that proteins and lipids were components of the capping material associated to the Se(0) spheres. The most abundant proteins associated to the spheres were identified by proteomic analysis. Most of the proteins or peptide sequences capping the Se(0) spheres were identified as periplasmic outer membrane porins and as the cytoplasmic elongation factor Tu protein, suggesting an intracellular formation of the Se(0) spheres. In view of these and previous findings, a schematic model for the synthesis of Se(0) spheres by the microorganisms inhabiting the granular sludge is proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graciela Gonzalez-Gil
- Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Water Desalination and Reuse Center, King Abdullah University of Science and TechnologyThuwal, Saudi Arabia; Department of Environmental Engineering and Water Technology, UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water EducationDelft, Netherlands
| | - Piet N L Lens
- Department of Environmental Engineering and Water Technology, UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education Delft, Netherlands
| | - Pascal E Saikaly
- Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Water Desalination and Reuse Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
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Metatranscriptomic evidence of pervasive and diverse chemolithoautotrophy relevant to C, S, N and Fe cycling in a shallow alluvial aquifer. ISME JOURNAL 2016; 10:2106-17. [PMID: 26943628 PMCID: PMC4989316 DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2016.25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2015] [Revised: 01/06/2016] [Accepted: 01/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Groundwater ecosystems are conventionally thought to be fueled by surface-derived allochthonous organic matter and dominated by heterotrophic microbes living under often-oligotrophic conditions. However, in a 2-month study of nitrate amendment to a perennially suboxic aquifer in Rifle (CO), strain-resolved metatranscriptomic analysis revealed pervasive and diverse chemolithoautotrophic bacterial activity relevant to C, S, N and Fe cycling. Before nitrate injection, anaerobic ammonia-oxidizing (anammox) bacteria accounted for 16% of overall microbial community gene expression, whereas during the nitrate injection, two other groups of chemolithoautotrophic bacteria collectively accounted for 80% of the metatranscriptome: (1) members of the Fe(II)-oxidizing Gallionellaceae family and (2) strains of the S-oxidizing species, Sulfurimonas denitrificans. Notably, the proportion of the metatranscriptome accounted for by these three groups was considerably greater than the proportion of the metagenome coverage that they represented. Transcriptional analysis revealed some unexpected metabolic couplings, in particular, putative nitrate-dependent Fe(II) and S oxidation among nominally microaerophilic Gallionellaceae strains, including expression of periplasmic (NapAB) and membrane-bound (NarGHI) nitrate reductases. The three most active groups of chemolithoautotrophic bacteria in this study had overlapping metabolisms that allowed them to occupy different yet related metabolic niches throughout the study. Overall, these results highlight the important role that chemolithoautotrophy can have in aquifer biogeochemical cycling, a finding that has broad implications for understanding terrestrial carbon cycling and is supported by recent studies of geochemically diverse aquifers.
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Qualls C, Kornfeld M, Joste N, Ali AM, Appenzeller O. MPV17-related hepatocerebral mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome (MPV17-NNH) revisited. eNeurologicalSci 2016; 2:8-13. [PMID: 29473055 PMCID: PMC5818138 DOI: 10.1016/j.ensci.2016.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2015] [Accepted: 01/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
MPV17-related hepatocerebral mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome (previously known as Navajo neurohepatopathy) was discovered in children in the Four Corner's region of New Mexico approximately 40 years ago. This disease is associated with a single missense mutation in exon 2 in the MPV17 gene. The syndrome has now been recognized world-wide. We find that huge quantities of neurotoxins were present in archived nervous tissues from such patients. Arsenic was increased 18 ×, cadmium ~ 10 ×, cobalt 2.5 × and manganese 2.3 ×; the largest increase was in mercury content 16,000 × compared to contemporaneous fresh-frozen normal nervous tissues. In the Four Corner's region of NM the life span is reduced compared to other parts of the United States and in our patients with MPV17-NNH the average life span was 5.4 years ± 2.7 (SE) years. We now live in the Anthropocene an epoch characterized by large additions to the biosphere of neurotoxins. The effects of such toxic loads on human health and disease remain to be assessed. We speculate how such high neurotoxin content in tissues, which is likely to increase during the Anthropocene, may have influenced MPV17-NNH and similar phenotypes in different parts of the world. Our results imply that selenium supplementation to the diet in the Four Corner's region of NM might be beneficial to normal people and in the management of patients with MPV17-NNH syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clifford Qualls
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87122, United States
| | - Mario Kornfeld
- Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM 87122, United States
| | - Nancy Joste
- Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM 87122, United States
| | - Abdul-Mehdi Ali
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87122, United States
| | - Otto Appenzeller
- Department of Neurology, NMHEMC Research Foundation, Albuquerque, NM 87122, United States
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Ontiveros-Valencia A, Penton CR, Krajmalnik-Brown R, Rittmann BE. Hydrogen-fed biofilm reactors reducing selenate and sulfate: Community structure and capture of elemental selenium within the biofilm. Biotechnol Bioeng 2016; 113:1736-44. [DOI: 10.1002/bit.25945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2015] [Revised: 01/16/2016] [Accepted: 01/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Aura Ontiveros-Valencia
- Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology; Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University; 1001 South McAllister Ave. Tempe Arizona 85287-5701
| | | | - Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown
- Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology; Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University; 1001 South McAllister Ave. Tempe Arizona 85287-5701
- School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment; Arizona State University; Tempe Arizona
| | - Bruce E. Rittmann
- Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology; Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University; 1001 South McAllister Ave. Tempe Arizona 85287-5701
- School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment; Arizona State University; Tempe Arizona
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26
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Cismasu AC, Williams KH, Nico PS. Iron and Carbon Dynamics during Aging and Reductive Transformation of Biogenic Ferrihydrite. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2016; 50:25-35. [PMID: 26605981 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b03021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Natural organic matter is often associated with Fe(III) oxyhydroxides, and may be stabilized as a result of coprecipitation or sorption to their surfaces. However, the significance of this association in relation to Fe and C dynamics and biogeochemical cycling, and the mechanisms responsible for organic matter stabilization as a result of interaction with minerals under various environmental conditions (e.g., pH, Eh, etc.) are not entirely understood. The preservation of mineral-bound OM may be affected by OM structure and mineral identity, and bond types between OM and minerals may be central to influencing the stability, transformation and composition of both organic and mineral components under changing environmental conditions. Here we use bulk and submicron-scale spectroscopic synchrotron methods to examine the in situ transformation of OM-bearing, biogenic ferrihydrite stalks (Gallionella ferruginea-like), which formed following injection of oxygenated groundwater into a saturated alluvial aquifer at the Rifle, CO field site. A progression from oxidizing to reducing conditions during an eight-month period triggered the aging and reductive transformation of Gallionella-like ferrihydrite stalks to Fe (hydroxy)carbonates and Fe sulfides, as well as alteration of the composition and amount of OM. Spectromicroscopic measurements showed a gradual decrease in reduced carbon forms (aromatic/alkene, aliphatic C), a relative increase in amide/carboxyl functional groups and a significant increase in carbonate in the stalk structures, and the appearance of organic globules not associated with stalk structures. Biogenic stalks lost ∼30% of their initial organic carbon content. Conversely, a significant increase in bulk organic matter accompanied these transformations. The character of bulk OM changed in parallel with mineralogical transformations, showing an increase in aliphatic, aromatic and amide functional groups. These changes likely occurred as a result of an increase in microbial activity, or biomass production under anoxic conditions. By the end of this experiment, a substantial fraction of organic matter remained in identifiable Fe containing stalks, but carbon was also present in additional pools, for example, organic matter globules and iron carbonate minerals.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Cristina Cismasu
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Rd., Berkeley, California, United States
| | - Kenneth H Williams
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Rd., Berkeley, California, United States
| | - Peter S Nico
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Rd., Berkeley, California, United States
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Nancharaiah YV, Lens PNL. Selenium biomineralization for biotechnological applications. Trends Biotechnol 2015; 33:323-30. [PMID: 25908504 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2015.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2015] [Revised: 03/19/2015] [Accepted: 03/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Selenium (Se) is not only a strategic element in high-tech electronics and an essential trace element in living organisms, but also a potential toxin with low threshold concentrations. Environmental biotechnological applications using bacterial biomineralization have the potential not only to remove selenium from contaminated waters, but also to sequester it in a reusable form. Selenium biomineralization has been observed in phylogenetically diverse microorganisms isolated from pristine and contaminated environments, yet it is one of the most poorly understood biogeochemical processes. Microbial respiration of selenium is unique because the microbial cells are presented with both soluble (SeO(4)(2-) and SeO(3)(2-)) and insoluble (Se(0)) forms of selenium as terminal electron acceptor. Here, we highlight selenium biomineralization and the potential biotechnological uses for it in bioremediation and wastewater treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yarlagadda V Nancharaiah
- Environmental Engineering and Water Technology Department, UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, PO Box 3015, Delft DA 2601, The Netherlands; Biofouling and Biofilm Processes Section of Water and Steam Chemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Kalpakkam, 603102, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Piet N L Lens
- Environmental Engineering and Water Technology Department, UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, PO Box 3015, Delft DA 2601, The Netherlands; Department of Chemistry and Bioengineering, Tampere University of Technology, PO Box 541, Tampere, Finland.
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28
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Abstract
In nature, selenium is actively cycled between oxic and anoxic habitats, and this cycle plays an important role in carbon and nitrogen mineralization through bacterial anaerobic respiration. Selenium-respiring bacteria (SeRB) are found in geographically diverse, pristine or contaminated environments and play a pivotal role in the selenium cycle. Unlike its structural analogues oxygen and sulfur, the chalcogen selenium and its microbial cycling have received much less attention by the scientific community. This review focuses on microorganisms that use selenate and selenite as terminal electron acceptors, in parallel to the well-studied sulfate-reducing bacteria. It overviews the significant advancements made in recent years on the role of SeRB in the biological selenium cycle and their ecological role, phylogenetic characterization, and metabolism, as well as selenium biomineralization mechanisms and environmental biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y V Nancharaiah
- Environmental Engineering and Water Technology Department, UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, Delft, The Netherlands Biofouling and Biofilm Processes Section, Water and Steam Chemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - P N L Lens
- Environmental Engineering and Water Technology Department, UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, Delft, The Netherlands
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30
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Tugarova AV, Vetchinkina EP, Loshchinina EA, Burov AM, Nikitina VE, Kamnev AA. Reduction of selenite by Azospirillum brasilense with the formation of selenium nanoparticles. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2014; 68:495-503. [PMID: 24863127 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-014-0429-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2013] [Accepted: 04/29/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The ability to reduce selenite (SeO(3)(2-)) ions with the formation of selenium nanoparticles was demonstrated in Azospirillum brasilense for the first time. The influence of selenite ions on the growth of A. brasilense Sp7 and Sp245, two widely studied wild-type strains, was investigated. Growth of cultures on both liquid and solid (2 % agar) media in the presence of SeO(3)(2-) was found to be accompanied by the appearance of the typical red colouration. By means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and X-ray fluorescence analysis (XFA), intracellular accumulation of elementary selenium in the form of nanoparticles (50 to 400 nm in diameter) was demonstrated for both strains. The proposed mechanism of selenite-to-selenium (0) reduction could involve SeO(3)(2-) in the denitrification process, which has been well studied in azospirilla, rather than a selenite detoxification strategy. The results obtained point to the possibility of using Azospirillum strains as endophytic or rhizospheric bacteria to assist phytoremediation of, and cereal cultivation on, selenium-contaminated soils. The ability of A. brasilense to synthesise selenium nanoparticles may be of interest to nanobiotechnology for "green synthesis" of bioavailable amorphous red selenium nanostructures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna V Tugarova
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Plants and Microorganisms, Russian Academy of Sciences, 410049, Saratov, Russia,
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Lai CY, Yang X, Tang Y, Rittmann BE, Zhao HP. Nitrate shaped the selenate-reducing microbial community in a hydrogen-based biofilm reactor. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2014; 48:3395-3402. [PMID: 24579788 DOI: 10.1021/es4053939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
To study the effect of nitrate (NO3(-)) on selenate (SeO4(2-)) reduction, we tested a H2-based biofilm with a range of influent NO3(-) loadings. When SeO4(2-) was the only electron acceptor (stage 1), 40% of the influent SeO4(2-) was reduced to insoluble elemental selenium (Se(0)). SeO4(2-) reduction was dramatically inhibited when NO3(-) was added at a surface loading larger than 1.14 g of N m(-2) day(-1), when H2 delivery became limiting and only 80% of the input NO3(-) was reduced (stage 2). In stage 3, when NO3(-) was again removed from the influent, SeO4(2-) reduction was re-established and increased to 60% conversion to Se(0). SeO4(2-) reduction remained stable at 60% in stages 4 and 5, when the NO3(-) surface loading was re-introduced at ≤ 0.53 g of N m(-2) day(-1), allowing for complete NO3(-) reduction. The selenate-reducing microbial community was significantly reshaped by the high NO3(-) surface loading in stage 2, and it remained stable through stages 3-5. In particular, the abundance of α-Proteobacteria decreased from 30% in stage 1 to less than 10% of total bacteria in stage 2. β-Proteobacteria, which represented about 55% of total bacteria in the biofilm in stage 1, increased to more than 90% of phylotypes in stage 2. Hydrogenophaga, an autotrophic denitrifier, was positively correlated with NO3(-) flux. Thus, introducing a NO3(-) loading high enough to cause H2 limitation and suppress SeO4(2-) reduction had a long-lasting effect on the microbial community structure, which was confirmed by principal coordinate analysis, although SeO4(2-) reduction remained intact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Yu Lai
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, College of Environmental and Resource Science, Zhejiang University , Hangzhou 310029, People's Republic of China
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Applications of biofilms in bioremediation and biotransformation of persistent organic pollutants, pharmaceuticals/personal care products, and heavy metals. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2013; 97:9909-21. [PMID: 24150788 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-013-5216-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2013] [Revised: 08/23/2013] [Accepted: 08/24/2013] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
In this review, the strategies being employed to exploit the inherent durability of biofilms and the diverse nutrient cycling of the microbiome for bioremediation are explored. Focus will be given to halogenated compounds, hydrocarbons, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products as well as some heavy metals and toxic minerals, as these groups represent the majority of priority pollutants. For decades, industrial processes have been creating waste all around the world, resulting in contaminated sediments and subsequent, far-reaching dispersal into aquatic environments. As persistent pollutants have accumulated and are still being created and disposed, the incentive to find suitable and more efficient solutions to effectively detoxify the environment is even greater. Indigenous bacterial communities are capable of metabolizing persistent organic pollutants and oxidizing heavy metal contaminants. However, their low abundance and activity in the environment, difficulties accessing the contaminant or nutrient limitations in the environment all prevent the processes from occurring as quickly as desired and thus reaching the proposed clean-up goals. Biofilm communities provide among other things a beneficial structure, possibility for nutrient, and genetic exchange to participating microorganisms as well as protection from the surrounding environment concerning for instance predation and chemical and shear stresses. Biofilms can also be utilized in other ways as biomarkers for monitoring of stream water quality from for instance mine drainage. The durability and structure of biofilms together with the diverse array of structural and metabolic characteristics make these communities attractive actors in biofilm-mediated remediation solutions and ecosystem monitoring.
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