Mechanisms and pathways of aniline elimination from aquatic environments

Tracking Aromatic Amines from Sources to Surface Waters

This review examines the environmental occurrence and fate of aromatic amines (AAs), a group of environmental contaminants with possible carcinogenic and mutagenic effects. AAs are known to be partially responsible for the genotoxic traits of industrial wastewater (WW), and AA antioxidants are acutely toxic to some aquatic organisms. Still, there are gaps in the available data on sources, occurrence, transport, and fate in domestic WW and indoor environments, which complicate the prevention of adverse effects in aquatic ecosystems. We review key domestic sources of these compounds, including cigarette smoke and grilled protein-rich foods, and their presence indoors and in aquatic matrices. This provides a basis to evaluate the importance of nonindustrial sources to the overall environmental burden of AAs. Appropriate sampling techniques for AAs are described, including copper-phthalocyanine trisulfonate materials, XAD resins in solid-phase extraction, and solid-phase microextraction methods, which can offer insights into AA sources, transport, and fate. Further discussion is provided on potential progress in the research of AAs and their behavior in an aim to support the development of a more comprehensive understanding of their effects and potential environmental risks.

Identification and characterization of a pab gene cluster responsible for the 4-aminobenzoate degradation pathway, including its involvement in the formation of a γ-glutamylated intermediate in Paraburkholderia terrae strain KU-15

Paraburkholderia terrae strain KU-15 grows on 2- and 4-nitrobenzoate and 2- and 4-aminobenzoate (ABA) as the sole nitrogen and carbon sources. The genes responsible for the potential degradation of 2- and 4-nitrobenzoate and 2-ABA have been predicted from its genome sequence. In this study, we identified the pab operon in P. terrae strain KU-15. This operon is responsible for the 4-ABA degradation pathway, which involves the formation of a γ-glutamylated intermediate. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction revealed that the pab operon was induced by 4-ABA. Herein, studying the deletion of pabA and pabB1 in strain KU-15 and the examining of Escherichia coli expressing the pab operon revealed the involvement of the operon in 4-ABA degradation. The first step of the degradation pathway is the formation of a γ-glutamylated intermediate, whereby 4-ABA is converted to γ-glutamyl-4-carboxyanilide (γ-GCA). Subsequently, γ-GCA is oxidized to protocatechuate. Overexpression of various genes in E. coli and purification of recombinant proteins permitted the functional characterization of relevant pathway proteins: PabA is a γ-GCA synthetase, PabB1-B3 functions in a multicomponent dioxygenase system responsible for γ-GCA dioxygenation, and PabC is a γ-GCA hydrolase that reverses the formation of γ-GCA by PabA.

Simultaneous removal of aromatic pollutants and nitrate at high concentrations by hypersaline denitrification:Long-term continuous experiments investigation

If we can use toxic aromatic compounds as supplementary carbon source, the simultaneous removal of nitrate (NO₃^-) and aromatic compounds may be achieved at much lower chemical costs. This study uses the expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactors to investigate the hypersaline (> 3%) denitrification performance, the removal of aromatic compounds, i.e., aniline, phenol, and their mixture, and the mechanisms involved in. The four reactors exhibit high removal efficiency of NO₃^- (> 92.8%) and aromatic compounds (> 73.9%) at 0-1200 mg/L of aromatic compounds. The formation of toxic intermediates such as catechol and azo dyes is revealed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with and without N,O-Bis(trimethylsilyl) trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA) derivation, and their toxic effects lead to the lower cell survival ratios after exposing to phenol (64.2% ∼ 68.9%) than to aniline and mixture (72.7% ∼ 78.0%). The stable performance is associated with the more secretion of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and the adsorption of pollutants on EPS, and this was indicated from the higher fluorescence intensity in three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix (3D-EEM). Moreover, the Halomonas and Azoarcus show high abundance and play important roles in the removal of both NO₃^- and aromatic compounds. Besides, quantitative real time PCR (RT-qPCR) results demonstrate the key role of highly abundant nosZ and nirS genes in denitrification. The toxic organics in industrial wastewaters are potentially feasible carbon sources for denitrification even under high-salinity stress.

Enhancing nitrobenzene biodegradation in aquatic systems: Feasibility of using plain soil as an inoculant and effects of adding ascorbic acid and peptone

Nitrobenzene (NB) is recalcitrant to microbial biodegradation due to the electron-deficient character of the nitro group (NO^2-). Prior work has found that the reductant could enhance NB biodegradation by providing excess electron donors. However, the existing theory couldn't explain the increase-and-decrease pattern of the NB biodegradation rate with an increase in a reductant concentration. Our results suggest that the reductant affects NB biodegradation by two mechanisms: the available electron donors and the stimulation or inhibition of biomass growth, which are linked by a pseudo-first-order reaction kinetics. In addition, the results showed that directly inoculating the plain soil into the aquatic system and then allowing the synergistic effect of the organic reductant (ascorbic acid) and the substrate (peptone) enhance NB biodegradation. Employing the new method, 200 mg L^-1 NB was transformed in 72 h. GC-MS analysis detected two novel intermediate metabolites, indicating that NB was degraded into aniline and further transformed into acetanilide and 9-octadecenamide before its mineralization. This study sheds light on how to exploit the synergistic effects of the availability of excess electron donors and biomass growth by controlling the reductant and a substrate in the right concentration range (e.g., ascorbic acid < 0.8 mgL^-1 + peptone).

Simultaneous anaerobic and aerobic transformations of nitrobenzene

Aerobic biodegradation of nitrobenzene (NB) produces nitrophenol (NP), which has stronger toxicity than NB. Anaerobic biodegradation of NB produces aniline (AN), which has weaker toxicity, but is a dead-end product in anaerobic conditions. Accumulation of AN should be overcome by coupling anaerobic and aerobic transformations: NB is transformed to AN in an anaerobic zone of the bioreactor, and AN is then transformed in an aerobic zone. A vertical baffled bioreactor (VBBR) was employed for NB biodegradation with a controlled dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration. NB biodegradation was accelerated by simultaneous anaerobic and aerobic transformations, since AN was biotransformed by a mono-oxygenase reaction. Adding exogenous electron donor (acetate) enhanced NB removals when the DO concentration was ∼0.5 mg/L, because the donor accelerated mono-oxygenations of NB and AN. Coupling anaerobic and aerobic transformations can be a valuable strategy for biodegrading organic compounds that undergo aerobic and anaerobic biotransformations.

Sequential reduction/oxidation of azo dyes in a three-dimensional biofilm electrode reactor

By combining sequential anaerobic-aerobic reactor and penetrable cathode-anode operation, a novel anaerobic/aerobic sequencing three-dimensional biofilm electrode reactor (3D-BER) was developed to evaluate the degradation of azo dye reactive brilliant red X-3B (RBRX-3B). In the bottom cathodic region, anaerobic reductive conditions and H₂ were produced for the bioreduction of azo dyes; in the top anodic region, aerobic oxidative conditions and O₂ were produced for the mineralization of dye intermediates. Due to the supply of electrical power, electrons could be mediated via electrolysis of water or directly transfer between electrodes and microbe cells. The biofilm immobilized on the surface of the cathode utilized electrode or H₂ as electron donors and accelerated the rate of RBRX-3B reduction, and the decolorization rate was significantly increased 2.6-3.7 fold, reaching at 2.52-3.39 mol/m³/d at an energy consumption of 0.15 kWh/mol RBRX-3B. RBRX-3B was reductively cleaved into aromatic amines at the biocathode and these amines were effectively removed at the bioanode. Acute toxicity tests showed that the intermediates of RBRX-3B were more toxic when compared with the initial influent, and the 3D-BER effluent exhibited much lower toxicity (5% inhibition of bioluminescence of Vibrio fisheri) than the electrochemical and biological effluent (65% and 30% inhibition, respectively). These findings suggest the novel 3D-BER may provide a promising alternative to remove azo dyes in dyeing wastewater.

CATALOGIC 301C model - validation and improvement

In Europe, REACH legislation encourages the use of alternative in silico methods such as (Q)SAR models. According to the recent progress of Chemical Substances Control Law (CSCL) in Japan, (Q)SAR predictions are also utilized as supporting evidence for the assessment of bioaccumulation potential of chemicals along with read across. Currently, the effective use of read across and QSARs is examined for other hazards, including biodegradability. This paper describes the results of external validation and improvement of CATALOGIC 301C model based on more than 1000 tested new chemical substances of the publication schedule under CSCL. CATALOGIC 301C model meets all REACH requirements to be used for biodegradability assessment. The model formalism built on scientific understanding for the microbial degradation of chemicals has a well-defined and transparent applicability domain. The model predictions are adequate for the evaluation of the ready degradability of chemicals.

Juncus spp.-The helophyte for all (phyto)remediation purposes?

Helophytic plants contribute significantly to the remediation of ecosystems through a wide range of physiological or biochemical mechanisms including the role of endophytic bacteria. This review highlights the services provided by Juncus spp. wetland plants, from phytoremediation of soils and groundwater with heavy metals and/or organics to municipal or industrial wastewater treatment in constructed wetlands. The data presented also provide information on the efficiency of specific Juncus spp. in response to various metals and organic compounds, in an effort to exploit the natural capabilities of autochthonous over exotic species in phytoremediation strategies. An overall successful direct (the plant itself) or indirect (through stimulation of elimination mechanisms) contribution of Juncus to remediation of the above contaminants is revealed. However, the specific characteristics of the species used, the type of the pollutant and the region, are issues that should be addressed for a successful outcome.

Structure-Activity Relationships for Rates of Aromatic Amine Oxidation by Manganese Dioxide

New energetic compounds are designed to minimize their potential environmental impacts, which includes their transformation and the fate and effects of their transformation products. The nitro groups of energetic compounds are readily reduced to amines, and the resulting aromatic amines are subject to oxidation and coupling reactions. Manganese dioxide (MnO2) is a common environmental oxidant and model system for kinetic studies of aromatic amine oxidation. In this study, a training set of new and previously reported kinetic data for the oxidation of model and energetic-derived aromatic amines was assembled and subjected to correlation analysis against descriptor variables that ranged from general purpose [Hammett σ constants (σ(-)), pKas of the amines, and energies of the highest occupied molecular orbital (EHOMO)] to specific for the likely rate-limiting step [one-electron oxidation potentials (Eox)]. The selection of calculated descriptors (pKa, EHOMO, and Eox) was based on validation with experimental data. All of the correlations gave satisfactory quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs), but they improved with the specificity of the descriptor. The scope of correlation analysis was extended beyond MnO2 to include literature data on aromatic amine oxidation by other environmentally relevant oxidants (ozone, chlorine dioxide, and phosphate and carbonate radicals) by correlating relative rate constants (normalized to 4-chloroaniline) to EHOMO (calculated with a modest level of theory).

Simultaneous removal of aniline, nitrogen and phosphorus in aniline-containing wastewater treatment by using sequencing batch reactor

The high removal efficiencies of traditional biological aniline-degrading systems always lead to accumulation of ammonium. In this study, simultaneous removal of aniline, nitrogen and phosphorus in a single sequencing batch reactor was achieved by using anaerobic/aerobic/anoxic (A/O/A) operational process. The removal efficiencies of COD, NH4(+)-N, TN, TP were over 95.80%, 83.03%, 87.13%, 90.95%, respectively in most cases with 250mgL(-1) of initial aniline at 6h cycle when DO was 5.5±0.5mgL(-1). Aniline was able to be completely degraded when initial concentrations were less than 750mgL(-1). When DO increased, the removal rate of NH4(+)-N and TP slightly increased along with the moderate decrease of removal efficiencies of TN. The variation of HRT had obvious influence on removal performance of pollutants. The system showed high removal efficiencies of aniline, COD and nutrients during the variation of operating conditions, which might contribute to disposal of aniline-rich industrial wastewater.

Re-Designing of Existing Pharmaceuticals for Environmental Biodegradability: A Tiered Approach with β-Blocker Propranolol as an Example

Worldwide, contamination of aquatic systems with micropollutants, including pharmaceuticals, is one of the challenges for sustainable management of water resources. Although micropollutants are present at low concentrations, many of them raise considerable toxicological concerns, particularly when present as components of complex mixtures. Recent research has shown that this problem cannot be sustainably solved with advanced effluent treatment. Therefore, an alternative that might overcome these environmental problems is the design of new pharmaceutical molecules or the redesign of existing pharmaceutical molecules that present the functionality needed for their application and have improved environmental biodegradability. Such redesigning can be performed by small molecular changes in the drug molecule with intact drug moiety which could incorporate the additional attribute such as biodegradability while retaining its pharmacological potency. This proof of concept study provides an approach for the rational redesign of a given pharmaceutical (Propranolol as an example). New derivatives with small molecular changes as compared to propranolol molecule were generated by a nontargeted photolysis process. Generated derivatives with intact drug moieties (an aromatic ring and a β-ethanolamine moiety) were further screened for aerobic biodegradability and pharmacological potency. The feasibility of the approach of redesigning an existing pharmaceutical through nontargeted generation of new derivatives with intact drug moiety and through subsequent screening was demonstrated in this study. Application of such approaches in turn might contribute to the protection of water resources in a truly sustainable manner.

Identification of Anaerobic Aniline-Degrading Bacteria at a Contaminated Industrial Site

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.

Biodegradation of PAHs by Burkholderia sp. VITRSB1 Isolated from Marine Sediments

The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pollution to the environment is a major threat to the living organisms, and hence the degradation of these PAHs is necessary. Studies on PAHs degrading bacteria have focussed on terrestrial microbes and the potential of marine derived microbes is undermined. Herein we report the isolation and characterization of PAHs degrading Burkholderia sp. from lagoon sediments collected at the Southern coast of India. The strain was Gram negative, rod-shaped, motile, and ∼2-5 μm in length. Based on the phylogenetic data the strain was identified as Burkholderia and designated as VITRSB1. Initial PAHs degradation ability of the strain was assessed using basal salt medium supplemented with diesel, kerosene, toluene, aniline, naphthalene, and phenol. The strain was found to be effectively degrading kerosene, diesel, toluene, and aniline even at higher concentration (1%). However, naphthalene and aniline were degraded only at lower concentration (0.1%) and phenol, camphor, and DAP inhibited the growth of the strain. Furthermore, the degraded end products of the PAHs were determined using FTIR. Notably, none of the end products were found to be toxic to the biosphere. Our results indicate that the isolated Burkholderia sp. could be a prospective candidate for the effective degradation of selective PAHs.

A sustainable chemistry solution to the presence of pharmaceuticals and chemicals in the aquatic environment – the example of re-designing β-blocker Atenolol

Generation of new biodegradable, drug-like molecules through re-designing certain moieties from known drug molecules while preserving their pharmacophore.

Elevated level of the second messenger c-di-GMP in Comamonas testosteroni enhances biofilm formation and biofilm-based biodegradation of 3-chloroaniline

The bis-(3'-5')-cyclic dimeric guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) is a ubiquitous second messenger that determines bacterial lifestyle between the planktonic and biofilm modes of life. Although the role of c-di-GMP signaling in biofilm development and dispersal has been extensively studied, how c-di-GMP signaling influences environmental bioprocess activities such as biodegradation remains unexplored. To elucidate the impacts of elevating c-di-GMP level on environmental bioprocesses, we constructed a Comamonas testosteroni strain constitutively expressing a c-di-GMP synthase YedQ from Escherichia coli and examined its capability in biofilm formation and biodegradation of 3-chloroaniline (3-CA). The high c-di-GMP strain exhibited an increased binding to Congo red dye, a decreased motility, and an enhanced biofilm formation capability. In planktonic cultures, the strain with an elevated c-di-GMP concentration and the wild type could degrade 3-CA comparably well. However, under batch growth conditions with a high surface to volume ratio, an elevated c-di-GMP concentration in C. testosteroni significantly increased the contribution of biofilms in 3-CA biodegradation. In continuous submerged biofilm reactors, C. testosteroni with an elevated c-di-GMP level exhibited an enhanced 3-CA biodegradation and a decreased cell detachment rate. Taken together, this study provides a novel strategy to enhance biofilm-based biodegradation of toxic xenobiotic compounds through manipulating bacterial c-di-GMP signaling.

Designing green derivatives of β-blocker Metoprolol: a tiered approach for green and sustainable pharmacy and chemistry

The presences of micro-pollutants (active pharmaceutical ingredients, APIs) are increasingly seen as a challenge of the sustainable management of water resources worldwide due to ineffective effluent treatment and other measures for their input prevention. Therefore, novel approaches are needed like designing greener pharmaceuticals, i.e. better biodegradability in the environment. This study addresses a tiered approach of implementing green and sustainable chemistry principles for theoretically designing better biodegradable and pharmacologically improved pharmaceuticals. Photodegradation process coupled with LC-MS(n) analysis and in silico tools such as quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) analysis and molecular docking proved to be a very significant approach for the preliminary stages of designing chemical structures that would fit into the "benign by design" concept in the direction of green and sustainable pharmacy. Metoprolol (MTL) was used as an example, which itself is not readily biodegradable under conditions found in sewage treatment and the aquatic environment. The study provides the theoretical design of new derivatives of MTL which might have the same or improved pharmacological activity and are more degradable in the environment than MTL. However, the in silico toxicity prediction by QSAR of those photo-TPs indicated few of them might be possibly mutagenic and require further testing. This novel approach of theoretically designing 'green' pharmaceuticals can be considered as a step forward towards the green and sustainable pharmacy field. However, more knowledge and further experience have to be collected on the full scope, opportunities and limitations of this approach.

The transformation mechanism of nitrobenzene in the present of a species of cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa

The transformation mechanism of nitrobenzene (NB) with Microcystis aeruginosa was investigated by a series of laboratory-scale experiments. The result showed only a small fraction of NB can be adsorbed by M. aeruginosa. The adsorption was responsible to the transformation of NB in M. aeruginosa solution but was not the primary cause. The variation of cell activity and illumination could affect the transformation of NB with M. aeruginosa, which indicated that M. aeruginosa have the ability to biodegrade NB. Metabolic intermediate products analysis indicated that M. aeruginosa can reduce NB to aniline (AN), and NB reductase, induced by NB, was the key enzyme during the reduction process. M. aeruginosa cannot further degrade AN and may prevent the volatilization of AN, causing the accumulation of AN in the solution for up to 3 days. Only a small proportion of AN (less than 5%) can be degraded to acetaldehyde and acetone by photolysis in 48 h. The total concentration of nitrogen aromatic compounds is invariant at first, and then decreases after 72 h incubation via a complex process including adsorption, biodegradation, volatilization and photolysis processes.

Function of a glutamine synthetase-like protein in bacterial aniline oxidation via γ-glutamylanilide

Acinetobacter sp. strain YAA has five genes (atdA1 to atdA5) involved in aniline oxidation as a part of the aniline degradation gene cluster. From sequence analysis, the five genes were expected to encode a glutamine synthetase (GS)-like protein (AtdA1), a glutamine amidotransferase-like protein (AtdA2), and an aromatic compound dioxygenase (AtdA3, AtdA4, and AtdA5) (M. Takeo, T. Fujii, and Y. Maeda, J. Ferment. Bioeng. 85:17-24, 1998). A recombinant Pseudomonas strain harboring these five genes quantitatively converted aniline into catechol, demonstrating that catechol is the major oxidation product from aniline. To elucidate the function of the GS-like protein AtdA1 in aniline oxidation, we purified it from recombinant Escherichia coli harboring atdA1. The purified AtdA1 protein produced gamma-glutamylanilide (γ-GA) quantitatively from aniline and l-glutamate in the presence of ATP and MgCl2. This reaction was identical to glutamine synthesis by GS, except for the use of aniline instead of ammonia as the substrate. Recombinant Pseudomonas strains harboring the dioxygenase genes (atdA3 to atdA5) were unable to degrade aniline but converted γ-GA into catechol, indicating that γ-GA is an intermediate to catechol and a direct substrate for the dioxygenase. Unexpectedly, a recombinant Pseudomonas strain harboring only atdA2 hydrolyzed γ-GA into aniline, reversing the γ-GA formation by AtdA1. Deletion of atdA2 from atdA1 to atdA5 caused γ-GA accumulation from aniline in recombinant Pseudomonas cells and inhibited the growth of a recombinant Acinetobacter strain on aniline, suggesting that AtdA2 prevents γ-GA accumulation that is harmful to the host cell.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray study of the deaminase AmnE from Pseudomonas sp. AP-3

The amnE gene from Pseudomonas sp. AP-3 has been verified as encoding a deaminase with 142 amino-acid residues. In order to change the substrate specificity via structure-based protein engineering, the amnE gene, after gene-code optimization, was chemically synthesized and cloned into the expression vector pET-28a. The protein was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) and purified by Ni(2+)-chelating affinity chromatography. Diffraction-quality crystals were obtained using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method and diffracted to a resolution of 2.09 Å. The crystals belonged to the orthorhombic space group C2221, with unit-cell parameters a = 63.23, b = 88.93, c = 137.83 Å.

RETRACTED: Aerobic degradation of 4-nitroaniline (4-NA) via novel degradation intermediates by Rhodococcus sp. strain FK48

An aerobic strain, Rhodococcus sp. strain FK48, capable of growing on 4-nitroaniline (4-NA) as the sole source of carbon, nitrogen, and energy has been isolated from enrichment cultures originating from contaminated soil samples. During growth studies with non- induced cells of FK48 catalyzed sequential denitrification (release of NO₂ substituent) and deamination (release of NH₂ substituent) of 4-NA. However, none of the degradation intermediates could be identified with growth studies. During resting cell studies, 4-NA-induced cells of strain FK48 transformed 4-NA via a previously unknown pathway which involved oxidative hydroxylation leading to formation of 4-aminophenol (4-AP). Subsequent degradation involved oxidated deamination of 4-AP and formation of 1,2,4-benzenetriol (BT) as the major identified terminal aromatic intermediate. Identification of these intermediates was ascertained by HPLC, and GC-MS analyses of the culture supernatants. 4-NA-induced cells of strain FK48 showed positive activity for 1,2,4-benzenetriol dioxygenase in spectrophotometric assay. This is the first conclusive study on aerobic microbial degradation of 4-NA and elucidation of corresponding metabolic pathway.

Real-time PCR for rapidly detecting aniline-degrading bacteria in activated sludge

We developed a detection method that uses quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and the TaqMan system to easily and rapidly assess the population of aniline-degrading bacteria in activated sludge prior to conducting a biodegradability test on a chemical compound. A primer and probe set for qPCR was designed by a multiple alignment of conserved amino acid sequences encoding the large (α) subunit of aniline dioxygenase. PCR amplification tests showed that the designed primer and probe set targeted aniline-degrading strains such as Acidovorax sp., Gordonia sp., Rhodococcus sp., and Pseudomonas putida, thereby suggesting that the developed method can detect a wide variety of aniline-degrading bacteria. There was a strong correlation between the relative copy number of the α-aniline dioxygenase gene in activated sludge obtained with the developed qPCR method and the number of aniline-degrading bacteria measured by the Most Probable Number method, which is the conventional method, and a good correlation with the lag time of the BOD curve for aniline degradation produced by the biodegradability test in activated sludge samples collected from eight different wastewater treatment plants in Japan. The developed method will be valuable for the rapid and accurate evaluation of the activity of inocula prior to conducting a ready biodegradability test.

Photocatalytic degradation of substituted phenylurea herbicides in aqueous semiconductor suspensions exposed to solar energy

The photocatalyzed degradation of the biocides chlorotoluron, diuron, fluometuron, isoproturon and linuron (substituted phenylurea herbicides) was investigated in aqueous suspensions of ZnO, TiO2, WO3, SnO2 and ZnS at pilot plant scale under natural sunlight. Comparison of the five catalysts showed that ZnO is the most effective for catalyzing the removal of all the compounds studied. The primary degradation of the herbicides followed a pseudo-first order kinetics. In our conditions, the time required for 90% degradation ranged from 23 to 47min for isoproturon and linuron, respectively, when using the tandem ZnO/Na2S2O8. Eight transformation products were identified by HPLC-MS(2) during the experiments, although at the end of the photoperiod (240min), their concentrations were below detection limits. Based on derivative identification, the proposed metabolic pathways would involve N-demethylation and N-demethoxylation of the N-methoxy-N-methyl substituted ureas and N-demethylation of the N,N-dimethylurea-substituted compounds.

Biodegradation and removal of 3,4-dichloroaniline by Chlorella pyrenoidosa based on liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry

3,4-Dichloroaniline (3,4-DCA), widely used in the synthesis of dyes, textile and herbicides, is toxic to living organisms. The purpose of this study was to investigate the capability of green algae in degrading and removing 3,4-DCA in water. An environmentally ubiquitous green alga Chlorella pyrenoidosa was isolated from fresh aquatic environment. Then unicellular alga was incubated with 3,4-DCA at a concentration of 4.6 μg/ mL in water. The residual concentration of 3,4-DCA in the medium and the metabolites were analyzed. A removal percentage of 78.4 % was obtained over a 7-day period. Two major metabolites with less toxicity were identified as 3,4-dichloroformanilide and 3,4-dichloroacetanilide from the liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry analysis. The application of microalga C. pyrenoidosa may have potential for removing the environmental pollutant in aquatic environment.

Carbon and nitrogen isotope effects associated with the dioxygenation of aniline and diphenylamine

Dioxygenation of aromatic rings is frequently the initial step of biodegradation of organic subsurface pollutants. This process can be tracked by compound-specific isotope analysis to assess the extent of contaminant transformation, but the corresponding isotope effects, especially for dioxygenation of N-substituted, aromatic contaminants, are not well understood. We investigated the C and N isotope fractionation associated with the biodegradation of aniline and diphenylamine using pure cultures of Burkholderia sp. strain JS667, which can biodegrade both compounds, each by a distinct dioxygenase enzyme. For diphenylamine, the C and N isotope enrichment was normal with ε(C)- and ε(N)-values of -0.6 ± 0.1‰ and -1.0 ± 0.1‰, respectively. In contrast, N isotopes of aniline were subject to substantial inverse fractionation (ε(N) of +13 ± 0.5‰), whereas the ε(C)-value was identical to that of diphenylamine. A comparison of the apparent kinetic isotope effects for aniline and diphenylamine dioxygenation with those from abiotic oxidation by manganese oxide (MnO(2)) suggest that the oxidation of a diarylamine system leads to distinct C-N bonding changes compared to aniline regardless of reaction mechanism and oxidant involved. Combined evaluation of the C and N isotope signatures of the contaminants reveals characteristic Δδ(15)N/Δδ(13)C-trends for the identification of diphenylamine and aniline oxidation in contaminated subsurfaces and for the distinction of aniline oxidation from its formation by microbial and/or abiotic reduction of nitrobenzene.

Effect of applied voltage, initial concentration, and natural organic matter on sequential reduction/oxidation of nitrobenzene by graphite electrodes

Carbon electrodes are proposed in reactive sediment caps for in situ treatment of contaminants. The electrodes produce reducing conditions and H(2) at the cathode and oxidizing conditions and O(2) at the anode. Emplaced perpendicular to seepage flow, the electrodes provide the opportunity for sequential reduction and oxidation of contaminants. The objectives of this study are to demonstrate degradation of nitrobenzene (NB) as a probe compound for sequential electrochemical reduction and oxidation, and to determine the effect of applied voltage, initial concentration, and natural organic matter on the degradation rate. In H-cell reactors with graphite electrodes and buffer solution, NB was reduced stoichiometrically to aniline (AN) at the cathode with nitrosobenzene (NSB) as the intermediate. AN was then removed at the anode, faster than the reduction step. No common AN oxidation intermediate was detected in the system. Both the first order reduction rate constants of NB (k(NB)) and NSB (k(NSB)) increased with applied voltage between 2 V and 3.5 V (when the initial NB concentration was 100 μM, k(NB) = 0.3 h(-1) and k(NSB) = 0.04 h(-1) at 2 V; k(NB) = 1.6 h(-1) and k(NSB) = 0.64 h(-1) at 3.5 V) but stopped increasing beyond the threshold of 3.5 V. When initial NB concentration decreased from 100 to 5 μM, k(NB) and k(NSB) became 9 and 5 times faster, respectively, suggesting that competition for active sites on the electrode surface is an important factor in NB degradation. Presence of natural organic matter (in forms of either humic acid or Anacostia River sediment porewater) decreased k(NB) while slightly increased k(NSB), but only to a limited extent (∼factor of 3) for dissolved organic carbon content up to 100 mg/L. These findings suggest that electrode-based reactive sediment capping via sequential reduction/oxidation is a potentially robust and tunable technology for in situ contaminants degradation.

Efficient bio-deodorization of aniline vapor in a biotrickling filter: metabolic mineralization and bacterial community analysis

A biotrickling filter inoculated with commercial mixed microorganisms B350 was employed to treat N-containing odorous vapor - aniline. Results indicated no aniline could be detected when empty bed residence time (EBRT) was larger than 110s at inlet concentration of 0.30 g m(-3). The variation of inlet concentration did not change removal efficiencies when concentration is less than 0.21 g m(-3) at fixed EBRT 110s. Biodegradation mechanism of aniline was tentatively proposed based on identified intermediates and predicted biodegradation pathway as well as final mineralized products. Aniline was firstly biodegraded to catechol, and then to levulinic acid and subsequently to succinic acid. Finally, about 62% aniline carbon was completely mineralized to CO(2), while about 91% aniline nitrogen was converted into ammonia and nitrate. Bacterial community in biotrickling filter was found that at least seven bands microbes were identified for high efficiencies of bioreactor at stable state. In all, biotrickling filter seeded with B350 would be a better choice for the purification odorous gas containing high concentration aniline.

Bioreduction of para-chloronitrobenzene in drinking water using a continuous stirred hydrogen-based hollow fiber membrane biofilm reactor

para-Chloronitrobenzene (p-CNB) is particularly harmful and persistent in the environment and is one of the priority pollutants. A feasible degradation pathway for p-CNB is bioreduction under anaerobic conditions. Bioreduction of p-CNB using a hydrogen-based hollow fiber membrane biofilm reactor (HFMBfR) was investigated in the present study. The experiment results revealed that p-CNB was firstly reduced to para-chloraniline (p-CAN) as an intermediate and then reduced to aniline that involves nitro reduction and reductive dechlorination with H(2) as the electron donor. The HFMBfR had reduced p-CNB to a major extent with a maximum removal percentage of 99.3% at an influent p-CNB concentration of 2mg/L and a hydraulic residence time of 4.8h, which corresponded to a p-CNB flux of 0.058g/m(2) d. The H(2) availability, p-CNB loading, and the presence of competing electron acceptors affected the p-CNB reduction. Flux analysis indicated that the reduction of p-CNB and p-CAN could consume fewer electrons than that of nitrate and sulfate. The HFMBfR had high average hydrogen utilization efficiencies at different steady states in this experiment, with a maximum efficiency at 98.2%.

A water-sediment screening tool for measuring biodegradation of organic chemicals

A water-sediment screening tool (WSST) was developed based on OECD guideline 301 C (MITI I; Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Japan) to generate biodegradation data. The WSST and experimental procedures were tested and validated using aniline (CAS No. 62-53-3) and benzoic acid (CAS No. 65-85-0) as reference substances. In the presence of sediment components a higher endogenous respiration rate in the control vessels without test substance was measured compared to the water-only MITI test system, particularly due to organic constituents. However, it could be demonstrated that a distinct biodegradation in the presence of sediment can be determined and that there is no influence of the sediment pre-treatment on the biological oxygen demand in the WSST. Experiments resulted in biodegradation rates >60% after approximately six days for both compounds. However, degradation of benzoic acid resulted in a shorter lag-phase and a higher degree of degradation compared to aniline. Differences in results between the MITI test system and the WSST observed for aniline can be explained by adsorption to constituents of the sediment and assimilation by activated sludge. In comparison with literature data the results obtained for aniline in the MITI test system and the WSST showed reproducibility and were within the expected range. In conclusion, the WSST is a suitable screening tool to determine kinetic biodegradation data required to predict the biodegradation behaviour of organic chemicals in water-sediment systems and the data might be used to improve quantitative structure-property relationships (QSPRs).

Characterization of a Pseudomonas sp. Capable of Aniline Degradation in the Presence of Secondary Carbon Sources

Pseudomonas strain K1 is a gram-negative rod which grows aerobically on minimal media containing aniline with a doubling time of 2 h at 30 degrees C. The half-saturation parameter for aniline metabolism by aniline-grown cells was 3.8 mumol . liter. Concentrations of aniline as low as 50 nM were metabolized. Neither substituted anilines nor other aromatic compounds (other than aromatic amino acids) supported growth. Cells grew as fast on aniline as on nonaromatic substrates such as lactate. The aromatic ring was cleaved via the meta pathway. Catechol 2,3-oxygenase activity was induced by aniline, even in cultures containing alternative carbon sources such as lactate. Cultures grown on a mixture of aniline and lactate mineralized aniline in the presence of the second substrate. Lactate-grown cultures lacked catechol oxygenase activity, and resting cells from these cultures did not respire aniline. Resting cells from aniline-grown cultures exhibited high respiratory activity upon the addition of aniline or catechol, some activity with toluidine, and no activity after addition of a wide variety of other aromatic compounds, including dihydroxybenzylamine, chloroanilines, ethylanilines, aminophenols, aminobenzoates, and dihydroxybenzoates. Although substituted anilines were not metabolized, 3-or 4-chloroaniline did induce the enzymes for aniline oxidation.

Aniline-induced tryptophan production and identification of indole derivatives from three purple bacteria

Growth on aniline by three purple non-sulfur bacteria (Rhodospirillum rubrum ATCC 11170, Rhodobacter sphaeroides DSM 158, and Rubrivivax benzoatiliticus JA2) as nitrogen, or carbon source could not be demonstrated. However in its presence, production of indole derivatives was observed with all the strains tested. At least 14 chromatographically (HPLC) distinct peaks were observed at the absorption maxima of 275-280 nm from aniline induced cultures. Five major indoles were identified based on HPLC and LC-MS/MS analysis. While tryptophan was the major common metabolite for all the three aniline induced cultures, production of indole-3-acetic acid was observed with Rvi. benzoatilyticus JA2 alone, while indole-3-aldehyde was identified from Rvi. benzoatilyticus JA2 and Rba. sphaeroides DSM 158. Indole-3-ethanol was identified only from Rsp. rubrum ATCC 1170 and anthranilic acid was identified from Rba. sphaeroides DSM 158.

Simultaneous methanogenesis and denitrification of aniline wastewater by using anaerobic-aerobic biofilm system with recirculation

Wastewater containing highly concentrated nitrogenous and aromatic compounds, such as aniline, is difficult to degrade and very toxic to microorganisms, especially to nitrifier. In order to remove both carbon and nitrogen from aniline wastewater, recently two biofilm reactors equipped with anaerobic-aerobic cycle and internal recirculation have demonstrated some potential in treating the wastewater. In such system, ammonification, methanogenesis and denitrification reactions occurred simultaneously in one anaerobic reactor, followed by COD removal and nitrification in the aerobic reactor. The effect of recirculation ratio on COD and nitrogen removal using such reactor arrangement was therefore investigated in the present work. The results showed that recirculation had little impact on the overall COD removal or denitrification activity in the anaerobic reactor at any tested ratio, 96-98% of overall COD removal efficiency was achieved with a final effluent COD value below 200mg/L. But nitrification and TN removal were strongly affected by recirculation. The nitrification rate reached a maximum of 0.48 kg N/(m(3)d) at recirculation ratio of 1 and complete nitrification was achieved at the recirculation ratios over 2. TN removal efficiency increased continuously and a sharp reduction of sludge production in the system was observed with increasing recirculation.

Directed evolution of aniline dioxygenase for enhanced bioremediation of aromatic amines

The objective of this study was to enhance the activity of aniline dioxygenase (AtdA), a multi-component Rieske non-heme iron dioxygenase enzyme isolated from Acinetobacter sp. strain YAA, so as to create an enhanced biocatalyst for the bioremediation of aromatic amines. Previously, the mutation V205A was found to widen the substrate specificity of AtdA to accept 2-isopropylaniline (2IPA) for which the wild-type enzyme has no activity (Ang EL, Obbard JP, Zhao HM, FEBS J, 274:928-939, 2007). Using mutant V205A as the parent and applying one round of saturation mutagenesis followed by a round of random mutagenesis, the activity of the final mutant, 3-R21, was increased by 8.9-, 98.0-, and 2.0-fold for aniline, 2,4-dimethylaniline (24DMA), and 2-isopropylaniline (2IPA), respectively, over the mutant V205A. In particular, the activity of the mutant 3-R21 for 24DMA, which is a carcinogenic aromatic amine pollutant, was increased by 3.5-fold over the wild-type AtdA, while the AN activity was restored to the wild-type level, thus yielding a mutant aniline dioxygenase with enhanced activity and capable of hydroxylating a wider range of aromatic amines than the wild type.

Isolation and characterization of aniline-degrading Rhodococcus sp. strain AN5

A pure culture using aniline as a sole source of carbon and energy was isolated by selective enrichment culturing on a minimum salt medium (MSM) from the Nanjing Chemical Plant, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China. An analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence and morphological and physiological characteristics showed that this strain was a member of the genus Rhodococcus, and it was designated as strain AN5. Its optimal conditions for aniline biodegradation were 30 degrees C (pH 7.0). Due to the water insolubility of aniline, growth of strain AN5 at various aniline concentrations was studied via spectrophotometry and microcalorimetry in different culture mediums. Strain AN5 not only utilized aniline as its sole carbon and energy resources, but also degraded phenol, benzoic acid and naphthalin. Glucose, peptone and ammonium sulfate, when utilized as its secondary carbon and nitrogen sources, had no active effect on the aniline biodegradation. Such findings would be valuable in the application of strain AN5 to depurate industrial waste water.

Bacillus cereus strain 10-L-2 produces two arylamine N-acetyltransferases that transform 4-phenylenediamine into 4-aminoacetanilide

A bacterium, strain 10-L-2, that was isolated from soil and identified as Bacillus cereus grew well on medium containing 4-phenylenediamine and Polypepton. Strain 10-L-2 converted a wide variety of anilines, including 4-phenylenediamine, to their corresponding acetanilides. Growing cells acetylated a single amino group of 4-phenylenediamine to form 4-aminoacetanilide with a 97% molar yield, as shown by mass spectrometry and HPLC. Cell extracts exhibited arylamine N-acetyltransferase (NAT) activity toward 4-phenylenediamine. Two NATs, namely, NAT-a and NAT-b, were separated by DE52 column chromatography and were further purified and characterized. The subunit molecular masses of NAT-a and NAT-b were 31.0 and 27.5 kDa, respectively, as determined by SDS-PAGE analysis. The two enzymes had similar pH- and thermo-stabilities and were similarly affected by pH, temperature, and several reagents. The enzymes showed peak activity toward 5-aminosalicylic acid of the substrates tested, but they differed in substrate specificity. Only NAT-a had activity toward sulfamethazine. Although other wild-type bacterial cultures also synthesize NAT, the ability of strain 10-L-2 to convert and detoxify 4-phenylenediamine is much higher. This report provides the first evidence of two NATs in a eubacterium.

Probing the molecular determinants of aniline dioxygenase substrate specificity by saturation mutagenesis

Aniline dioxygenase is a multicomponent Rieske nonheme-iron dioxygenase enzyme isolated from Acinetobacter sp. strain YAA. Saturation mutagenesis of the substrate-binding pocket residues, which were identified using a homology model of the alpha subunit of the terminal dioxygenase (AtdA3), was used to probe the molecular determinants of AtdA substrate specificity. The V205A mutation widened the substrate specificity of aniline dioxygenase to include 2-isopropylaniline, for which the wild-type enzyme has no activity. The V205A mutation also made 2-isopropylaniline a better substrate for the enzyme than 2,4-dimethylaniline, a native substrate of the wild-type enzyme. The I248L mutation improved the activity of aniline dioxygenase against aniline and 2,4-dimethylaniline approximately 1.7-fold and 2.1-fold, respectively. Thus, it is shown that the alpha subunit of the terminal dioxygenase indeed plays a part in the substrate specificity as well as the activity of aniline dioxygenase. Interestingly, the equivalent residues of V205 and I248 have not been previously reported to influence the substrate specificity of other Rieske dioxygenases. These results should facilitate future engineering of the enzyme for bioremediation and industrial applications.

Degradation of aniline in Weihe riverbed sediments under denitrification conditions

Three groups of microcosm tests were conducted to study the possibility of aniline degradation and the effects of organic matter and hydrous metal oxides on the degradation in Weihe riverbed sediments under denitrification conditions. After the riverbed sediments (20 g) and groundwater (800 ml) were put into bottles, aniline, nitrate and other reagents were added, and then the bottles were flushed with N2 for 30 minutes to create microcosms. Samples from the microcosms were employed for the analysis of aniline, nitrate, and chemical oxygen demand (COD). In the first test group, the concentration of aniline remained unchanged when NaN3 (500 mg/L) was added. When there was no nitrate or NaN3, the concentration of aniline also remained unchanged, although COD declined. However, the concentration decreased when nitrate (50 mg/L) was added. Therefore, aniline can be biodegraded under denitrification conditions. In the second test group, when the concentration of nitrate reached 50 mg/L, 300 mg/L or 400 mg/L, either the external or internal organic matter or both of them in Weihe raw sediments inhibited aniline degradation. In the sediments where organic matter alone or organic matter plus hydrous metal oxides were removed, the organic matter still inhibited the degradation when the concentration of nitrate reached 300 mg/L or 400 mg/L, but the external organic matter could accelerate the degradation when the concentration of nitrate was 50 mg/L. The result of the third test group showed that hydrous metal oxides can accelerate degradation. By analyzing the mechanism of the aniline degradation, we conclude that aniline is degradable by microbes in their growth metabolism, in which deamination is involved.

Microbial transformation of aniline derivatives: regioselective biotransformation and detoxification of 2-phenylenediamine by Bacillus cereus strain PDa-1

A bacterial isolate, strain PDa-1, grew well on basal medium supplemented with 2-phenylenediamine, sucrose, and ammonium nitrate and completely transformed 2-phenylenediamine. The isolate was identified as Bacillus cereus. The product formed from 2-phenylenediamine was identified by EI-MS and NMR as 2-aminoacetanilide; whole cells converted 2-phenylenediamine to the product with a 76% molar yield. Whole cells also showed a broad substrate specificity toward 20 of 26 tested arylamines with substituent groups of various size and positions. Especially 2-aminobenzoic acid, 4-aminosalicylic acid, 5-aminosalicylic acid, and 2-aminofluorene were converted completely to the corresponding product with an aminoacetyl group. Cell extracts of strain PDa-1 had a high arylamine N-acetyltransferase activity. The partially purified enzyme converted 2-phenylenediamine to 2-aminoacetanilide. Strain PDa-1 constitutively expressed the enzyme in the absence of 2-phenylenediamine. Effects of 2-phenylenediamine and 2-aminoacetanilide on growth indicated that this enzyme probably plays a role in the detoxification of toxic arylamines in this strain.

Biodegradation of 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, isolated from soil near tannery effluent was able to degrade 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid (ANSA), a sulfonated aromatic amine. The organism degraded this amine up to a concentration of 1,200 mg l(-1) using glucose and ammonium nitrate as carbon and nitrogen sources respectively. The degradation started when the organism reached its late exponential growth phase. Salicylic acid and beta-ketoadipic acid were identified as intermediate compounds using HPLC and GC-MS and provide evidence for ortho pathway reactions. Further proof for the pathway is obtained from the dioxygenase activity of the strain growing exponentially in medium with ANSA and glucose.

Light-Dependent Transformation of Aniline to Indole Esters by the Purple Bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides OU5

In an attempt to understand the aromatic hydrocarbon metabolism by purple bacteria that do not grow at their expense, we earlier reported 2-aminobenzoate transformation by a purple non-sulfur bacterium, Rhodobacter sphaeroides OU5 (Sunayana et al., 2005, J Ind Microbiol Biotech 32:41-45), which is extended in the present study with aniline, a major environmental pollutant. Aniline did not support photo (light anaerobic) or chemo (dark aerobic) heterotrophic growth of Rhodobacter sphaeroides OU5 either as a sole source of carbon or nitrogen. However, light-dependent aniline transformation was observed in the culture supernatants and the products were identified as indole derivatives. The transformation was dependent on a tricarboxylate intermediate, fumarate. Five intermediates of the aniline biotransformation pathway were isolated and identified as indole esters having a mass of 443, 441, 279, 189, and 167 with unstoichiometric total indole yields of 0.16 mM: from 5 mM: of aniline consumed. The pathway proposed based on these intermediates suggest a novel xenobiotic detoxification process in bacteria.

Constitutive expression of catABC genes in the aniline-assimilating bacterium Rhodococcus species AN-22: production, purification, characterization and gene analysis of CatA, CatB and CatC

The aniline-assimilating bacterium Rhodococcus sp. AN-22 was found to constitutively synthesize CatB (cis,cis-muconate cycloisomerase) and CatC (muconolactone isomerase) in its cells growing on non-aromatic substrates, in addition to the previously reported CatA (catechol 1,2-dioxygenase). The bacterium maintained the specific activity of the three enzymes at an almost equal level during cultivation on succinate. CatB and CatC were purified to homogeneity and characterized. CatB was a monomer with a molecular mass of 44 kDa. The enzyme was activated by Mn2+, Co2+ and Mg2+. Native CatC was a homo-octamer with a molecular mass of 100 kDa. The enzyme was stable between pH 7.0 and 10.5 and was resistant to heating up to 90 degrees C. Genes coding for CatA, CatB and CatC were cloned and named catA, catB and catC respectively. The catABC genes were transcribed as one operon. The deduced amino acid sequences of CatA, CatB and CatC showed high identities with those from other Gram-positive micro-organisms. A regulator gene such as catR encoding a regulatory protein was not observed around the cat gene cluster of Rhodococcus sp. AN-22, but a possible relic of catR was found in the upstream region of catA. Reverse transcriptase-PCR and primer extension analyses showed that the transcriptional start site of the cat gene cluster was located 891 bp upstream of the catA initiation codon in the AN-22 strain growing on both aniline and succinate. Based on these data, we concluded that the bacterium constitutively transcribed the catABC genes and translated its mRNA into CatA, CatB and CatC.