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Branco RHR, Meulepas RJW, Sekar P, van Veelen HPJ, Rijnaarts HHM, Sutton NB. Biostimulation with oxygen and electron donors supports micropollutant biodegradation in an experimentally simulated nitrate-reducing aquifer. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 928:172339. [PMID: 38608893 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
The availability of suitable electron donors and acceptors limits micropollutant natural attenuation in oligotrophic groundwater. This study investigated how electron donors with different biodegradability (humics, dextran, acetate, and ammonium), and different oxygen concentrations affect the biodegradation of 15 micropollutants (initial concentration of each micropollutant = 50 μg/L) in simulated nitrate reducing aquifers. Tests mimicking nitrate reducing field conditions showed no micropollutant biodegradation, even with electron donor amendment. However, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and mecoprop were biodegraded under (micro)aerobic conditions with and without electron donor addition. The highest 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and mecoprop biodegradation rates and removal efficiencies were obtained under fully aerobic conditions with amendment of an easily biodegradable electron donor. Under microaerobic conditions, however, amendment with easily biodegradable dissolved organic carbon (DOC) inhibited micropollutant biodegradation due to competition between micropollutants and DOC for the limited oxygen available. Microbial community composition was dictated by electron acceptor availability and electron donor amendment, not by micropollutant biodegradation. Low microbial community richness and diversity led to the absence of biodegradation of the other 13 micropollutants (such as bentazon, chloridazon, and carbamazepine). Finally, adaptation and potential growth of biofilms interactively determined the location of the micropollutant removal zone relative to the point of amendment. This study provides new insight on how to stimulate in situ micropollutant biodegradation to remediate oligotrophic groundwaters as well as possible limitations of this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita H R Branco
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands; Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, P.O. Box 1113, 8900 CC Leeuwarden, the Netherlands
| | - Roel J W Meulepas
- Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, P.O. Box 1113, 8900 CC Leeuwarden, the Netherlands
| | - Priyadharshini Sekar
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands; Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, P.O. Box 1113, 8900 CC Leeuwarden, the Netherlands
| | - H Pieter J van Veelen
- Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, P.O. Box 1113, 8900 CC Leeuwarden, the Netherlands
| | - Huub H M Rijnaarts
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Nora B Sutton
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands.
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Vallejos A, Sola F, Vargas-García MC, Mancuso M. Microbial-induced MnO 2 precipitation in a carbonate coastal aquifer. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 915:169968. [PMID: 38220013 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.169968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
A study was carried out to identify biogeochemical reactions along a transect of a coastal dolomitic aquifer. In this transect, the physicochemical parameters of the groundwater as well as the microbial composition of samples taken at different depths and salinities were measured. Many of the dissolved ions measured in the groundwater follow a pattern that reflects the distribution of the water masses (fresh, interface and salt) in the aquifer, while others such as Ca and Mg ions deviate from this trend by identifying the zones of maximum dissolution of the carbonate matrix. The concentrations of minor ions, such as Fe and Mn, also follow a singular pattern, with maximum concentrations in the reducing zones of the aquifer and lower values in the oxidizing zones. Precipitates of Mn oxides along with other metals, such as Fe, Ba, Zn and Ni, were observed in the saline zone displaying oxidizing conditions close to the coastline, where a continuous core was recovered. This zone, which is located below the freshwater-seawater mixing zone and features percentages of seawater higher than 80 %, is characterized by the presence of Marinobacter as the predominant genus. These bacteria are also related to the formation of Mn-rich polymetallic oxides in other contexts such as the ocean floor (Wang et al., 2012; Cao et al., 2021). All in all, a biogeochemical reaction model is proposed that describes the formation of these oxides in areas close to the discharge zone of coastal aquifers. To do this, it has been necessary to integrate the results obtained from geochemical, hydrogeological and microbiological information.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Vallejos
- Water Resources and Environmental Geology, Department of Biology & Geology, University of Almería, Spain.
| | - F Sola
- Water Resources and Environmental Geology, Department of Biology & Geology, University of Almería, Spain
| | - M C Vargas-García
- Unit of Microbiology, Department of Biology and Geology, CITE II-B, University of Almeria, Marine Campus of International Excellence CEIMAR, 04120 Almeria, Spain
| | - M Mancuso
- Engineering and Environmental Technology Department, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, UFSM, Brazil
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Sabino H, Silva GC, Costa VE, Menezes J. Conceptual model of a semi-arid coastal aquifer using hydrogeochemical seasonal variation and isotopic fingerprints in Tamoios, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2023; 195:361. [PMID: 36735073 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-10913-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The present study focuses on the Tamoios aquifer (Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil), which is under pressure due to receiving a significant volume of urban runoff and sewage. The objective was based on a number of hydrogeochemical and isotope data to assess the aquifer functioning and establishing a conceptual model to evaluate the hydrogeochemical processes. The database consisted of groundwater samples (n = 20) and surface water samples (fluvial, lagoon, and seawater) (n = 4), analyzed for major and trace constituents plus 18O and 2H isotopes. Results demonstrate that most of the groundwater samples were classified as sodium-chloride type in the rainy season and magnesium-chloride type in the dry season. Ion ratios indicated the ion sources and chemical behavior. Groundwater remained with a relatively high salt content throughout the seasons, particularly in the samples from the southern portion of the aquifer. PHREEQC software simulations exposed dolomite and calcite in mostly undersaturated condition and halite subsaturated throughout the year. Hydrogeochemical behavior indicated the salt content in the groundwater was not related to a hypothetical saltwater intrusion and revealed a steady state condition for the groundwater interface. Groundwater samples have a similar isotopic signature and were likely influenced by evaporative effects, indicating a role for the existing ponds in aquifer recharge. Strong free surface evaporation effects, evapotranspiration, and drainage processes in the floodplains probably enhanced the high ionic concentration in the groundwater environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hullysses Sabino
- Institute of Geosciences, Fluminense Federal University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Gerson C Silva
- Department of Geology, Institute of Geosciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Vladimir E Costa
- Stable Isotopes Center, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Juliana Menezes
- Department of Geoenvironmental Analysis, Institute of Geosciences, Fluminense Federal University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Yang F, Liu S, Jia C, Wang Y. Identification of groundwater microbial communities and their connection to the hydrochemical environment in southern Laizhou Bay, China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:14263-14278. [PMID: 34608579 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-16812-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The microbial community plays an important role in the biogeochemical cycle in coastal groundwater ecosystems. However, the composition and controlling factors of the microbial community in coastal closed groundwater systems (CCGSs) with high salinity have rarely been studied. Here, we investigated and analyzed the hydrochemical characteristics and microbial community composition of seven brine samples with high total dissolved solid (TDS) values ranging from 74.5 to 132.3 g/L within and across three coastal saltworks (Yangkou, Hanting, and Changyi) in southern Laizhou Bay (SLB). The bacterial diversity was independent of salinity. Compared with those of low-salinity groundwater, the diversity of the microbial community in brine was lower, but the richness was slightly higher. There was a significant correlation between the microbial community diversity and groundwater sources, which indicated that the microbial communities were affected by groundwater sources. A comparison of the microbial community compositions of the three saltworks showed that the Hanting and Changyi saltworks had similar microbial communities due to their similar sampling depths. In addition, the main force shaping the differences in the microbial communities in both coastal open groundwater systems (COGSs) and CCGSs was identified as the hydraulic connection with the seawater controlled by hydrogeological conditions formed throughout geological history. This study can help to elucidate the biogeochemical processes in coastal aquifers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Yang
- Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Binhai Road No. 72, Qingdao, 266237, Shandong, China
| | - Sen Liu
- Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Binhai Road No. 72, Qingdao, 266237, Shandong, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China.
| | - Chao Jia
- Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Binhai Road No. 72, Qingdao, 266237, Shandong, China.
| | - Yujue Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
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Zhang X, Qi L, Li W, Hu BX, Dai Z. Bacterial community variations with salinity in the saltwater-intruded estuarine aquifer. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 755:142423. [PMID: 33017763 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2020] [Revised: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial community has been significantly enrolled in the biogeochemical cycling of the coastal subsurface ecosystem. The bacterial community variations with salinity have been extensively investigated in the surface environment, such as lake, soil, and estuary, but not in the subsurface environment. Here we explore the responses of bacterial populations to the salinity and other environmental factors (EFs) by considering both the abundant and rare sub-community in a coastal Holocene groundwater system. Our study results indicate that the bacterial diversity was independent of the salinity in both the abundance and rare sub-community. Besides diversity, no flourishing of abundant bacteria relative abundance is observed with increasing or decreasing salinity. Yet the rare taxa exhibit a bio-growth with salinity, which has a significant correlation (p < 0.001) with sulfate concentration. The responses of the abundant sub-community taxa to nutrients, temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen are insensitive. However, the correlation between δ18O, δD and the entire community diversity is significant, which demonstrates the bacterial community is affected by the groundwater origin. Besides, not all the species in one class or order are necessarily shaped by the same factor. To quantify the impact of EFs on the community properties, analyses in different taxonomic levels is suggested. These findings imply that the spatial organization of microbial communities is complicated and influenced by multiple factors on a regional scale. The investigated results are useful for understanding biogeochemical processes in the coastal groundwater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoying Zhang
- College of Construction Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130026, China
| | - Linlin Qi
- College of Construction Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130026, China
| | - Wenming Li
- Xi'an Center of China Geological Survey, Xi'an 710054, China
| | - Bill X Hu
- Institute of Groundwater and Earth Sciences, Jinan University, Guangdong 510632, China.
| | - Zhenxue Dai
- College of Construction Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130026, China.
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Ruiz-González C, Rodellas V, Garcia-Orellana J. The microbial dimension of submarine groundwater discharge: current challenges and future directions. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2021; 45:6128669. [PMID: 33538813 PMCID: PMC8498565 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuab010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the relevance of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) for ocean biogeochemistry, the microbial dimension of SGD remains poorly understood. SGD can influence marine microbial communities through supplying chemical compounds and microorganisms, and in turn, microbes at the land–ocean transition zone determine the chemistry of the groundwater reaching the ocean. However, compared with inland groundwater, little is known about microbial communities in coastal aquifers. Here, we review the state of the art of the microbial dimension of SGD, with emphasis on prokaryotes, and identify current challenges and future directions. Main challenges include improving the diversity description of groundwater microbiota, characterized by ultrasmall, inactive and novel taxa, and by high ratios of sediment-attached versus free-living cells. Studies should explore microbial dynamics and their role in chemical cycles in coastal aquifers, the bidirectional dispersal of groundwater and seawater microorganisms, and marine bacterioplankton responses to SGD. This will require not only combining sequencing methods, visualization and linking taxonomy to activity but also considering the entire groundwater–marine continuum. Interactions between traditionally independent disciplines (e.g. hydrogeology, microbial ecology) are needed to frame the study of terrestrial and aquatic microorganisms beyond the limits of their presumed habitats, and to foster our understanding of SGD processes and their influence in coastal biogeochemical cycles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Ruiz-González
- Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC). Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, E08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Valentí Rodellas
- Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals (ICTA-UAB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Jordi Garcia-Orellana
- Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals (ICTA-UAB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E08193 Bellaterra, Spain.,Departament de Física, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E08193 Bellaterra, Spain
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