Advances in Oxygen Isotope Analysis of Phosphate by Electrospray Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry for Studying the Microbial Metabolism of Microorganisms

Understanding the impact of human activities on the metabolic state of soil and aquatic environments is of paramount importance to implement measures for maintaining ecosystem services. Variations of natural abundance 18O/16O ratios in phosphate have been proposed as proxies for the holistic assessment of metabolic activity given the crucial importance of phosphoryl transfer reactions in fundamental biological processes. However, instrumental and procedural limitations inherent to oxygen isotope analysis in phosphate and organophosphorus compounds have so far limited the stable isotope-based evaluation of metabolic processes. Here, we discuss how recent developments in Orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry enable measurements of 18O/16O ratios in phosphate and outline the critical mass spectrometry parameters for accurate and precise analysis. Subsequently, we evaluate the types of 18O kinetic isotope effects of phosphoryl transfer reactions and illustrate how novel analytical approaches will give rise to an improved understanding of 18O/16O ratio variations from biochemical processes affecting the microbial phosphorus metabolism.

Hydrogen Peroxide Formation during Ozonation of Olefins and Phenol: Mechanistic Insights from Oxygen Isotope Signatures

Mitigation of undesired byproducts from ozonation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) such as aldehydes and ketones is currently hampered by limited knowledge of their precursors and formation pathways. Here, the stable oxygen isotope composition of H2O2 formed simultaneously with these byproducts was studied to determine if it can reveal this missing information. A newly developed procedure, which quantitatively transforms H2O2 to O2 for subsequent 18O/16O ratio analysis, was used to determine the δ18O of H2O2 generated from ozonated model compounds (olefins and phenol, pH 3-8). A constant enrichment of 18O in H2O2 with a δ18O value of ∼59‰ implies that 16O-16O bonds are cleaved preferentially in the intermediate Criegee ozonide, which is commonly formed from olefins. H2O2 from the ozonation of acrylic acid and phenol at pH 7 resulted in lower 18O enrichment (δ18O = 47-49‰). For acrylic acid, enhancement of one of the two pathways followed by a carbonyl-H2O2 equilibrium was responsible for the smaller δ18O of H2O2. During phenol ozonation at pH 7, various competing reactions leading to H2O2 via an intermediate ozone adduct are hypothesized to cause lower δ18O in H2O2. These insights provide a first step toward supporting pH-dependent H2O2 precursor elucidation in DOM.

Elucidating the Role of O2 Uncoupling in the Oxidative Biodegradation of Organic Contaminants by Rieske Non-heme Iron Dioxygenases

Oxygenations of aromatic soil and water contaminants with molecular O₂ catalyzed by Rieske dioxygenases are frequent initial steps of biodegradation in natural and engineered environments. Many of these non-heme ferrous iron enzymes are known to be involved in contaminant metabolism, but the understanding of enzyme–substrate interactions that lead to successful biodegradation is still elusive. Here, we studied the mechanisms of O₂ activation and substrate hydroxylation of two nitroarene dioxygenases to evaluate enzyme- and substrate-specific factors that determine the efficiency of oxygenated product formation. Experiments in enzyme assays of 2-nitrotoluene dioxygenase (2NTDO) and nitrobenzene dioxygenase (NBDO) with methyl-, fluoro-, chloro-, and hydroxy-substituted nitroaromatic substrates reveal that typically 20–100% of the enzyme’s activity involves unproductive paths of O₂ activation with generation of reactive oxygen species through so-called O₂ uncoupling. The ¹⁸O and ¹³C kinetic isotope effects of O₂ activation and nitroaromatic substrate hydroxylation, respectively, suggest that O₂ uncoupling occurs after generation of Fe^III-(hydro)peroxo species in the catalytic cycle. While 2NTDO hydroxylates ortho-substituted nitroaromatic substrates more efficiently, NBDO favors meta-substituted, presumably due to distinct active site residues of the two enzymes. Our data implies, however, that the O₂ uncoupling and hydroxylation activity cannot be assessed from simple structure–reactivity relationships. By quantifying O₂ uncoupling by Rieske dioxygenases, our work provides a mechanistic link between contaminant biodegradation, the generation of reactive oxygen species, and possible adaptation strategies of microorganisms to the exposure of new contaminants.

Substrate-Specific Coupling of O2 Activation to Hydroxylations of Aromatic Compounds by Rieske Non-heme Iron Dioxygenases

Rieske dioxygenases catalyze the initial steps in the hydroxylation of aromatic compounds and are critical for the metabolism of xenobiotic substances. Because substrates do not bind to the mononuclear non-heme Fe^II center, elementary steps leading to O₂ activation and substrate hydroxylation are difficult to delineate, thus making it challenging to rationalize divergent observations on enzyme mechanisms, reactivity, and substrate specificity. Here, we show for nitrobenzene dioxygenase, a Rieske dioxygenase capable of transforming nitroarenes to nitrite and substituted catechols, that unproductive O₂ activation with the release of the unreacted substrate and reactive oxygen species represents an important path in the catalytic cycle. Through correlation of O₂ uncoupling for a series of substituted nitroaromatic compounds with ¹⁸O and ¹³C kinetic isotope effects of dissolved O₂ and aromatic substrates, respectively, we show that O₂ uncoupling occurs after the rate-limiting formation of Fe^III-(hydro)peroxo species from which substrates are hydroxylated. Substituent effects on the extent of O₂ uncoupling suggest that the positioning of the substrate in the active site rather than the susceptibility of the substrate for attack by electrophilic oxygen species is responsible for unproductive O₂ uncoupling. The proposed catalytic cycle provides a mechanistic basis for assessing the very different efficiencies of substrate hydroxylation vs unproductive O₂ activation and generation of reactive oxygen species in reactions catalyzed by Rieske dioxygenases.

The Apparently Unreactive Substrate Facilitates the Electron Transfer for Dioxygen Activation in Rieske Dioxygenases

Rieske dioxygenases belong to the non‐heme iron family of oxygenases and catalyze important cis‐dihydroxylation as well as O‐/N‐dealkylation and oxidative cyclization reactions for a wide range of substrates. The lack of substrate coordination at the non‐heme ferrous iron center, however, makes it particularly challenging to delineate the role of the substrate for productive O2 activation. Here, we studied the role of the substrate in the key elementary reaction leading to O2 activation from a theoretical perspective by systematically considering (i) the 6‐coordinate to 5‐coordinate conversion of the non‐heme Fe^II upon abstraction of a water ligand, (ii) binding of O2 , and (iii) transfer of an electron from the Rieske cluster. We systematically evaluated the spin‐state‐dependent reaction energies and structural effects at the active site for all combinations of the three elementary processes in the presence and absence of substrate using naphthalene dioxygenase as a prototypical Rieske dioxygenase. We find that reaction energies for the generation of a coordination vacancy at the non‐heme FeII center through thermoneutral H₂O reorientation and exothermic O2 binding prior to Rieske cluster oxidation are largely insensitive to the presence of naphthalene and do not lead to formation of any of the known reactive Fe‐oxygen species. By contrast, the role of the substrate becomes evident after Rieske cluster oxidation and exclusively for the 6‐coordinate non‐heme FeII sites in that the additional electron is found at the substrate instead of at the iron and oxygen atoms. Our results imply an allosteric control of the substrate on Rieske dioxygenase reactivity to happen prior to changes at the non‐heme FeII in agreement with a strategy that avoids unproductive O2 activation.

Triple-Element Compound-Specific Stable Isotope Analysis (3D-CSIA): Added Value of Cl Isotope Ratios to Assess Herbicide Degradation

Multielement isotope fractionation studies to assess pollutant transformation are well-established for point-source pollution but are only emerging for diffuse pollution by micropollutants like pesticides. Specifically, chlorine isotope fractionation is hardly explored but promising, because many pesticides contain only few chlorine atoms so that "undiluted" position-specific Cl isotope effects can be expected in compound-average data. This study explored combined Cl, N, and C isotope fractionation to sensitively detect biotic and abiotic transformation of the widespread herbicides and groundwater contaminants acetochlor, metolachlor, and atrazine. For chloroacetanilides, abiotic hydrolysis pathways studied under acidic, neutral, and alkaline conditions as well as biodegradation in two soils resulted in pronounced Cl isotope fractionation (ε_Cl from -5.0 ± 2.3 to -6.5 ± 0.7‰). The characteristic dual C-Cl isotope fractionation patterns (Λ_C-Cl from 0.39 ± 0.15 to 0.67 ± 0.08) reveal that Cl isotope analysis provides a robust indicator of chloroacetanilide degradation. For atrazine, distinct Λ_C-Cl values were observed for abiotic hydrolysis (7.4 ± 1.9) compared to previous reports for biotic hydrolysis and oxidative dealkylation (1.7 ± 0.9 and 0.6 ± 0.1, respectively). The 3D isotope approach allowed differentiating transformations that would not be distinguishable based on C and N isotope data alone. This first data set on Cl isotope fractionation in chloroacetanilides, together with new data in atrazine degradation, highlights the potential of using compound-specific chlorine isotope analysis for studying in situ pesticide degradation.

Exploring the Utility of Compound-Specific Isotope Analysis for Assessing Ferrous Iron-Mediated Reduction of RDX in the Subsurface

Subsurface contamination with the explosive hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) at ordnance production and testing sites is a problem because of the persistence, mobility, and toxicity of RDX and the formation of toxic products under anoxic conditions. While the utility of compound-specific isotope analysis for inferring natural attenuation pathways from stable isotope ratios has been demonstrated, the stable isotope fractionation for RDX reduction by iron-bearing minerals remains unknown. Here, we evaluated N and C isotope fractionation of RDX during reduction by Fe(II) associated with Fe minerals and natural sediments and applied N isotope ratios to the assessment of mineral-catalyzed RDX reduction in a contaminant plume and in sediment columns treated by in situ chemical reduction. Laboratory studies revealed that RDX was reduced to nitroso compounds without denitration and the concomitant ring cleavage. Fe(II)/iron oxide mineral-catalyzed reactions exhibited N isotope enrichment factors, ε_N, between -6.3±0.3‰ and -8.2±0.2‰, corresponding to an apparent ¹⁵N kinetic isotope effect of 1.04-1.05. The observed variations of the δ¹⁵N of ∼15‰ in RDX from groundwater samples suggested an extent of reductive transformation of 85% at an ammunition plant. Conversely, we observed masking of N isotope fractionation after RDX reduction in laboratory flow-through systems, which was presumably due to limited accessibility to reactive Fe(II).

Role of Carbonate in Thermodynamic Relationships Describing Pollutant Reduction Kinetics by Iron Oxide-Bound Fe2

The reduction of environmental pollutants by Fe²⁺ bound to iron oxides is an important process that determines pollutant toxicities and mobilities. Recently, we showed that pollutant reduction rates depend on the thermodynamic driving force of the reaction in a linear free energy relationship that was a function of the solution pH value and the reduction potential, E_H, of the interfacial Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ redox couple. In this work, we studied how carbonate affected the free energy relationship by examining the effect that carbonate has on nitrobenzene reduction rates by Fe²⁺ bound to goethite (α-FeOOH). Carbonate slowed nitrobenzene reduction rates by inducing goethite particle aggregation, as evidenced by surface charge and particle size measurements. We observed no evidence for carbonate affecting Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ reduction potentials or the mechanism of nitrobenzene reduction. The linear free energy relationship accurately described the data collected in the presence of carbonate when we accounted for the effect it had on the reactive surface area of goethite. The findings from this work provide a framework for determining why common groundwater constituents affect the E_H-dependence of reaction rates involving oxide-bound Fe²⁺ as a reductant.

Carbon Isotope Fractionation of Substituted Benzene Analogs during Oxidation with Ozone and Hydroxyl Radicals: How Should Experimental Data Be Interpreted?

Oxidative processes frequently contribute to organic pollutant degradation in natural and engineered systems, such as during the remediation of contaminated sites and in water treatment processes. Because a systematic characterization of abiotic reactions of organic pollutants with oxidants such as ozone or hydroxyl radicals by compound-specific stable isotope analysis (CSIA) is lacking, stable isotope-based approaches have rarely been applied for the elucidation of mechanisms of such transformations. Here, we investigated the carbon isotope fractionation associated with the oxidation of benzene and several methylated and methoxylated analogs, namely, toluene, three xylene isomers, mesitylene, and anisole, and determined their carbon isotope enrichments factors (ε_C) for reactions with ozone (ε_C = -3.6 to -4.6 ‰) and hydroxyl radicals (ε_C = 0.0 to -1.2‰). The differences in isotope fractionation can be used to elucidate the contribution of the reactions with ozone or hydroxyl radicals to overall transformation. Derivation of apparent kinetic isotope effects (AKIEs) for the reaction with ozone, however, was nontrivial due to challenges in assigning reactive positions in the probe compounds for the monodentate attack leading to an ozone adduct. We present several options for this step and compare the outcome to quantum chemical characterizations of ozone adducts. Our data show that a general assignment of reactive positions for reactions of ozone with aromatic carbons in ortho-, meta-, or para-positions is not feasible and that AKIEs of this reaction should be derived on a compound-by-compound basis.

Assessment of 2,4-Dinitroanisole Transformation Using Compound-Specific Isotope Analysis after In Situ Chemical Reduction of Iron Oxides

Ferrous iron-bearing minerals are important reductants in the contaminated subsurface, but their availability for the reduction of anthropogenic pollutants is often limited by competition with other electron acceptors including microorganisms and poor accessibility to Fe(II) in complex hydrogeologic settings. The supply of external electron donors through in situ chemical reduction (ISCR) has been proposed as one remediation approach, but the quantification of pollutant transformation is complicated by the perturbations introduced to the subsurface by ISCR. Here, we evaluate the application of compound specific isotope analysis (CSIA) for monitoring the reduction of 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN), a component of insensitive munitions formulations, by mineral-bound Fe(II) generated through ISCR of subsurface material from two field sites. Electron balances from laboratory experiments in batch and column reactors showed that 3.6% to 11% of the total Fe in the sediments was available for the reduction of DNAN and its partially reduced intermediates after dithionite treatment. The extent of DNAN reduction was successfully quantified from its N isotope fractionation measured in the column effluent based on the derivation of a N isotope enrichment factor, ε_N, derived from a comprehensive series of isotope fractionation experiments with numerous Fe(II)-bearing minerals as well as dithionite-reduced subsurface materials. Our observations illustrate the utility of CSIA as a robust approach to evaluate the success of in situ remediation through abiotic contaminant reduction.

Dual-Element Isotope Analysis of Desphenylchloridazon to Investigate Its Environmental Fate in a Systematic Field Study: A Long-Term Lysimeter Experiment

Desphenylchloridazon (DPC), the main metabolite of the herbicide chloridazon (CLZ), is more water soluble and persistent than CLZ and frequently detected in water bodies. When assessing DPC transformation in the environment, results can be nonconclusive if based on concentration analysis alone because estimates may be confounded by simultaneous DPC formation from CLZ. This study investigated the fate of DPC by combining concentration-based methods with compound-specific C and N stable isotope analysis (CSIA). Additionally, DPC formation and transformation processes were experimentally deconvolved in a dedicated lysimeter study considering three scenarios. First, surface application of DPC enabled studying its degradation in the absence of CLZ. Here, CSIA provided evidence of two distinct DPC transformation processes: one shows significant changes only in ¹³C/¹²C, whereas the other involves changes in both ¹³C/¹²C and ¹⁵N/¹⁴N isotope ratios. Second, surface application of CLZ mimicked a realistic field scenario, showing that during DPC formation, ¹³C/¹²C ratios of DPC were depleted in ¹³C relative to CLZ, while ¹⁵N/¹⁴N ratios remained constant. Finally, CLZ depth injection simulated preferential flow and demonstrated the importance of the topsoil for retaining DPC. The combination of the lysimeter study with CSIA enabled insights into DPC transformation in the field that are superior to those of studies of concentration trends.

Enzyme Kinetics of Organic Contaminant Oxygenations

Enzymatic oxygenations initiate biodegradation processes of many organic soil and water contaminants. Even though many biochemical aspects of oxygenation reactions are well-known, quantifying rates of oxidative contaminant removal as well as the extent of oxygenation remains a major challenge. Because enzymes use different strategies to activate O₂, reactions leading to substrate oxygenation are not necessarily limiting the rate of contaminant removal. Moreover, oxygenases react along unproductive pathways without substrate metabolism leading to O₂ uncoupling. Here, we identify the critical features of the catalytic cycles of selected oxygenases that determine rates and extents of biodegradation. We focus most specifically on Rieske dioxygenases, a subfamily of mononuclear non-heme ferrous iron oxygenases, because of their ability to hydroxylate unactivated aromatic structures and thus initiate the transformation of the most persistent organic contaminants. We illustrate that the rate-determining steps in their catalytic cycles range from O₂ activation to substrate hydroxylation, depending on the extent of O-O cleavage that is required for generating the reactive Fe-oxygen species. The extent of O₂ uncoupling, on the other hand, is highly substrate-specific and potentially modulated by adaptive responses to oxidative stress. Understanding the kinetic mechanisms of oxygenases will be key to assess organic contaminant biotransformation quantitatively.

Decreases in Iron Oxide Reducibility during Microbial Reductive Dissolution and Transformation of Ferrihydrite

Ferrous iron formed during microbial ferric iron reduction induces phase transformations of poorly crystalline into more crystalline and thermodynamically more stable iron (oxyhydr)oxides. Yet, characterizing the resulting decreases in the reactivity of the remaining oxide ferric iron toward reduction (i.e., its reducibility) has been challenging. Here, we used the reduction of six-line ferrihydrite by Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 as a model system to demonstrate that mediated electrochemical reduction (MER) allows directly following decreases in oxide ferric iron reducibility during the transformation of ferrihydrite into goethite and magnetite which we characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis and transmission electron microscopy imaging. Ferrihydrite was fully reducible in MER at both pH_MER of 5.0 and 7.5. Decreases in iron oxide reducibility associated with ferrihydrite transformation into magnetite were accessible at both pH_MER because the formed magnetite was not reducible under either of these conditions. Conversely, decreases in iron oxide reducibility associated with goethite formation were apparent only at the highest tested pH_MER of 7.5 and thus the thermodynamically least favorable conditions for iron oxide reductive dissolution. The unique capability to adjust the thermodynamic boundary conditions in MER to the specific reducibilities of individual iron (oxyhydr)oxides makes this electrochemical approach broadly applicable for studying changes in iron oxide reducibility in heterogeneous environmental samples such as soils and sediments.

Assessing Aerobic Biotransformation of Hexachlorocyclohexane Isomers by Compound-Specific Isotope Analysis

Contamination of soils and sediments with the highly persistent hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) continues to be a threat for humans and the environment. Despite the existence of bacteria capable of biodegradation and cometabolic transformation of HCH isomers, such processes occur over time scales of decades and are thus challenging to assess. Here, we explored the use of compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) to track the aerobic biodegradation and biotransformation pathways of the most prominent isomers, namely, (-)-α-, (+)-α-, β-, γ-, and δ-HCH, through changes of their C and H isotope composition in assays of LinA2 and LinB enzymes. Dehydrochlorination of (+)-α-, γ-, and δ-HCH catalyzed by LinA2 was subject to substantial C and H isotope fraction with apparent ¹³C- and ²H-kinetic isotope effects (AKIEs) of up to 1.029 ± 0.001 and 6.7 ± 2.9, respectively, which are indicative of bimolecular eliminations. Hydrolytic dechlorination of δ-HCH by LinB exhibited even larger C but substantially smaller H isotope fractionation with ¹³C- and ²H-AKIEs of 1.073 ± 0.006 and 1.41 ± 0.04, respectively, which are typical for nucleophilic substitutions. The systematic evaluation of isomer-specific phenomena showed that, in addition to contaminant uptake limitations, diffusion-limited turnover ((-)-α-HCH), substrate dissolution (β-HCH), and potentially competing reactions catalyzed by constitutively expressed enzymes might bias the assessment of HCH biodegradation by CSIA at contaminated sites.

Electrochemical Analysis of Changes in Iron Oxide Reducibility during Abiotic Ferrihydrite Transformation into Goethite and Magnetite

Electron transfer to ferric iron in (oxyhydr-)oxides (hereafter iron oxides) is a critical step in many processes that are central to the biogeochemical cycling of elements and to pollutant dynamics. Understanding these processes requires analytical approaches that allow for characterizing the reactivity of iron oxides toward reduction under controlled thermodynamic boundary conditions. Here, we used mediated electrochemical reduction (MER) to follow changes in iron oxide reduction extents and rates during abiotic ferrous iron-induced transformation of six-line ferrihydrite. Transformation experiments (10 mM ferrihydrite-Fe^III) were conducted over a range of solution conditions (pH_trans = 6.50 to 7.50 at 5 mM Fe²⁺ and for pH_trans = 7.00 also at 1 mM Fe²⁺) that resulted in the transformation of ferrihydrite into thermodynamically more stable goethite or magnetite. The changes in iron oxide mineralogy during the transformations were quantified using X-ray diffraction analysis. MER measurements on iron oxide suspension aliquots collected during the transformations were performed over a range of pH_MER at constant applied reduction potential. The extents and rates of iron oxide reduction in MER decreased with decreasing reaction driving force resulting from both increasing pH_MER and increasing transformation of ferrihydrite into thermodynamically more stable iron oxides. We show that the decreases in iron oxide reduction extents and rates during ferrihydrite transformations can be linked to the concurrent changes in iron oxide mineralogy.

Solid-phase extraction method for stable isotope analysis of pesticides from large volume environmental water samples

Compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) is a valuable tool for assessing the fate of organic pollutants in the environment. However, the requirement of sufficient analyte mass for precise isotope ratio mass spectrometry combined with prevailing low environmental concentrations currently limits comprehensive applications to many micropollutants. Here, we evaluate the upscaling of solid-phase extraction (SPE) approaches for routine CSIA of herbicides. To cover a wide range of polarity, a SPE method with two sorbents (a hydrophobic hypercrosslinked sorbent and a hydrophilic sorbent) was developed. Extraction conditions, including the nature and volume of the elution solvent, the amount of sorbent and the solution pH, were optimized. Extractions of up to 10 L of agricultural drainage water (corresponding to up to 200 000-fold pre-concentration) were successfully performed for precise and sensitive carbon and nitrogen CSIA of the target herbicides atrazine, acetochlor, metolachlor and chloridazon, and metabolites desethylatrazine, desphenylchloridazon and 2,6-dichlorobenzamide in the sub-μg L^-1-range. ¹³C/¹²C and ¹⁵N/¹⁴N ratios were measured by gas chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/IRMS), except for desphenylchloridazon, for which liquid chromatography (LC/IRMS) and derivatization-GC/IRMS were used, respectively. The method validated in this study is an important step towards analyzing isotope ratios of pesticide mixtures in aquatic systems and holds great potential for multi-element CSIA applications to trace pesticide degradation in complex environments.

Kinetic Isotope Effects of the Enzymatic Transformation of γ-Hexachlorocyclohexane by the Lindane Dehydrochlorinase Variants LinA1 and LinA2

Compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) can provide insights into the natural attenuation processes of hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), an important class of persistent organic pollutants. However, the interpretation of HCH stable isotope fractionation is conceptually challenging. HCHs exist as different conformers that can be converted into each other, and the enzymes responsible for their transformation discriminate among those HCH conformers. Here, we investigated the enzyme specificity of apparent ¹³C- and ²H-kinetic isotope effects (AKIEs) associated with the dehydrochlorination of γ-HCH (lindane) by two variants of the lindane dehydrochlorinases LinA1 and LinA2. While LinA1 and LinA2 attack γ-HCH at different trans-1,2-diaxial H-C-C-Cl moieties, the observed C and H isotope fractionation was large, typical for bimolecular eliminations, and was not affected by conformational mobility. ¹³C-AKIEs for transformation by LinA1 and LinA2 were the same (1.024 ± 0.001 and 1.025 ± 0.001, respectively), whereas ²H-AKIEs showed minor differences (2.4 ± 0.1 and 2.6 ± 0.1). Variations of isotope effects between LinA1 and LinA2 are small and in the range reported for different degrees of C-H bond cleavage in transition states of dehydrochlorination reactions. The large C and H isotope fractionation reported here for experiments with pure enzymes contrasts with previous observations from whole cell experiments and suggests that specific uptake processes by HCH-degrading microorganisms might modulate the observable HCH isotope fractionation at contaminated sites.

13C- and 15N-Isotope Analysis of Desphenylchloridazon by Liquid Chromatography-Isotope-Ratio Mass Spectrometry and Derivatization Gas Chromatography-Isotope-Ratio Mass Spectrometry

The widespread application of herbicides impacts surface water and groundwater. Metabolites (e.g., desphenylchloridazon from chloridazon) may be persistent and even more polar than the parent herbicide, which increases the risk of groundwater contamination. When parent herbicides are still applied, metabolites are constantly formed and may also be degraded. Evaluating their degradation on the basis of concentration measurements is, therefore, difficult. This study presents compound-specific stable-isotope analysis (CSIA) of nitrogen- and carbon-isotope ratios at natural abundances as an alternative analytical approach to track the origin, formation, and degradation of desphenylchloridazon (DPC), the major degradation product of the herbicide chloridazon. Methods were developed and validated for carbon- and nitrogen-isotope analysis (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) of DPC by liquid chromatography-isotope-ratio mass spectrometry (LC-IRMS) and derivatization gas chromatography-IRMS (GC-IRMS), respectively. Injecting standards directly onto an Atlantis LC-column resulted in reproducible δ¹³C-isotope analysis (standard deviation <0.5‰) by LC-IRMS with a limit of precise analysis of 996 ng of DPC on-column. Accurate and reproducible δ¹⁵N analysis with a standard deviation of <0.4‰ was achieved by GC-IRMS after derivatization of >100 ng of DPC with 160-fold excess of (trimethylsilyl)diazomethane. Application of the method to environmental-seepage water indicated that newly formed DPC could be distinguished from "old" DPC by the different isotopic signatures of the two DPC sources.

Mineral identity, natural organic matter, and repeated contaminant exposures do not affect the carbon and nitrogen isotope fractionation of 2,4-dinitroanisole during abiotic reduction

The recent development of insensitive munitions, such as 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN), as components of military explosives has generated concern for potential subsurface contamination and created a need to fully characterize their transformation processes. Compound specific isotope analysis (CSIA) has proven to be a useful means of assessing transformation pathways according to characteristic stable isotope fractionation patterns. The C and N isotope fractionation of DNAN associated with abiotic and enzymatic hydrolysis was recently assessed. The extent to which DNAN isotope fractionation will be affected by other potentially competing transformation pathways known for nitroaromatic compounds (e.g., reduction) and if previous knowledge can be extrapolated to other environmental matrices remains to be understood. Here, we investigated the C and N isotope fractionation and reaction rate constants of DNAN during abiotic reduction mediated by mineral-associated Fe(ii) species as a function of mineral type, natural organic matter presence, and repeated exposures to DNAN. Though rate constants varied, N and C apparent kinetic isotope effects (AKIEs) remained consistent across all experiments (averaged values of 15N-AKIE = 1.0317 ± 0.0064 and 13C-AKIE = 1.0008 ± 0.0005) and revealed significant 15N- and minimal 13C-enrichment in agreement with previous work on nitroaromatic compounds. Moreover, the observed fractionation was clearly distinct from trends for abiotic and enzymatic hydrolysis. This study provides a strengthened basis for the use of CSIA as a robust tool for monitoring DNAN degradation in complex environmental matrices as a component of future remediation efforts.

Linking Thermodynamics to Pollutant Reduction Kinetics by Fe2+ Bound to Iron Oxides

Numerous studies have reported that pollutant reduction rates by ferrous iron (Fe²⁺) are substantially enhanced in the presence of an iron (oxyhydr)oxide mineral. Developing a thermodynamic framework to explain this phenomenon has been historically difficult due to challenges in quantifying reduction potential ( E_H) values for oxide-bound Fe²⁺ species. Recently, our group demonstrated that E_H values for hematite- and goethite-bound Fe²⁺ can be accurately calculated using Gibbs free energy of formation values. Here, we tested if calculated E_H values for oxide-bound Fe²⁺ could be used to develop a free energy relationship capable of describing variations in reduction rate constants of substituted nitrobenzenes, a class of model pollutants that contain reducible aromatic nitro groups, using data collected here and compiled from the literature. All the data could be described by a single linear relationship between the logarithms of the surface-area-normalized rate constant ( k_SA) values and E_H and pH values [log( k_SA) = - E_H/0.059 V - pH + 3.42]. This framework provides mechanistic insights into how the thermodynamic favorability of electron transfer from oxide-bound Fe²⁺ relates to redox reaction kinetics.

Mediated Electrochemical Reduction of Iron (Oxyhydr-)Oxides under Defined Thermodynamic Boundary Conditions

Iron (oxyhydr-)oxide reduction has been extensively studied because of its importance in pollutant redox dynamics and biogeochemical processes. Yet, experimental studies linking oxide reduction kinetics to thermodynamics remain scarce. Here, we used mediated electrochemical reduction (MER) to directly quantify the extents and rates of ferrihydrite, goethite, and hematite reduction over a range of negative reaction free energies, Δ_rG, that were obtained by systematically varying pH (5.0 to 8.0), applied reduction potentials (-0.53 to -0.17 V vs SHE), and Fe²⁺ concentrations (up to 40 μM). Ferrihydrite reduction was complete and fast at all tested Δ_rG values, consistent with its comparatively low thermodynamic stability. Reduction of the thermodynamically more stable goethite and hematite changed from complete and fast to incomplete and slow as Δ_rG values became less negative. Reductions at intermediate Δ_rG values showed negative linear correlations between the natural logarithm of the reduction rate constants and Δ_rG. These correlations imply that thermodynamics controlled goethite and hematite reduction rates. Beyond allowing to study iron oxide reduction under defined thermodynamic conditions, MER can also be used to capture changes in iron oxide reducibility during phase transformations, as shown for Fe²⁺-facilitated transformation of ferrihydrite to goethite.

Carbon, Hydrogen, and Nitrogen Isotope Fractionation Trends in N-Nitrosodimethylamine Reflect the Formation Pathway during Chloramination of Tertiary Amines

Assessing the precursors and reactions leading to the carcinogenic N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) during drinking water disinfection is a major challenge. Here, we investigate whether changes of ¹³C/¹²C, ²H/¹H, and ¹⁵N/¹⁴N ratios of NDMA give rise to isotope fractionation trends that can be used to infer NDMA formation pathways. We carried out compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) of NDMA during chloramination of four tertiary amines that produce NDMA at high yields, namely ranitidine, 5-(dimethylaminomethyl)furfuryl alcohol, N,N-dimethylthiophene-2-methylamine, and N,N-dimethylbenzylamine. Carbon and hydrogen isotope ratios of NDMA function as fingerprints of the N(CH₃)₂ moiety and exhibit only minor isotope fractionation during the disinfection process. Nitrogen isotope ratios showed that NH₂Cl is the source of the N atom of the nitroso group. The large enrichment of ¹⁵N in NDMA was indicative of the isotope effects pertinent to bond-cleavage and bond-formation reactions during chloramination of the tertiary amines. Correlation of δ¹⁵N versus δ¹³C values of NDMA resulted in trend lines that were not affected by the type of tertiary amine and treatment conditions, suggesting that the observed C and N isotope fractionation in NDMA may be diagnostic for NDMA precursors and formation pathways during chloramination.

Characterization of Substrate, Cosubstrate, and Product Isotope Effects Associated With Enzymatic Oxygenations of Organic Compounds Based on Compound-Specific Isotope Analysis

Enzymatic oxygenations are among the most important biodegradation and detoxification reactions of organic pollutants. In the environment, however, such natural attenuation processes are extremely difficult to monitor. Changes of stable isotope ratios of aromatic pollutants at natural isotopic abundances serve as proxies for isotope effects associated with oxygenation reactions. Such isotope fractionations offer new avenues for revealing the pathway and extent of pollutant transformation and provide new insights into the mechanisms of catalysis by Rieske non-heme ferrous iron oxygenases. Based on compound-specific C, H, N, and O isotope analysis, we present a comprehensive methodology with which isotope effects can be derived from the isotope fractionation measured in substrates, the cosubstrate O₂, and organic oxygenation products. We use dioxygenation of nitrobenzene and 2-nitrotoluene by nitrobenzene dioxygenase as illustrative examples to introduce different mathematical procedures for deriving apparent substrate and product isotope effects. We present two experimental approaches to control reactant and product turnover for isotope fractionation analysis in experimental systems containing purified enzymes, E. coli clones, and pure strains of environmental microorganisms. Finally, we present instrumental procedures and sample treatment instructions for analysis of C, H, and N isotope analysis in organic compounds and O isotope analysis in aqueous O₂ by gas and liquid chromatography coupled to isotope ratio mass spectrometry.

Isotope fractionation associated with the simultaneous biodegradation of multiple nitrophenol isomers by Pseudomonas putida B2

Quantifying the extent of biodegradation of nitroaromatic compounds (NACs) in contaminated soils and sediments is challenging because of competing oxidative and reductive reaction pathways. We have previously shown that the stable isotope fractionation of NACs reveals the routes of degradation even if it is simultaneously caused by different bacteria. However, it is unclear whether compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) can be applied in situations where multiple pollutants are biodegraded by only one microorganism under multi-substrate conditions. Here we examined the C and N isotope fractionation of 2-nitrophenol (2-NP) and 3-nitrophenol (3-NP) during biodegradation by Pseudomonas putida B2 through monooxygenation and partial reductive pathways, respectively, in the presence of single substrates vs. binary substrate mixtures. Laboratory experiments showed that the reduction of 3-NP by Pseudomonas putida B2 is associated with large N and minor C isotope fractionation with C and N isotope enrichment factors, ε_C and ε_N, of -0.3 ± 0.1‰ and -22 ± 0.2‰, respectively. The opposite isotope fractionation trends were found for 2-NP monooxygenation. In the simultaneous presence of 2-NP and 3-NP, 2-NP is biodegraded at identical rate constants and ε_C and ε_N values (-1.0 ± 0.1‰ and -1.3 ± 0.2‰) to those found for the monooxygenation of 2-NP in single substrate experiments. While the pathway and N isotope fractionation of 3-NP reduction (ε_N = -24 ± 1.1‰) are independent of the presence of 2-NP, intermediates of 2-NP monooxygenation interfere with 3-NP reduction. Because neither pH, substrate uptake, nor aromatic substituents affected the kinetic isotope effects of nitrophenol biodegradation, our study illustrates that CSIA provides robust scientific evidence for the assessment of natural attenuation processes.

Formation of N-Nitrosodimethylamine during Chloramination of Secondary and Tertiary Amines: Role of Molecular Oxygen and Radical Intermediates

N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) is a carcinogenic disinfection byproduct from water chloramination. Despite the identification of numerous NDMA precursors, essential parts of the reaction mechanism such as the incorporation of molecular O₂ are poorly understood. In laboratory model systems for the chloramination of secondary and tertiary amines, we investigated the kinetics of precursor disappearance and NDMA formation, quantified the stoichiometries of monochloramine (NH₂Cl) and aqueous O₂ consumption, derived ¹⁸O-kinetic isotope effects (¹⁸O-KIE) for the reactions of aqueous O₂, and studied the impact of radical scavengers on NDMA formation. Although the molar NDMA yields from five N,N-dimethylamine-containing precursors varied between 1.4% and 90%, we observed the stoichiometric removal of one O₂ per N,N-dimethylamine group of the precursor indicating that the oxygenation of N atoms did not determine the molar NDMA yield. Small ¹⁸O-KIEs between 1.0026 ± 0.0003 and 1.0092 ± 0.0009 found for all precursors as well as completely inhibited NDMA formation in the presence of radical scavengers (ABTS and trolox) imply that O₂ reacted with radical species. Our study suggests that aminyl radicals from the oxidation of organic amines by NH₂Cl and N-peroxyl radicals from the reaction of aminyl radicals with aqueous O₂ are part of the NDMA formation mechanism.

Exploring Trends of C and N Isotope Fractionation to Trace Transformation Reactions of Diclofenac in Natural and Engineered Systems

Although diclofenac ranks among the most frequently detected pharmaceuticals in the urban water cycle, its environmental transformation reactions remain imperfectly understood. Biodegradation-induced changes in ¹⁵N/¹⁴N ratios (ε_N = -7.1‰ ± 0.4‰) have indicated that compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) may detect diclofenac degradation. This singular observation warrants exploration for further transformation reactions. The present study surveys carbon and nitrogen isotope fractionation in other environmental and engineered transformation reactions of diclofenac. While carbon isotope fractionation was generally small, observed nitrogen isotope fractionation in degradation by MnO₂ (ε_N = -7.3‰ ± 0.3‰), photolysis (ε_N = +1.9‰ ± 0.1‰), and ozonation (ε_N = +1.5‰ ± 0.2‰) revealed distinct trends for different oxidative transformation reactions. The small, secondary isotope effect associated with ozonation suggests an attack of O₃ in a molecular position distant from the N atom. Model reactants for outer-sphere single electron transfer generated large inverse nitrogen isotope fractionation (ε_N = +5.7‰ ± 0.3‰), ruling out this mechanism for biodegradation and transformation by MnO₂. In a river model, isotope fractionation-derived degradation estimates agreed well with concentration mass balances, providing a proof-of-principle validation for assessing micropollutant degradation in river sediment. Our study highlights the prospect of combining CSIA with transformation product analysis for a better assessment of transformation reactions within the environmental life of diclofenac.

Thermodynamic Characterization of Iron Oxide-Aqueous Fe(2+) Redox Couples

Iron is present in virtually all terrestrial and aquatic environments, where it participates in redox reactions with surrounding metals, organic compounds, contaminants, and microorganisms. The rates and extent of these redox reactions strongly depend on the speciation of the Fe2+ and Fe3+ phases, although the underlying reasons remain unclear. In particular, numerous studies have observed that Fe2+ associated with iron oxide surfaces (i.e., oxide-associated Fe2+) often reduces oxidized contaminants much faster than aqueous Fe2+ alone. Here, we tested two hypotheses related to this observation by determining if solutions containing two commonly studied iron oxides—hematite and goethite—and aqueous Fe2+ reached thermodynamic equilibrium over the course of a day. We measured reduction potential (EH) values in solutions containing these oxides at different pH values and aqueous Fe2+ concentrations using mediated potentiometry. This analysis yielded standard reduction potential (EH0) values of 768 ± 1 mV for the aqueous Fe2+–goethite redox couple and 769 ± 2 mV for the aqueous Fe2+–hematite redox couple. These values were in excellent agreement with those calculated from existing thermodynamic data, and the data could be explained by the presence of an iron oxide lowering EH values of aqueous Fe3+/Fe2+ redox couples.

Substrate and Enzyme Specificity of the Kinetic Isotope Effects Associated with the Dioxygenation of Nitroaromatic Contaminants

Compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) is a promising approach for tracking biotransformation of organic pollutants, but isotope fractionation associated with aromatic oxygenations is only poorly understood. We investigated the dioxygenation of a series of nitroaromatic compounds to the corresponding catechols by two enzymes, namely, nitrobenzene and 2-nitrotoluene dioxygenase (NBDO and 2NTDO) to elucidate the enzyme- and substrate-specificity of C and H isotope fractionation. While the apparent (13)C- and (2)H-kinetic isotope effects of nitrobenzene, nitrotoluene isomers, 2,6-dinitrotoluene, and naphthalene dioxygenation by NBDO varied considerably, the correlation of C and H isotope fractionation revealed a common mechanism for nitrobenzene and nitrotoluenes. Similar observations were made for the dioxygenation of these substrates by 2NTDO. Evaluation of reaction kinetics, isotope effects, and commitment-to-catalysis based on experiment and theory showed that rates of dioxygenation are determined by the enzymatic O2 activation and aromatic C oxygenation. The contribution of enzymatic O2 activation to the reaction rate varies for different nitroaromatic substrates of NBDO and 2NTDO. Because aromatic dioxygenation by nonheme iron dioxygenases is frequently the initial step of biodegradation, O2 activation kinetics may also have been responsible for the minor isotope fractionation reported for the oxygenation of other aromatic contaminants.

Measurement of oxygen isotope ratios ((18)O/(16)O) of aqueous O2 in small samples by gas chromatography/isotope ratio mass spectrometry

RATIONALE

Oxygen isotope fractionation of molecular O2 is an important process for the study of aerobic metabolism, photosynthesis, and formation of reactive oxygen species. The latter is of particular interest for investigating the mechanism of enzyme-catalyzed reactions, such as the oxygenation of organic pollutants, which is an important detoxification mechanism.

METHODS

We developed a simple method to measure the δ(18) O values of dissolved O2 in small samples using automated split injection for gas chromatography coupled to isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/IRMS). After creating a N2 headspace, the dissolved O2 partitions from aqueous solution to the headspace, from which it can be injected into the gas chromatograph.

RESULTS

In aqueous samples of 10 mL and in diluted air samples, we quantified the δ(18) O values at O2 concentrations of 16 μM and 86 μM, respectively. The chromatographic separation of O2 and N2 with a molecular sieve column made it possible to use N2 as the headspace gas for the extraction of dissolved O2 from water. We were therefore able to apply a rigorous δ(18) O blank correction for the quantification of (18) O/(16) O ratios in 20 nmol of injected O2 .

CONCLUSIONS

The successful quantification of (18) O-kinetic isotope effects associated with enzymatic and chemical reduction of dissolved O2 illustrates how the proposed method can be applied for studying enzymatic O2 activation mechanisms in a variety of (bio)chemical processes.

Isotope Fractionation Associated with the Indirect Photolysis of Substituted Anilines in Aqueous Solution

Organic micropollutants containing aniline substructures are susceptible to different light-induced transformation processes in aquatic environments and water treatment operations. Here, we investigated the magnitude and variability of C and N isotope fractionation during the indirect phototransformation of four para-substituted anilines in aerated aqueous solutions. The model photosensitizers, namely 9,10-anthraquinone-1,5-disulfonate and methylene blue, were used as surrogates for dissolved organic matter chromophores generating excited triplet states in sunlit surface waters. The transformation of aniline, 4-CH3-, 4-OCH3-, and 4-Cl-aniline by excited triplet states of the photosensitizers was associated with inverse and normal N isotope fractionation, whereas C isotope fractionation was negligible. The apparent 15N kinetic isotope effects (AKIE) were almost identical for both photosensitizers, increased from 0.9958±0.0013 for 4-OCH3-aniline to 1.0035±0.0006 for 4-Cl-aniline, and correlated well with the electron donating properties of the substituent. N isotope fractionation is pH-dependent in that H+ exchange reactions dominate below and N atom oxidation processes above the pKa value of the substituted aniline's conjugate acid. Correlations of C and N isotope fractionation for indirect phototransformation were different from those determined previously for the direct photolysis of chloroanilines and offer new opportunities to distinguish between abiotic degradation pathways.

Electrochemical analyses of redox-active iron minerals: a review of nonmediated and mediated approaches

Redox-active minerals are ubiquitous in the environment and are involved in numerous electron transfer reactions that significantly affect biogeochemical processes and cycles as well as pollutant dynamics. As a consequence, research in different scientific disciplines is devoted to elucidating the redox properties and reactivities of minerals. This review focuses on the characterization of mineral redox properties using electrochemical approaches from an applied (bio)geochemical and environmental analytical chemistry perspective. Establishing redox equilibria between the minerals and working electrodes is a major challenge in electrochemical measurements, which we discuss in an overview of traditional electrochemical techniques. These issues can be overcome with mediated electrochemical analyses in which dissolved redox mediators are used to increase the rate of electron transfer and to facilitate redox equilibration between working electrodes and minerals in both amperometric and potentiometric measurements. Using experimental data on an iron-bearing clay mineral, we illustrate how mediated electrochemical analyses can be employed to derive important thermodynamic and kinetic data on electron transfer to and from structural iron. We summarize anticipated methodological advancements that will further contribute to advance an improved understanding of electron transfer to and from minerals in environmentally relevant redox processes.

Isotope fractionation associated with the direct photolysis of 4-chloroaniline

Compound-specific isotope analysis is a useful approach to track transformations of many organic soil and water pollutants. Applications of CSIA to characterize photochemical processes, however, have hardly been explored. In this work, we systematically studied C and N isotope fractionation associated with the direct photolysis of 4-Cl-aniline used as a model compound for organic micropollutants that are known to degrade via photochemical processes. Laboratory experiments were carried out at an irradiation wavelength of 254 nm over the pH range 2.0 to 9.0 as well as in the presence of Cs(+) as a quencher of excited singlet 4-Cl-aniline at pH 7.0 and 9.0. We observed considerable variation of C and N isotope enrichment factors, ϵC and ϵN, between -1.2 ± 0.2‰ to -2.7 ± 0.2‰ for C and -0.6 ± 0.2‰ to -9.1 ± 1.6‰ for N, respectively, which could not be explained by the speciation of 4-Cl-aniline alone. In the presence of 1 M Cs(+), we found a marked increase of apparent (13)C-kinetic isotope effects ((13)C-AKIE) and decrease of 4-Cl-aniline fluorescence lifetimes. Our data suggest that variations of C and N isotope fractionation originate from heterolytic dechlorination of excited triplet and singlet states of 4-Cl-aniline. Linear correlations of (13)C-AKIE vs (15)N-AKIE were distinctly different for these two reaction pathways and may be explored further for the identification of photolytic aromatic dechlorination reactions.

Isotope effects of enzymatic dioxygenation of nitrobenzene and 2-nitrotoluene by nitrobenzene dioxygenase

Oxygenation of aromatic rings is a frequent initial step in the biodegradation of persistent contaminants, and the accompanying isotope fractionation is increasingly used to assess the extent of transformation in the environment. Here, we systematically investigated the dioxygenation of two nitroaromatic compounds (nitrobenzene and 2-nitrotoluene) by nitrobenzene dioxygenase (NBDO) to obtain insights into the factors governing its C, H, and N isotope fractionation. Experiments were carried out at different levels of biological complexity from whole bacterial cells to pure enzyme. C, H, and N isotope enrichment factors and kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) were derived from the compound-specific isotope analysis of nitroarenes, whereas C isotope fractionation was also quantified in the oxygenated reaction products. Dioxygenation of nitrobenzene to catechol and 2-nitrotoluene to 3-methylcatechol showed large C isotope enrichment factors, ϵC, of -4.1 ± 0.2‰ and -2.5 ± 0.2‰, respectively, and was observed consistently in the substrates and dioxygenation products. ϵH- and ϵN-values were smaller, that is -5.7 ± 1.3‰ and -1.0 ± 0.3‰, respectively. C isotope fractionation was also identical in experiments with whole bacterial cells and pure enzymes. The corresponding (13)C-KIEs for the dioxygenation of nitrobenzene and 2-nitrotoluene were 1.025 ± 0.001 and 1.018 ± 0.001 and suggest a moderate substrate specificity. Our study illustrates that dioxygenation of nitroaromatic contaminants exhibits a large C isotope fractionation, which is not masked by substrate transport and uptake processes and larger than dioxygenation of other aromatic hydrocarbons.

Biotransformation of benzotriazoles: insights from transformation product identification and compound-specific isotope analysis

Benzotriazoles are widely used domestic and industrial corrosion inhibitors and have become omnipresent organic micropollutants in the aquatic environment. Here, the range of aerobic biological degradation mechanisms of benzotriazoles in activated sludge was investigated. Degradation pathways were elucidated by identifying transient and persistent transformation products in batch experiments using liquid chromatography-high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LC-HR-MS/MS). In addition, initial reactions were studied using compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA). Biodegradation half-lives of 1.0 days for 1H-benzotriazole, 8.5 days for 4-methyl-1H-benzotriazole, and 0.9 days for 5-methyl-1H-benzotriazole with activated sludge confirmed their known partial persistence in conventional wastewater treatment. Major transformation products were identified as 4- and 5-hydroxy-1H-benzotriazole for the degradation of 1H-benzotriazole, and 1H-benzotriazole-5-carboxylic acid for the degradation of 5-methyl-1H-benzotriazole. These transformation products were found in wastewater effluents, showing their environmental relevance. Many other candidate transformation products, tentatively identified by interpretation of HR-MS/MS spectra, showed the broad range of possible reaction pathways including oxidation, alkylation, hydroxylation and indicate the significance of cometabolic processes for micropollutant degradation in biological wastewater treatment in general. The combination of evidence from product analysis with the significant carbon and nitrogen isotope fractionation suggests that aromatic monohydroxylation is the predominant step during the biotransformation of 1H-benzotriazole.

Isotope fractionation associated with the biodegradation of 2- and 4-nitrophenols via monooxygenation pathways

Monooxygenation is an important route of nitroaromatic compound (NAC) biodegradation and it is widely found for cometabolic transformations of NACs and other aromatic pollutants. We investigated the C and N isotope fractionation of nitrophenol monooxygenation to complement the characterization of NAC (bio)degradation pathways by compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA). Because of the large diversity of enzymes catalyzing monooxygenations, we studied the combined C and N isotope fractionation and the corresponding (13)C- and (15)N-apparent kinetic isotope effects (AKIEs) of four nitrophenol-biodegrading microorganisms (Bacillus spharericus JS905, Pseudomonas sp. 1A, Arthrobacter sp. JS443, Pseudomonas putida B2) in the pH range 6.1-8.6 with resting cells and crude cell extracts. While the extent of C and N isotope fractionation and the AKIE-values varied considerably for the different organisms, the correlated C and N isotope signatures (δ(15)N vs δ(13)C) revealed trends, indicative of two distinct monooxygenation pathways involving hydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone or 1,2- and 1,4-benzoquinone intermediates, respectively. The distinction was possible based on larger secondary (15)N-AKIEs associated with the benzoquinone pathway. Isotope fractionation was neither masked substantially by nitrophenol speciation nor transport across cell membranes. Only when 4-nitrophenol was biodegraded by Pseudomonas sp. 1A did isotope fractionation become negligible, presumably due to rate-limiting substrate binding steps pertinent to the catalytic cycle of flavin-dependent monooxygenases.

Redox properties of structural Fe in clay minerals: 3. Relationships between smectite redox and structural properties

Structural Fe in clay minerals is an important redox-active species in many pristine and contaminated environments as well as in engineered systems. Understanding the extent and kinetics of redox reactions involving Fe-bearing clay minerals has been challenging due to the inability to relate structural Fe(2+)/Fe(total) fractions to fundamental redox properties, such as reduction potentials (EH). Here, we overcame this challenge by using mediated electrochemical reduction (MER) and oxidation (MEO) to characterize the fraction of redox-active structural Fe (Fe(2+)/Fe(total)) in smectites over a wide range of applied EH-values (-0.6 V to +0.6 V). We examined Fe(2+)/Fe(total )- EH relationships of four natural Fe-bearing smectites (SWy-2, SWa-1, NAu-1, NAu-2) in their native, reduced, and reoxidized states and compared our measurements with spectroscopic observations and a suite of mineralogical properties. All smectites exhibited unique Fe(2+)/Fe(total) - EH relationships, were redox active over wide EH ranges, and underwent irreversible electron transfer induced structural changes that were observable with X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Variations among the smectite Fe(2+)/Fe(total) - EH relationships correlated well with both bulk and molecular-scale properties, including Fe(total) content, layer charge, and quadrupole splitting values, suggesting that multiple structural parameters determined the redox properties of smectites. The Fe(2+)/Fe(total) - EH relationships developed for these four commonly studied clay minerals may be applied to future studies interested in relating the extent of structural Fe reduction or oxidation to EH-values.

Isotopic analysis of oxidative pollutant degradation pathways exhibiting large H isotope fractionation

Oxidation of aromatic rings and its alkyl substituents are often competing initial steps of organic pollutant transformation. The use of compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) to distinguish between these two pathways quantitatively, however, can be hampered by large H isotope fractionation that precludes calculation of apparent (2)H-kinetic isotope effects (KIE) as well as the process identification in multi-element isotope fractionation analysis. Here, we investigated the C and H isotope fractionation associated with the transformation of toluene, nitrobenzene, and four substituted nitrotoluenes by permanganate, MnO4(-), to propose a refined evaluation procedure for the quantitative distinction of CH3-group oxidation and dioxygenation. On the basis of batch experiments, an isotopomer-specific kinetic model, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we successfully derived the large apparent (2)H-KIE of 4.033 ± 0.20 for the CH3-group oxidation of toluene from H isotope fractionation exceeding >1300‰ as well as the corresponding (13)C-KIE (1.0324 ± 0.0011). Experiment and theory also agreed well for the dioxygenation of nitrobenzene, which was associated with (2)H- and (13)C-KIEs of 0.9410 ± 0.0030 (0.9228 obtained by DFT) and 1.0289 ± 0.0003 (1.025). Consistent branching ratios for the competing CH3-group oxidation and dioxygenation of nitrotoluenes by MnO4(-) were obtained from the combined modeling of concentration as well as C and H isotope signature trends. Our approach offers improved estimates for the identification of contaminant microbial and abiotic oxidation pathways by CSIA.

Using compound-specific isotope analysis to assess biodegradation of nitroaromatic explosives in the subsurface

Assessing the fate of nitroaromatic explosives in the subsurface is challenging because contaminants are present in different phases (e.g., bound to soil or sediment matrix or as solid-phase residues) and transformation takes place via several potentially competing pathways over time-scales of decades. We developed a procedure for compound-specific analysis of stable C, N, and H isotopes in nitroaromatic compounds (NACs) and characterized biodegradation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and two dinitrotoluene isomers (2,4-DNT and 2,6-DNT) in subsurface material of a contaminated site. The type and relative contribution of reductive and oxidative pathways to the degradation of the three contaminants was inferred from the combined evaluation of C, N, and H isotope fractionation. Indicative trends of Δδ(15)N vs Δδ(13)C and Δδ(2)H vs Δδ(13)C were obtained from laboratory model systems for biodegradation pathways initiated via (i) dioxygenation, (ii) reduction, and (iii) CH3-group oxidation. The combined evaluation of NAC isotope fractionation in subsurface materials and in laboratory experiments suggests that in the field, 86-89% of 2,4-DNT transformation was due to dioxygenation while TNT was mostly reduced and 2,6-DNT reacted via a combination of reduction and CH3-group oxidation. Based on historic information on site operation, our data imply biodegradation of 2,4-DNT with half-lives of up to 9-17 years compared to 18-34 years for cometabolic transformation of TNT and 2,6-DNT.

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.

Redox properties of structural Fe in clay minerals. 2. Electrochemical and spectroscopic characterization of electron transfer irreversibility in ferruginous smectite, SWa-1

Structural Fe in clay minerals is an important, albeit poorly characterized, redox-active phase found in many natural and engineered environments. This work develops an experimental approach to directly assess the redox properties of a natural Fe-bearing smectite (ferruginous smectite, SWa-1, 12.6 wt % Fe) with mediated electrochemical reduction (MER) and oxidation (MEO). By utilizing a suite of one-electron-transfer mediating compounds to facilitate electron transfer between structural Fe in SWa-1 and a working electrode, we show that the Fe2+/Fe3+ couple in SWa-1 is redox-active over a large range of potentials (from E(H) = -0.63 V to +0.61 V vs SHE). Electrochemical and spectroscopic analyses of SWa-1 samples that were subject to reduction and re-oxidation cycling revealed both reversible and irreversible structural Fe rearrangements that altered the observed apparent standard reduction potential (E(H)(ø)) of structural Fe. E(H)(ø)-values vary by as much as 0.56 V between SWa-1 samples with different redox histories. The wide range of E(H)-values over which SWa-1 is redox-active and redox history-dependent E(H)(ø)-values underscore the importance of Fe-bearing clay minerals as redox-active phases in a wide range of redox regimes.

Redox properties of structural Fe in clay minerals. 1. Electrochemical quantification of electron-donating and -accepting capacities of smectites

Clay minerals often contain redox-active structural iron that participates in electron transfer reactions with environmental pollutants, bacteria, and biological nutrients. Measuring the redox properties of structural Fe in clay minerals using electrochemical approaches, however, has proven to be difficult due to a lack of reactivity between clay minerals and electrodes. Here, we overcome this limitation by using one-electron-transfer mediating compounds to facilitate electron transfer between structural Fe in clay minerals and a vitreous carbon working electrode in an electrochemical cell. Using this approach, the electron-accepting and -donating capacities (Q(EAC) and Q(EDC)) were quantified at applied potentials (E(H)) of -0.60 V and +0.61 V (vs SHE), respectively, for four natural Fe-bearing smectites (i.e., SWa-1, SWy-2, NAu-1, and NAu-2) having different total Fe contents (Fe(total) = 2.3 to 21.2 wt % Fe) and varied initial Fe(2+)/Fe(total) states. For every SWa-1 and SWy-2 sample, all the structural Fe was redox-active over the tested E(H) range, demonstrating reliable quantification of Fe content and redox state. Yet for NAu-1 and NAu-2, a significant fraction of the structural Fe was redox-inactive, which was attributed to Fe-rich smectites requiring more extreme E(H)-values to achieve complete Fe reduction and/or oxidation. The Q(EAC) and Q(EDC) values provided here can be used as benchmarks in future studies examining the extent of reduction and oxidation of Fe-bearing smectites.

Carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen isotope fractionation associated with oxidative transformation of substituted aromatic N-alkyl amines

We investigated the mechanisms and isotope effects associated with the N-dealkylation and N-atom oxidation of substituted N-methyl- and N,N-dimethylanilines to identify isotope fractionation trends for the assessment of oxidations of aromatic N-alkyl moieties by compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA). In laboratory batch model systems, we determined the C, H, and N isotope enrichment factors for the oxidation by MnO(2) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP), derived apparent (13)C-, (2)H-, and (15)N-kinetic isotope effects (AKIEs), and characterized reaction products. The N-atom oxidation pathway leading to radical coupling products typically exhibited inverse (15)N-AKIEs (up to 0.991) and only minor (13)C- and (2)H-AKIEs. Oxidative N-dealkylation, in contrast, was subject to large normal (13)C- and (2)H-AKIEs (up to 1.019 and 3.1, respectively) and small (15)N-AKIEs. Subtle changes of the compound's electronic properties due to different types of aromatic and/or N-alkyl substituents resulted in changes of reaction mechanisms, rate-limiting step(s), and thus isotope fractionation trends. The complex sequence of electron and proton transfers during the oxidative transformation of substituted aromatic N-alkyl amines suggests highly compound- and mechanism-dependent isotope effects precluding extrapolations to other organic micropollutants reacting along the same degradation pathways.

δ¹⁵N enrichment suggests possible source for halogenated 1'-methyl-1,2'-bipyrroles (MBPs)

Polyhalogenated 1'-methyl-1,2'-bipyrroles are natural products that biomagnify into upper trophic levels of marine food webs. Here we demonstrate that they are unusually enriched in (15)N (δ(15)N from +19.3‰ to +28.1‰) relative to other biosynthetic organic compounds measured to date and the mammals from which the compounds were isolated. We argue the (15)N enrichment likely stems from enriched precursors and/or fractionation during biosynthesis and is not from MBP degradation. We also consider possible sources of MBPs in light of these results.

Using nitrogen isotope fractionation to assess the oxidation of substituted anilines by manganese oxide

We explored the N isotope fractionation associated with the oxidation of substituted primary aromatic amines, which are often the position of initial attack in transformation processes of environmental contaminants. Apparent (15)N-kinetic isotope effects, AKIE(N), were determined for the oxidation of various substituted anilines in suspensions of manganese oxide (MnO(2)) and compared to reference experiments in homogeneous solutions and at electrode surfaces, as well as to density functional theory calculations of intrinsic KIE(N)for electron and hydrogen atom transfer reactions. Owing to the partial aromatic imine formation after one-electron oxidation and corresponding increase in C-N bond strength, AKIE(N)-values were inverse, substituent-dependent, and confined to the range between 0.992 and 0.999 in agreement with theory. However, AKIE(N)-values became normal once the fraction of cationic species prevailed owing to (15)N-equilibrium isotope effects, EIE(N), of 1.02 associated with N atom deprotonation. The observable AKIE(N)-values are substantially modulated by the acid/base pre-equilibria of the substituted anilines and isotope fractionation may even vanish under conditions where normal EIE(N) and inverse AKIE(N) cancel each other out. The pH-dependent trends of the AKIE(N)-values provide a new line of evidence for the identification of contaminant degradation processes via oxidation of primary aromatic amino groups.