A Shallow BTEX and MTBE Contaminated Aquifer Supports a Diverse Microbial Community

Feris, Kevin P.; Gebreyesus, Binyam; Mackay, Doug; Scow, Kate M.

doi:10.1007/s00248-004-0001-2

Cited by 52 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…It was observed that the majority of the microorganisms belonged to the a-, band c-Proteobacteria classes, which contain several oil-degrading bacteria (Hristova et al 2001;Feris et al 2004). The most frequently detected class was b-Proteobacteria, to which most currently known MTBE-degraders belong (Bruns et al 2001;Hatzinger et al 2001).…”

Section: Composition Of the Microbial Consortiamentioning

confidence: 97%

Aerobic MTBE biodegradation in the presence of BTEX by two consortia under batch and semi-batch conditions

Raynal

Pruden

2007

Biodegradation

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This study explores the effect of microbial consortium composition and reactor configuration on methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) biodegradation in the presence of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and p-xylenes(BTEX). MTBE biodegradation was monitored in the presence and absence of BTEX in duplicate batch reactors inoculated with distinct enrichment cultures: MTBE only (MO-originally enriched on MTBE) and/or MTBE BTEX (MB-originally enriched on MTBE and BTEX). The MO culture was also applied in a semi-batch reactor which received both MTBE and BTEX periodically in fresh medium after allowing cells to settle. The composition of the microbial consortia was explored using a combination of 16S rRNA gene cloning and quantitative polymerase chain reaction targeting the known MTBE-degrading strain PM1T. MTBE biodegradation was completely inhibited by BTEX in the batch reactors inoculated with the MB culture, and severely retarded in those inoculated with the MO culture (0.18+/-0.04 mg/L-day). In the semi-batch reactor, however, the MTBE biodegradation rate in the presence of BTEX was almost three times as high as in the batch reactors (0.48+/-0.2 mg/L-day), but still slower than MTBE biodegradation in the absence of BTEX in the MO-inoculated batch reactors (1.47+/-0.47 mg/L-day). A long lag phase in MTBE biodegradation was observed in batch reactors inoculated with the MB culture (20 days), but the ultimate rate was comparable to the MO culture (0.95+/-0.44 mg/L-day). Analysis of the cultures revealed that strain PM1T concentrations were lower in cultures that successfully biodegraded MTBE in the presence of BTEX. Also, other MTBE degraders, such as Leptothrix sp. and Hydrogenophaga sp. were found in these cultures. These results demonstrate that MTBE bioremediation in the presence of BTEX is feasible, and that culture composition and reactor configuration are key factors.

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Section: Composition Of the Microbial Consortiamentioning

confidence: 97%

Aerobic MTBE biodegradation in the presence of BTEX by two consortia under batch and semi-batch conditions

Raynal

Pruden

2007

Biodegradation

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“…However, the introduction of labile carbon into carbon-limited subsurface environments (e.g., before or long after spills of gasoline) or electron donors (e.g., as in the case of many MTBE plumes) can dramatically change prevailing redox conditions and can alter the structure and function of subsurface microbial communities. 1,2 Functional changes may include preferential degradation of more labile carbon substrates over other biodegradable and more toxic compounds present (e.g., benzene (B), toluene (T), xylene (X), and ethylbenzene (E)). 3 A growing body of work has examined the influence of ethanol on the natural attenuation and biodegradation of BTEX under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions [4][5][6][7][8] These studies suggest that simultaneous introduction of ethanol and BTEX will result in decreased BTEX attenuation rates and longer contaminant plumes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Ethanol on Microbial Community Structure and Function During Natural Attenuation of Benzene, Toluene, and o-Xylene in a Sulfate-reducing Aquifer

Feris

Mackay

Sieyes

et al. 2008

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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SynopsisIn a continuous release field experiment, ethanol altered microbial community structure/function, lowered the redox state, and slowed biodegradation of coreleased BTo-X in an anaerobic aquifer. AbstractEthanol (EtOH) is a commonly used fuel oxygenate in reformulated gasoline and is an alternative fuel and fuel supplement. Effects of EtOH release on aquifer microbial ecology and geochemistry have not been well characterized in situ. We performed a controlled field release of petroleum constituents (benzene (B), toluene (T), o-xylene (o-X) at ∼1-3 mg/L each) with and without EtOH (∼500 mg/L). Mixed linear modeling (MLM) assessed effects on the microbial ecology of a naturally sulfidic aquifer and how the microbial community affected B, T, and o-X plume lengths and aquifer geochemistry. Changes in microbial community structure were determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) targeting Bacteria, Archaea, and sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB); SRB were enumerated using a novel qPCR method targeting the adenosine-5′-phosphosulfate reductase gene. Bacterial and SRB densities increased with and without EtOH-amendment (1−8 orders of magnitude). Significant increases in Archaeal species richness; Archaeal cell densities (3-6 orders of magnitude); B, T, and o-X plume lengths; depletion of sulfate; and induction of methanogenic conditions were only observed with EtOH-amendment. MLM supported the conclusion that EtOH-amendment altered microbial community structure and function, which in turn lowered the NOT THE PUBLISHED VERSION; this is the author's final, peer-reviewed manuscript. The published version may be accessed by following the link in the citation at the bottom of the page.

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“…Recent genome sequencing projects targeting bacteria belonging to this group promoted insights into their lifestyle and revealed them to be best suited to low-nutrient conditions (37)(38)(39). Holophaga foetida TMBS4T was even capable of degrading several aromatic compounds, such as gallate, phloroglucinol, and pyrogallol, under anaerobic conditions (37,40), and members of the Acidobacteria have also been identified as abundant in a gasoline spill (41) and even discussed as benzene degraders (15). How far Acidobacteria may be involved in the degradation of pollutants under analysis here remains to be elucidated.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking Microbial Community and Catabolic Gene Structures during the Adaptation of Three Contaminated Soils under Continuous Long-Term Pollutant Stress

Lima-Morales

Jáuregui

Camarinha‐Silva

et al. 2016

Appl Environ Microbiol

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bThree types of contaminated soil from three geographically different areas were subjected to a constant supply of benzene or benzene/toluene/ethylbenzene/xylenes (BTEX) for a period of 3 months. Different from the soil from Brazil (BRA) and Switzerland (SUI), the Czech Republic (CZE) soil which was previously subjected to intensive in situ bioremediation displayed only negligible changes in community structure. BRA and SUI soil samples showed a clear succession of phylotypes. A rapid response to benzene stress was observed, whereas the response to BTEX pollution was significantly slower. After extended incubation, actinobacterial phylotypes increased in relative abundance, indicating their superior fitness to pollution stress. Commonalities but also differences in the phylotypes were observed. Catabolic gene surveys confirmed the enrichment of actinobacteria by identifying the increase of actinobacterial genes involved in the degradation of pollutants. Proteobacterial phylotypes increased in relative abundance in SUI microcosms after short-term stress with benzene, and catabolic gene surveys indicated enriched metabolic routes. Interestingly, CZE soil, despite staying constant in community structure, showed a change in the catabolic gene structure. This indicates that a highly adapted community, which had to adjust its gene pool to meet novel challenges, has been enriched.

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A Shallow BTEX and MTBE Contaminated Aquifer Supports a Diverse Microbial Community

Cited by 52 publications

References 61 publications

Aerobic MTBE biodegradation in the presence of BTEX by two consortia under batch and semi-batch conditions

Aerobic MTBE biodegradation in the presence of BTEX by two consortia under batch and semi-batch conditions

Effect of Ethanol on Microbial Community Structure and Function During Natural Attenuation of Benzene, Toluene, and o-Xylene in a Sulfate-reducing Aquifer

Linking Microbial Community and Catabolic Gene Structures during the Adaptation of Three Contaminated Soils under Continuous Long-Term Pollutant Stress

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