Biomorphic microstructures of ferromanganese stromatolites

It was found as a result of detailed study of ferromanganese stromatolites that columnar formations, i.e., fossilized stratified bacterial tufts with rhythmically alternating layers of glycocalyx, accumulations of filamentous bacteria, and lens-shaped two-layered (alternation of homogeneous microlayers with porous ones containing filamentous bacteria trichomes) packages, serve as the basis for stromatolite buildup.     

Precipitation of dolomite using sulphate-reducing bacteria from the Coorong Region, South Australia: significance and implications

Dolomite was successfully precipitated in culture experiments that simulated microbiogeochemical conditions prevailing during late stages of evaporation in ephemeral, hypersaline dolomitic lakes of the Coorong region, South Australia. Analyses of lake- and pore-water samples document rapid geochemical changes with time and depth in both dolomitic and non-dolomitic lakes. Extremely high sulphate and magnesium ion concentrations in lake waters decline rapidly with depth in pore waters throughout the sulphate-reduction zone, whereas carbonate concentrations in pore waters reach levels up to 100 times those of normal sea water. Ultimately, sulphate is totally consumed and no solid sulphate is recorded in the dolomitic lake sediments. ‘Most probable number’ calculations of lake sediment samples record the presence of large populations of sulphate-reducing bacteria, whereas sulphur-isotope analyses of lake-water samples indicate microbial fractionation in all the lakes studied. Viable populations of microbes from the lake sediments were cultured in anoxic conditions in the laboratory. Samples were then injected into vials containing sterilized clastic or carbonate grains, or glass beads, immersed in a solution that simulated the lake water. Falls in the levels of sulphate and rising pH in positive vials were interpreted as indicating active bacterial sulphate reduction accompanied by increased concentrations of carbonate. Within 2 months, sub-spherical, sub-micron-size crystals of dolomite identical to those of lake sediments were precipitated. It is concluded that bacterial sulphate reduction overcomes kinetic constraints on dolomite formation by removing sulphate and releasing magnesium and calcium ions from neutral ion pairs, and by generating elevated carbonate concentrations, in a hypersaline, strongly electrolytic solution. The results demonstrate that bacterial sulphate reduction controls dolomite precipitation in both the laboratory experiments and lake sediments. It is proposed that dolomite formation, through bacterial sulphate reduction, provides a process analogue applicable to thick platformal dolostones of the past, where benthic microbial communities were the sole or dominant colonizers of shallow marine environments.     

Vicia sativa–rhizospheric bacteria interactions to improve phenol remediation

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the interaction of Vicia sativa with a bacterial strain capable of using phenol as sole carbon and energy sources can moderate adverse effects of this pollutant in plant tissues. A bacterial strain identified as Bacillus sp., isolated from a heavily polluted environment, was inoculated at different stages of growth. In root elongation assay, inoculated seeds showed higher values of relative root elongation and germination index than uninoculated ones in the presence of high phenol concentrations. Thus, common vetch–Bacillus sp. association could be important at the first stages of development allowing this plant to grow in highly polluted environments. Besides, phenol removal was largely accelerated in phenol-spiked soils, after 48 h of treatment with uninoculated/inoculated plants rather than by adsorption or biodegradation of the bacterial strain. Peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase activities increased significantly in uninoculated plants, while superoxide dismutase activity, chlorophyll, malondialdehyde, and H₂O₂ levels of aerial parts remained unaltered in uninoculated/inoculated plants treated with the pollutant, demonstrating that the efficient response to oxidative damage did not depend on the inoculation.     

一株胶质芽胞杆菌对磷矿石风化作用的实验研究

以一株质芽孢杆菌为例研究实验条件下微生物对磷矿石的风化作用.以直接作用和间接作用的方式研究培养基中胶质芽孢杆菌对磷矿粉的风化作用,即在装有100目磷矿石粉的液体培养基中接种,研究该菌对磷矿石粉的直接风化作用;同时,将装有100目磷矿石粉的透析袋放入液体培养基中再接入该菌,研究其对磷矿石粉的间接风化作用.按不同时间取培养液上清液,过滤,用电感耦合等离子体发射光谱(ICP-OES)测定滤液中Ca2 、Mg2 、Na 、Mn2 、Al3 、Fe3 和K 等浓度,比色法测定水溶性P(Pws)和水溶性Si (Siws) 的含量;滤膜上的固体物称重并消解后,同上方法测定Ca2 、Mg2 、Na 、Mn2 、Al3 、Fe3 和K 等浓度以及Pws和Siws含量.此外,细菌风化作用后的矿物残渣用电子探针作表面微观形态分析和XRD矿物物相分析.结果表明:胶质芽孢杆菌对磷矿石粉风化的直接作用强度大于间接作用;对不同矿物的风化强度不同,对粘土矿物的风化作用较明显.提出细菌对磷矿石的风化作用源自细菌生长导致的机械破坏作用、胞外分泌物的生化降解作用以及多种因素之间的协同作用.     

Containment of groundwater pollution (methyl tertiary butyl ether and benzene) to protect a drinking-water production site in Belgium

The subsurface migration of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) and benzene towards a drinking-water production site in Belgium was monitored for 9 years. A large gasoline spill at a nearby fuel station had caused a 500-m long and 50-m-wide pollution plume of MTBE (10?30 mg/L) and benzene (2?10 mg/L). In order to prevent any intrusion of pollutants into the drinking-water supply, a conceptual model was used to design a pump-and-treat system that intercepted the gasoline-contaminated groundwater emanating from the spill. The contaminated soil in the spill zone was excavated. A numerical mass transport model was developed to evaluate the ongoing plume containment. The model describes the subsurface MTBE migration and was regularly updated, based on groundwater monitoring data and the measured mass of MTBE extracted with the pump-and-treat system. With continued interception pumping, the MTBE plume can be remediated in 14 years. Without it, MTBE and benzene concentrations up to 600 μg/L could have reached the drinking-water production site and the plume would persist for 9 years longer. Source zone treatment combined with plume interception pumping is a suitable risk-based remediation strategy for the containment of MTBE and benzene groundwater pollution.     

Regulation of bacterial sulfate reduction and hydrogen sulfide fluxes in the central namibian coastal upwelling zone

The coastal upwelling system off central Namibia is one of the most productive regions of the oceans and is characterized by frequently occurring shelf anoxia with severe effects for the benthic life and fisheries. We present data on water column dissolved oxygen, sulfide, nitrate and nitrite, pore water profiles for dissolved sulfide and sulfate,³⁵S-sulfate reduction rates, as well as bacterial counts of large sulfur bacteria from 20 stations across the continental shelf and slope. The stations covered two transects and included the inner shelf with its anoxic and extremely oxygen-depleted bottom waters, the oxygen minimum zone on the continental slope, and the lower continental slope below the oxygen minimum zone. High concentrations of dissolved sulfide, up to 22 mM, in the near-surface sediments of the inner shelf result from extremely high rates of bacterial sulfate reduction and the low capacity to oxidize and trap sulfide. The inner shelf break marks the seaward border of sulfidic bottom waters, and separates two different regimes of bacterial sulfate reduction. In the sulfidic bottom waters on the shelf, up to 55% of sulfide oxidation is mediated by the large nitrate-storing sulfur bacteria, Thiomargarita spp. The filamentous relatives Beggiatoa spp. occupy low-O₂ bottom waters on the outer shelf. Sulfide oxidation on the slope is apparently not mediated by the large sulfur bacteria. The data demonstrate the importance of large sulfur bacteria, which live close to the sediment-water interface and reduce the hydrogen sulfide flux to the water column. Modeling of pore water sulfide concentration profiles indicates that sulfide produced by bacterial sulfate reduction in the uppermost 16 cm of sediment is sufficient to account for the total flux of hydrogen sulfide to the water column. However, the total pool of hydrogen sulfide in the water column is too large to be explained by steady state diffusion across the sediment-water interface. Episodic advection of hydrogen sulfide, possibly triggered by methane eruptions, may contribute to hydrogen sulfide in the water column.     

Precipitation of carbonates by bacteria isolated from wastewater samples collected in a conventional wastewater treatment plant

This research studied the precipitation of calcium carbonate by populations of bacteria from domestic wastewater cultivated in both natural and artificial solid culture media. The only carbonate-forming bacteria detected appeared in an artificial medium added with calcium acetate. Precipitation occurred three days after inoculation, and the percentage was slightly higher than 65 %. Our results showed that nine major carbonate-forming colony types were the dominant heterotrophic platable bacteria growing aerobically in artificial media added with calcium acetate. According to their taxonomic affiliations (based on partial sequencing of the 16S-rRNA), the nine strains belonged to the following nine genera of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria: Caulobacter, Blastomonas, Roseobacter, Staphylococcus, Bacillus, Gemmatimonas, Saccharopolyspora, Microthrix, and Sphingomonas. All of these strains formed calcium carbonate, precipitated as calcite and vaterite in different proportions and shapes (spheres, hemispheres, dumbbells, and pseudopolyhedral forms). The results of this study suggest that in real domestic wastewater, the precipitation of carbonates through bacterial action could not take place in situ because the concentrations of calcium did not create the optimal circumstances for biomineralization. However, in the artificial media, it was possible to induce this process by adding calcium ions.     

振荡与静置条件下细菌诱导形成的碳酸钙矿物类型与形态的对比

为了探究培养方式（振荡和静置） 对细菌诱导形成的碳酸盐矿物种类和形态的影响,本文在B4培养基中分别对蜡状 芽孢杆菌（GW-1菌株）、赖氨酸芽孢杆菌（GW-2菌株） 和微杆菌（GW-3菌株） 三种细菌进行了为期40天的振荡培养实验 及相应的无菌对照实验,重点利用X-射线衍射仪和扫描电子显微镜分别对矿物成分和形态进行了测定和观察,并将观测结 果与静置条件下的结果进行了对比。结果表明：（1） 三种细菌均具有促进碳酸盐矿物沉淀的功能,但能力有所不同,从大 到小的顺序为GW-2＞GW-1＞GW-3;（2） 在振荡和静置两种培养方式下,GW-1和GW-2菌株诱导形成的矿物均为方解石, 而GW-3菌株诱导形成的矿物均为球霰石。这说明细菌种类是影响矿物相的重要因素,培养方式对矿物相无明显的影响; （3） 对于GW-1和GW-2菌株,其在振荡培养条件下诱导形成的矿物形态呈现多样化,而在静置培养条件下形成的矿物形态 则比较单一。对于GW-3菌株,其诱导形成的矿物均为球形,与培养方式无关。     

Modeling in situ benzene bioremediation in the contaminated Liwa aquifer (UAE) using the slow-release oxygen source technique

Dissolved benzene was detected in the shallow unconfined Liwa aquifer, UAE, which represents the main freshwater source for the nearby residence Bu Hasa camp area. The main source of this contamination is believed to be the rejected water released from Bu Hasa liquid recovery plant. In this paper, a finite element model (METABIOTRANS) is used to simulate the fate and transport of the dissolved benzene plume in Liwa aquifer. Different remediation scenarios were simulated in which the slow-release oxygen source (SOS) technique is utilized to minimize benzene concentrations at the nearest camp supply wells downstream of the contamination zone. Results of the remediation scenarios show that the highest biodegradation rates occur when the oxygen source is placed near the plume center; where higher benzene concentrations exist. The nearest oxygen release source to the contamination zone caused higher stimulation to bacterial growth than further down-gradient oxygen sources. It also exhibited longer resident time of oxygen in the aquifer; and therefore, yielded higher reductions in benzene concentrations. However, using one central SOS proved to be insufficient as contaminant escaped laterally. Additional four transverse oxygen sources were necessary to capture benzene that laterally spread away from the contamination zone. These lateral SOSs were essential to reduce benzene concentrations at the supply wells that are located at the plume fringes. Finally, it was found that increasing oxygen release from one source did not always improve remediation; and that using several SOSs with lower release rates could be a more practical approach to enhance benzene biodegradation in the aquifer.     

Effect of exo-polysaccharides producing bacterial inoculation on growth of roots of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plants grown in a salt-affected soil

Effect of soil salinity on physico-chemical and biological properties renders the salt-affected soils unsuitable for soil microbial processes and growth of the crop plants. Soil aggregation around roots of the plants is a function of the bacterial exo-polysaccharides (EPS), however, such a role of the EPS-producing bacteria in the saline environments has rarely been investigated. Pot experiments were conducted to observe the effects of inoculating six strains of EPS-producing bacteria on growth of primary (seminal) roots and its relationship with saccharides, cations (Ca²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺) contents and mass of rhizosheath soils of roots of the wheat plants grown in a salt-affected soil. A strong positive relationship of RS with different root growth parameters indicated that an integrated influence of various biotic and abiotic RS factors would have controlled and promoted growth of roots of the inoculated wheat plants. The increase in root growth in turn could help inoculated wheat plants to withstand the negative effects of soil salinity through an enhanced soil water uptake, a restricted Na⁺ influx in the plants and the accelerated soil microbial process involved in cycling and availability of the soil nutrients to the plants. It was concluded that inoculation of the EPS-producing would be a valuable tool for amelioration and increasing crop productivity of the salt-affected soils.     

Crustal shear-wave velocity structure beneath northeast India from teleseismic receiver function analysis

We investigated the seismic shear-wave velocity structure of the crust beneath nine broadband seismological stations of the Shillong–Mikir plateau and its adjoining region using teleseismic P-wave receiver function analysis. The inverted shear wave velocity models show ∼34–38 km thick crust beneath the Shillong Plateau which increases to ∼37–38 km beneath the Brahmaputra valley and ∼46–48 km beneath the Himalayan foredeep region. The gradual increase of crustal thickness from the Shillong Plateau to Himalayan foredeep region is consistent with the underthrusting of Indian Plate beyond the surface collision boundary. A strong azimuthal variation is observed beneath SHL station. The modeling of receiver functions of teleseismic earthquakes arriving the SHL station from NE backazimuth (BAZ) shows a high velocity zone within depth range 2–8 km along with a low velocity zone within ∼8–13 km. In contrast, inversion of receiver functions from SE BAZ shows high velocity zone in the upper crust within depth range ∼10–18 km and low velocity zone within ∼18–36 km. The critical examination of ray piercing points at the depth of Moho shows that the rays from SE BAZ pierce mostly the southeast part of the plateau near Dauki fault zone. This observation suggests the effect of underthrusting Bengal sediments and the underlying oceanic crust in the south of the plateau facilitated by the EW-NE striking Dauki fault dipping 30⁰ toward northwest.     

海湾水库蓄水初期底质与淡水盐分交换的试验研究

在现场调查和钻探的基础上,采集了沐官岛水库库区3种典型底质(粉质粘土、泥质粉沙和中细砂)的原状/扰动土样和地表水样,然后分别采用静水土柱和动水水槽试验测定盐分的时-空变化规律,最后定量计算出不同底质盐分的释放通量,从而为该海湾水库蓄水初期水质的评价和预测提供了科学依据.土柱试验表明,在分子扩散作用下高盐分区主要集中在水-沉积物界面之上7.5 cm的范围内,7.5 cm之上的水体盐分较为均一,底质盐分释放通量按粉质粘土、中细砂、泥质粉沙的顺序递减,盐分释放通量符合负的幂指数形式,而且抽排界面之上高浓度水体对降低水体盐分含量效果显著.根据水槽模拟试验,风的吹拂会影响到界面之上水体盐分的分层,有利于海湾水库中盐分的混合作用.     

Comparison of volatile organic compounds in stormwater and groundwater in Seoul metropolitan city,South Korea

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) detected in stormwater were compared with VOCs present in emission sources, air, groundwater, and influent to sewage treatment plants in Seoul to understand their fate and transport in the urban hydrological system. Stormwater is a carrier of non-point source pollutants and contains VOCs from land surfaces and air. Samples of stormwater and influent to sewage treatment plants were collected and analyzed for 61 VOCs, while the VOCs in emission sources, air and groundwater were investigated through literature reviews for comparison. The results showed that the most frequently detected VOCs in stormwater were similar to those in air. However, the atmospheric concentrations of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX), and methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) were too low to explain their frequent detection and high concentrations in stormwater. As a result, land surfaces seem to be a primary source of these VOCs in stormwater. Comparison of the VOCs in stormwater and groundwater showed that toluene and MTBE were frequently detected in both media, but more often and at higher concentrations in stormwater. This finding indicates that stormwater recharge is a source of toluene and MTBE in groundwater. Regarding groundwater, land surfaces seem to be a primary source of toluene, while urban air is the primary source in the case of MTBE. Specifically, the MTBE values in air were sufficiently high to explain its levels in groundwater, which had continually increased and remained low afterward. Furthermore, the high ratios of TEX (toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes) to benzene and MTBE in stormwater indicated that TEX had additional sources other than vehicles, most likely hydrocarbon solvents. These solvents seem to be a primary source of TEX and other frequently detected VOCs in stormwater. However, trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and their dechlorination intermediates were far more frequently detected and at higher concentrations in groundwater than in stormwater. Additionally, their concentrations frequently exceeded the water-quality criteria. It seems that halogenated solvents had produced contamination plumes of these chlorinated VOCs in the Seoul aquifer. Based on VOCs detected in Seoul, stormwater was mixed with groundwater in combined sewers and flowed into sewage treatment plants. The results imply that organic solvents should be handled with extreme care to protect groundwater quality.     

Influence of uranium (VI) on the metabolic activity of stable multispecies biofilms studied by oxygen microsensors and fluorescence microscopy

The effect of uranium added in ecologically relevant concentrations (1 × 10⁻⁵ and 1 × 10⁻⁶ M) to stable multispecies biofilms was studied by electrochemical oxygen microsensors with tip diameters of 10 μm and by confocal laser fluorescence microscopy (CLSM). The microsensor profile measurements in the stable multispecies biofilms exposed to uranium showed that the oxygen concentration decreased faster with increasing biofilm depth compared to the uranium free biofilms. In the uranium containing biofilms, the oxygen consumption, calculated from the steady-state microprofiles, showed high consumption rates of up to 61.7 nmol cm⁻³ s⁻¹ in the top layer (0-70 μm) and much lower consumption rates in the lower zone of the biofilms. Staining experiments with 5-cyano-2,3-ditolyl tetrazolium chloride (CTC) and 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) confirmed the high respiratory activities of the bacteria in the upper layer. Analysis of the amplified 16S rRNA gene fragments showed that the addition of uranium in ecologically relevant concentrations did not change the bacterial diversity in the stable multispecies biofilms and is therefore not responsible for the different oxygen profiles in the biofilms. The fast decrease in the oxygen concentrations in the biofilm profiles showed that the bacteria in the top region of the biofilms, i.e., the metabolically most active biofilm zone, battle the toxic effects of aqueous uranium with an increased respiratory activity. This increased respiratory activity results in O₂ depleted zones closer to the biofilm/air interface which may trigger uranium redox processes, since suitable redox partners, e.g., extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) and other organics (e.g., metabolites), are sufficiently available in the biofilm porewaters. Such redox reactions may lead to precipitation of uranium (IV) solids and consequently to a removal of uranium from the aqueous phase.     

Interactions between algicidal bacteria and the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa: lytic characteristics and physiological responses in the cyanobacteria

Application of algicidal bacteria is a promising and environmentally friendly way to control cyanobacterial blooms. Lytic effects of the algicidal bacteria on Microcystis aeruginosa have been observed, but the interactions between algicidal bacteria and the cyanobacteria are still elusive. An algicidal bacterium Bacillus sp. B50 isolated from Lake Donghu showed a highly lytic efficiency on M. aeruginosa NIES-843 through heat-resistant extracellular substances from strain B50. The cell density of strain B50 could be maintained at high levels during the lytic process in bacteria–Microcystis system with inoculation densities of 1.9 × 10⁶ and 1.9 × 10⁷ cfu/mL, resulting in the death of M. aeruginosa NIES-843. However, the population dynamics of strain B50 was a bell-shaped curve at low inoculation densities and no lytic effect could be observed. Results of physiological responses suggested that the lytic efficiency may be mediated through inhibition of metabolism and production of reactive oxygen species.     

Biotite dissolution and Cr(VI) reduction at elevated pH and ionic strength

The effects of elevated pH, ionic strength, and temperature on sediments in the vadose zone are of primary importance in modeling contaminant transport and understanding the environmental impact of tank leakage at nuclear waste storage facilities like those of the Hanford site. This study was designed to investigate biotite dissolution under simulated high level waste (HLW) conditions and its impact on Cr(VI) reduction and immobilization. Biotite dissolution increased with NaOH concentrations in the range of 0.1 to 2 mol L^-1. There was a corresponding release of K, Fe, Si, and Al to solution, with Si and Al showing a complex pattern due to the formation of secondary zeolite minerals. Dissolved Fe concentrations were an order of magnitude lower than the other elements, possibly due to the formation of green rust and Fe(OH)₂. The reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) also increased with increased NaOH concentration. A homogeneous reduction of chromate by Fe(II)_aq released through biotite dissolution was probably the primary pathway responsible for this reaction. Greater ionic strengths increased biotite dissolution and consequently increased Fe(II)_aq release and Cr(VI) removal. The results indicated that HLW would cause phyllosilicate dissolution and the formation of secondary precipitates that would have a major impact on radionuclide and contaminant transport in the vadose zone at the Hanford site.     

河岸带表土层氮素非饱和入渗运移规律模拟

自制土槽装置,室内模拟氮素在河岸带表土层中非饱和入渗的过程.通过观测土槽中不同点位渗流水体出流时间的先后顺序以及各点水体中TN、NH₄+-N浓度随入渗时间的变化,探讨氮素在河岸带表土层中非饱和入渗的运移规律.试验结果表明:在河岸带表土层非饱和入渗过程中,水分水平运移速度小于垂直运移速度,NH₄+-N的运移滞后于水分的运移;在土壤"干"-"湿"-"干"过程中,各点TN、NH₄+-N浓度值随时间先急剧增加再缓慢减少然后趋于稳定.另外,河岸带表土层对非饱和入渗氮素的截留效果较好,试验11 h时,在1.08m的坡长距离上,距土表面12 cm深度TN、NH₄+-N浓度比进水分别下降74.23%和68.02%.     

微生物对地下水中萘的降解特性及动力学研究

针对我国东北某石油烃污染场地地下水中的萘污染,筛选出了Acinetobacter和Pseudomonas菌属的高效萘降解菌群。该菌群对萘的耐受性较高,且具有良好的乳化性,能够自动调节细胞表面疏水性和自聚集性。不同pH值、萘初始浓度、温度和菌接种量对萘降解效率的影响研究表明:最适菌群生长的pH范围为7.08.0;萘降解效率和速率在1.005.00 mg/L范围内与其初始浓度成正比;在1030 ℃温度范围内均表现出较高的萘降解效率。在此基础上,利用Guass、GuassAmp、LogNomal、Poisson和Pulse数学模型对萘的降解过程进行拟合,其降解速率更符合GuassAmp模型。通过将降解动力学模型中的常数与影响因素相关联,推导出了拟合度较高的多因素影响下的萘降解动力学方程。     

Responses of Estuarine Bacterioplankton,Phytoplankton and Zooplankton to Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) and Inorganic Nutrient Additions

The response of planktonic bacteria and phytoplankton to various additions of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) as glucose, with and without inorganic nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), was tested in the upper to mid Hunter Estuary, Australia. In situ microcosms (1.25 L) were performed at two sites with varying salinities over three seasons. Analysis of variance showed a significant difference among control and treatments for all seasons for the bacterial, dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll a responses (P < 0.05). A significant interaction between treatment and site was found in autumn for dissolved oxygen, autumn and spring for bacterial and spring for chlorophyll a responses. At both sites for each season, and on nearly all occasions, bacterial surface area was enhanced by DOC addition as indicated by both increased bacterial abundance and dissolved oxygen utilisation. DOC in combination with inorganic nutrients sometimes further enhanced the bacterial response compared to DOC alone. Inorganic nutrients alone did not enhance growth of the heterotrophic bacterioplankton. Addition of DOC alone led to decreased chlorophyll a relative to the control, probably due to competition for limited inorganic nutrients with the bacterioplankton DOC non-limiting conditions. Results suggest that the heterotrophic community was limited by DOC at both sites and across seasons. An experiment with a larger volume (70 L), performed over a longer time, compared a control with DOC addition. Increased bacterial biomass as a result of DOC addition occurred at day 2. Chlorophyll a did not significantly differ between treatments. An increase in zooplankton density was recorded in the DOC treatment relative to the control at day 10. This study supports the contention that increased DOC delivery with river inflows through environmental flow allocations will stimulate heterotrophic bacterioplankton production in the upper Hunter Estuary.     

Intrinsic bioremediation of MTBE-contaminated groundwater at a petroleum-hydrocarbon spill site

An oil-refining plant site located in southern Taiwan has been identified as a petroleum-hydrocarbon [mainly methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX)] spill site. In this study, groundwater samples collected from the site were analyzed to assess the occurrence of intrinsic MTBE biodegradation. Microcosm experiments were conducted to evaluate the feasibility of biodegrading MTBE by indigenous microorganisms under aerobic, cometabolic, iron reducing, and methanogenic conditions. Results from the field investigation and microbial enumeration indicate that the intrinsic biodegradation of MTBE and BTEX is occurring and causing the decrease in MTBE and BTEX concentrations. Microcosm results show that the indigenous microorganisms were able to biodegrade MTBE under aerobic conditions using MTBE as the sole primary substrate. The detected biodegradation byproduct, tri-butyl alcohol (TBA), can also be biodegraded by the indigenous microorganisms. In addition, microcosms with site groundwater as the medium solution show higher MTBE biodegradation rate. This indicates that the site groundwater might contain some trace minerals or organics, which could enhance the MTBE biodegradation. Results show that the addition of BTEX at low levels could also enhance the MTBE removal. No MTBE removal was detected in iron reducing and methanogenic microcosms. This might be due to the effects of low dissolved oxygen (approximately 0.3 mg/L) within the plume. The low iron reducers and methanogens (<1.8×10³ cell/g of soil) observed in the aquifer also indicate that the iron reduction and methanogenesis are not the dominant biodegradation patterns in the contaminant plume. Results from the microcosm study reveal that preliminary laboratory study is required to determine the appropriate substrates and oxidation-reduction conditions to enhance the biodegradation of MTBE. Results suggest that in situ or on-site aerobic bioremediation using indigenous microorganisms would be a feasible technology to clean up this MTBE-contaminated site.