Critical loads of benzo(a)pyrene on urban soils

Doklady Earth Sciences - The resistance of urban soils to organic contaminants and their capability for self-purification from benzo(a)pyrene were evaluated with the use of the concept of critical...     

Biodegradation of anionic surfactants by isolated bacteria from activated sludge

Sodium dodecyl sulphate, (SDS) is an anionic surfactant that widely used all over the world. They will eventually end-up and accumulate in household or industrial sewage. Due to their high foaming capabilities, which can cause numerous problems in sewage treatment facilities as well as direct toxic effects on many different organisms in ecosystem; they are generally considered as serious pollutants. In this survey, two different bacteria were isolated from Tehran municipal activated sludge. Biochemical tests as well as 16S rRNA gene sequencing for identification have been applied. After experiments to optimize the pH and temperature for growth of the two bacterial isolates, the extent of SDS utilization was evaluated by HPLC method. Two bacterial isolates show which ability to rapidly and actively degrade SDS upon using it as their sole source of carbon. The identification tests have indicated the two isolates to be Acinetobacter johnsoni and Pseudomonas beteli. The Pseudomonas beteli and Acinetobacter johnsoni isolates were able to degrade 97.2% and 96.4% of the original SDS levels after 10 days of growth; respectively. Mixed culture of the two isolates did not significantly increase SDS utilization, (97.6%). In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that growth of simple bacteria such as Acinetobacter or Pseudomonas in household and industrial sewage can be cost-effective method anionic surfactants elimination.     

Biodegradation of palmarosa oil (green oil) by Serratia marcescens

Biodegradation of oil depends on the nature of the oil, the type of microbial community and a variety of environmental factors. Green oils are being used as consumer goods and as raw materials in industries such as food processing, pharmaceutical and cosmetic. Microbial contaminations of green oils have been the cause of degradation problems. Serratia Marcessens produced cytochrome oxidase, catalase, Dextrose, Lactose, Manose and sorbitol enzymes were the main reason for the degradation af palmarosa oil. Changes of colour and turbidity was also the evidence for green oil degradation by bacteria. More oxygen included protons (0-CH²) group was produced in the presence of bacterial species and the addition of oxygen took place during bacterial degradation of palmarosa oil. The biodegradation of palmarosa oil by Serratia marcescens have been carried out using High Performance Liquid Chromatography, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Nuclear Magnetic spectroscopy analysis. Carboxyl group present in the palmorasa oil is utilised as a sole carbon sources for the Serratia marcescens.     

菲降解菌的降解特性及酶促反应动力学研究

通过对取自MBR膜生物反应器中的活性污泥加入菲进行富集培养、驯化,分离、纯化出一株能以菲为唯一碳源和能源的短杆状革兰氏阴性菌J-1,细菌长2～5μm,宽1～3μm;研究了初始底物浓度、温度、pH对菌株J-1降解菲的影响,探讨了菌株J-1胞内酶对菲降解的底物抑制动力学。试验表明:菌株J-1在48h内能将不同浓度菲的水溶液中的菲完全降解;菲浓度增加,达到完全降解的时间延长。温度对细菌的降解能力影响较大,菌株J-1对菲降解的最佳温度为28℃。1.15mg·L-1的菲,28℃时48h内能完全降解,而相同时间内10℃时的降解率仅为36.65%。菌株J-1对pH的波动具有一定的适应性,pH在一定范围内(6.0～8.4)变化对菲降解的影响不大,降解反应的最佳pH为7.2。菌株J-1对菲的降解符合一级动力学反应方程。较高的底物浓度对酶促降解反应具有抑制作用,酶促反应的最大速率常数vm=1.17mg·L-1·h-1,米氏常数Km=61.70mg·L-1;底物抑制常数kS=49.60mg·L-1;最佳底物浓度[S]opt=55.32mg·L-1。     

Rapid photo-oxidation of Mn(II) mediated by humic substances

The oxidation of Mn(II) by O₂ to Mn(III) or Mn(IV) is thermodynamically favored under the pH and pO₂ conditions present in most near surface waters, but the kinetics of this reaction are extremely slow. This work investigated whether reactive oxygen species, produced through illumination of humic substances, could oxidize Mn at an environmentally relavent rate. The simulated sunlight illumination of a solution containing 200 μM Mn(II) and 5 mg/L Aldrich humic acid buffered at pH 8.1 produced ∼19 μM of oxidized Mn (MnO_x where x is between one and two) after 45 minutes. The major oxidants reponsible for this reaction appear to be photoproduced superoxide radical anion, O₂⁻, and singlet molecular oxygen, ¹O₂. The dependencies of MnO_x formation on Mn(II), humic acid, and H⁺ concentration were characterized. A kinetic model based largely on published rate constants was established and fit to the experimental data. As expected, analysis of the model indicates that the key reaction rate controlling MnO_x production is the rate of decomposition of a MnO₂⁺ complex formed from the reaction of Mn(II) with O₂⁻. This rate is strongly dependent on the Mn(II) complexing ligands in solution. The MnO_x production in the seawater sample taken from Bodega Bay, USA and spiked with 200 μM Mn(II) was well reproduced by the model. Extrapolations from the model imply that Mn photo-oxidation should be a significant reaction in typical surface seawaters. Calculated rates, 5.8 to 55 pM h⁻¹, are comparable to reported rates of biological Mn oxidation, 0.07 to 89 pM h⁻¹. Four fresh water samples that were spiked with 200 μM Mn(II) also showed significant MnO_x production. Based on these results, it appears that Mn photo-oxidation could constitute a significant, and apparently unrecognized geochemical pathway in natural waters.     

Biodegradation of cellulose acetate/poly(butylene succinate) membrane

Applying biodegradable polymers in membrane preparation for separation processes is expected to be helpful in solving waste disposal problem. In this study, biodegradable blend membranes of cellulose acetate (CA)/poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) were prepared and the microorganisms possessing the ability of degrading them were isolated from soil. The isolates were classified into two groups of bacteria and fungi. The membranes biodegradation after cultivation by the isolates in liquid media was further confirmed by weight loss measurement, Fourier transform infrared analysis and scanning electron microscopy. Findings revealed that CA degradation could be improved in the blend membrane structure. Moreover, strain BG106 and BG111 could degrade the membranes at the fastest rate among the other bacteria and fungi, respectively. To our knowledge, BG111 was found to belong to Alternaria sp. and this is the first report of its PBS degradation activity. Moreover, the PBS degradability of BG104 (B. Safensis), BG105 (Achromobacter insuavis) and BG106 (Brevibacterium halotolerans) strains was reported for the first time.     

乙腈-硫酸铵-水双水相萃取-高效液相色谱法测定地下水中苯并(a)芘和苯并(e)芘

传统的液液萃取技术主要采用与水不相溶的有机溶剂作萃取剂,这种异相萃取的传质速率一般较低,需反复振荡或多次萃取.本文建立了以乙腈-硫酸铵-水的双水相萃取体系高效液相色谱法测定地下水中苯并(a)芘和苯并(e)芘的方法,以密度比水小的乙腈为萃取剂,将其与水样混合(互溶)获得乙腈-水体系,然后加入硫酸铵,溶液澄清、分相后取上层有机相(乙腈)进样分析.考察了萃取剂的选择、双水相的形成条件、离子强度以及pH等对测定结果的影响.两种化合物线性范围为2.00～ 400.00 ng/mL,相关系数大于0.999.方法检出限为0.012～0.020 ng/mL,平均回收率为94.6％～97.3％,相对标准偏差为1.3％ ～2.5％.与传统萃取方法相比,该方法具有操作流程简单、快速的特点,可实现对野外环境水样进行原地样品前处理.     

Biodegradation of Cypermethrin by Pseudomonas in a batch activated sludge process

The biodegradation of Cypermethrin (20 to 125 mg/L) in an effluent using batch activated sludge was studied. Degradation was found to occur to a great extent only in the presence of Pseudomonas (IES-Ps-1) culture. Under aerobic conditions using mechanical aerators, Cypermethrin (20 mg/L) was almost completely degraded in just over 48 h at ambient temperature. Further loading of organic compound in subsequent experiments demonstrated that IES-PS-1was capable to degrade 82 % Cypermethrin at 40 mg/L dose in approximately 48 h. When the concentration was increased to 80 mg/L, 50% degradation of this compound was observed. Over this time period the cells could utilize only 17 % of Cypermethrin when it was given 125 mg/L, respectively. These findings indicate that increased concentration of Cypermethrin has a marked effect on biodegradation performance of IES-Ps-1 with a modest increased in the duration of lag phase, but did not lead to complete inhibition or cell death. These results proved that IES-Ps-1 is responsible for Cypermethrin degradation. Such finding may be useful in designing a scale-up in situ or on-site hazardous waste bioremediation process for field application.     

废旧金属拆解场地浅层地下水芘污染特征与分析

在分析废旧金属拆解场地浅层地下水中芘的检出和分布特征的基础上,对地下水中芘的污染来源、污染途径和污染控制因素进行了探讨.研究结果表明,场地中心和地下水下游2km范围内芘污染明显,垂直于地下水流向芘迁移距离较小,一般小于0.5km.芘在地下水中的迁移转化受地下水中pH、Eh及DO等因素的控制,弱酸性或中性环境以及厌氧强还原条件下,芘易于检出和迁移,一般难以生物降解.     

Light regulation of benthic sulfate reduction rates mediated by seagrass (Thalassia testudinum) metabolism

The effects of light reduction on community metabolism and sediment sulfate reduction rates (SRR) were assessed experimentally in a shallow (<2.0 m) seagrass (Thalassia testudinum) meadow along Florida's north-central Gulf coast. Nine experimental plots (1.5 m×1.5 m) were shaded differentially to achieve a 0–90% gradient in light reduction within the seagrass meadow. Gross primary production and net community production (NCP), estimated with in situ benthic chamber incubations, decreased with increasing light reduction. The compensation irradiance for community metabolism, i.e., the shading level at which NCP shifted from net autotrophic to net heterotrophic, was determined to be 52.5% of the incoming irradiance at canopy height in the seagrass bed (308.7 μE m⁻² s⁻¹ PAR at noon). Sediment SRR, determined with the use of a³⁵S−SO₄ ²⁻ radiotracer technique, increased quickly (within 5 d) and markedly with increased shade, i.e., simulated light reduction. SRR increased 50-fold when shading exceeded the light compensation point for the seagrass community, rendering the community net heterotrophic. Five days after restoring ambient light conditions, SRR had decreased sharply for all shading treatments. The observed decrease in NCP, coincident with the increase in the SRR with light reduction, suggests that light reduction has an indirect influence on sediment SRR mediated through its effect on seagrass metabolism.     

Biodegradation of diesel oil in marine environment by a floating water droplet

Diesel oil is one of the derivatives of crude oil which resistance to biodegradation due to its complex structure and low solubility in water. A novel concept of enhancement of diesel degradation using floating water droplet is proposed and being investigated to address some key challenges encountered in diesel oil spillages in the aqueous area and wetlands. This study aims to increase the floatability of a floating water droplet on oil. A droplet containing a mixed consortium of 60 different hydrocarbon degrading bacteria and sodium dodecyl sulfate as a surfactant was deposited on the diesel oil surface. Contact angle and contact radius were monitored to observe the effect of bacterial activities on the droplet. The behavior of this droplet on diesel oil was different to a previous study with paraffin oil. In particular, the floatability, bacterial growth and biofilm formation demonstrate significant deviation due to the diesel interactions with biological processes. Nevertheless, the results show this method increase microbial activities within the droplet. The result verifies the applicability of the floating water droplet as an environmentally friendly method for diesel oil spillages.     

污染土壤中多环芳烃的微生物降解及其机理研究进展

多环芳烃(PAHs)是一类普遍存在于环境中的难降解危险性“三致”有机污染物。微生物对多环芳烃的降解是去除土壤中多环芳烃的主要途径。研究表明，对于土壤中低分子量多环芳烃类化合物，微生物一般以唯一碳源方式代谢；而大多数细菌和真菌对四环或四环以上的多环芳烃的降解作用一般以共代谢方式开始。本文重点论述了高分子量多环芳烃：芘和苯并(a)芘的微生物降解及其机理。并介绍了多环芳烃污染的微生物—植物联合修复机制，最后展望了污染土壤中多环芳烃的研究趋势。     

Evidence for equilibrium iron isotope fractionation by nitrate-reducing iron(II)-oxidizing bacteria

Iron isotope fractionations produced during chemical and biological Fe(II) oxidation are sensitive to the proportions and nature of dissolved and solid-phase Fe species present, as well as the extent of isotopic exchange between precipitates and aqueous Fe. Iron isotopes therefore potentially constrain the mechanisms and pathways of Fe redox transformations in modern and ancient environments. In the present study, we followed in batch experiments Fe isotope fractionations between Fe(II)_aq and Fe(III) oxide/hydroxide precipitates produced by the Fe(III) mineral encrusting, nitrate-reducing, Fe(II)-oxidizing Acidovorax sp. strain BoFeN1. Isotopic fractionation in ⁵⁶Fe/⁵⁴Fe approached that expected for equilibrium conditions, assuming an equilibrium Δ⁵⁶Fe_{Fe(OH)3-Fe(II)aq} fractionation factor of +3.0‰. Previous studies have shown that Fe(II) oxidation by this Acidovorax strain occurs in the periplasm, and we propose that Fe isotope equilibrium is maintained through redox cycling via coupled electron and atom exchange between Fe(II)_aq and Fe(III) precipitates in the contained environment of the periplasm. In addition to the apparent equilibrium isotopic fractionation, these experiments also record the kinetic effects of initial rapid oxidation, and possible phase transformations of the Fe(III) precipitates. Attainment of Fe isotope equilibrium between Fe(III) oxide/hydroxide precipitates and Fe(II)_aq by neutrophilic, Fe(II)-oxidizing bacteria or through abiologic Fe(II)_aq oxidation is generally not expected or observed, because the poor solubility of their metabolic product, i.e. Fe(III), usually leads to rapid precipitation of Fe(III) minerals, and hence expression of a kinetic fractionation upon precipitation; in the absence of redox cycling between Fe(II)_aq and precipitate, kinetic isotope fractionations are likely to be retained. These results highlight the distinct Fe isotope fractionations that are produced by different pathways of biological and abiological Fe(II) oxidation.     

Biodegradation of Cypermethrin by a newly isolated actinomycetes HU-S-01 from wastewater sludge

A new cypermethrin degrading strain was isolated from wastewater sludge using enrichment technique. On the basis of morphological, physiological, biochemical characteristics tests and 16S rDNA sequence analysis, the strain was determined to be a Streptomyces species, probably a strain of Streptomyces parvulus, so it was designated as Streptomyces sp. HU-S-01. The strain Streptomyces sp. HU-S-01 is aerobic and optimum growth temperature for the strain was found to be 26–28 °C with initial pH range 6.0-9.0 and pH 7.5 was found to be the optimum. This strain can also completely degrade 3-phenoxybenzoic acid within 96 h at the concentration of 50 mg/L. The kinetic constants Vmax, Km, Kcat and Kcat/ Km of enzyme for cypermethrin were 1.236 ?mol/min, 6.418 ?mol/mL, 13.493 min and 2.102 mL/mol.min, respectively. The degradation products of cypermethrin were identified using gas chromatographmass spectrometric (GC-MS) analysis. The degradation pathway followed by HU-S-01 involves oxidative as well as hydrolyzing. Biodegradation ability of strain Streptomyces sp. HU-S-01 without toxic byproducts reveals its potential for further study as a biological agent for the remediation of soil, water or crops, contaminated with cypermethrin.     

Biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon by a halotolerant bacterial consortium isolated from marine environment

The biodegradability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as naphthalene, fluorene, anthracene and phenanthrene by a halotolerant bacterial consortium isolated from marine environment was investigated. The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons degrading bacterial consortium was enriched from mixture saline water samples collected from Chennai (Port of Chennai, salt pan), India. The consortium potently degraded polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (> 95%) at 30g/L of sodium chloride concentration in 4 days. The consortium was able to degrade 39 to 45% of different polycyclic hydrocarbons at 60 g/L NaCl concentration. Due to increase in salinity, the percent degradation decreased. To enhance polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons degradation, yeast extract was added as an additional substrate at 60g/L NaCl concentration. After the addition of yeast extract, the consortium degraded > 74 % of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at 60 g/L NaCl concentration in 4 days. The consortium was also able to degrade PAHs at different concentrations (5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 ppm) with 30 g/L of NaCl concentration. The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons degrading halotolerant bacterial consortium consists of three bacterial strains, namely Ochrobactrum sp., Enterobacter cloacae and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia.     

Bioaccumulation of gold by sulfate-reducing bacteria cultured in the presence of gold(I)-thiosulfate complex

A sulfate-reducing bacterial (SRB) enrichment, from the Driefontein Consolidated Gold Mine, Witwatersrand Basin, Republic of South Africa, was able to destabilize gold(I)-thiosulfate complex and precipitate elemental gold. The precipitation of gold was observed in the presence of active (live) SRB due to the formation and release of hydrogen sulfide as an end-product of metabolism, and occurred by three possible mechanisms involving iron sulfide, localized reducing conditions, and metabolism. The presence of biogenic iron sulfide caused significant removal of gold from solutions by adsorption and reduction processes on the iron sulfide surfaces. The presence of gold nanoparticles within and immediately surrounding the bacterial cell envelope highlights the presence of localized reducing conditions produced by the bacterial electron transport chain via energy generating reactions within the cell. Specifically, the decrease in redox conditions caused by the release of hydrogen sulfide from the bacterial cells destabilized the solutions. The presence of gold as nanoparticles (<10 nm) inside a sub-population of SRB suggests that the reduction of gold was a part of metabolic process. In late stationary phase or death phase, gold nanoparticles that were initially precipitated inside the bacterial cells, were released from the cells and deposited in the bulk solution as addition of gold nanoparticles that already precipitated in the solution. Ultimately, the formation of micrometer-scale sub-octahedral and octahedral gold and spherical aggregates containing octahedral gold was observed.     

Microbially mediated carbonate precipitation in a hypersaline lake,Big Pond (Eleuthera,Bahamas)

Microbial metabolism impacts the degree of carbonate saturation by changing the total alkalinity and calcium availability; this can result in the precipitation of carbonate minerals and thus the formation of microbialites. Here, the microbial metabolic activity, the characteristics and turnover of the extracellular polymeric substances and the physicochemical conditions in the water column and sediments of a hypersaline lake, Big Pond, Bahamas, were determined to identify the driving forces in microbialite formation. A conceptual model for organomineralization within the active part of the microbial mats that cover the lake sediments is presented. Geochemical modelling indicated an oversaturation with respect to carbonates (including calcite, aragonite and dolomite), but these minerals were never observed to precipitate at the mat–water interface. This failure is attributed to the capacity of the water column and upper layers of the microbial mat to bind calcium. A layer of high Mg‐calcite was present 4 to 6 mm below the surface of the mat, just beneath the horizons of maximum photosynthesis and aerobic respiration. This carbonate layer was associated with the zone of maximum sulphate reduction. It is postulated that extracellular polymeric substances and low molecular weight organic carbon produced at the surface (i.e. the cyanobacterial layer) of the mat bind calcium. Both aerobic and anaerobic heterotrophic microbes consume extracellular polymeric substances (each process accounting for approximately half of the total consumption) and low molecular weight organic carbon, liberating calcium and producing inorganic carbon. The combination of these geochemical changes can increase the carbonate saturation index, which may result in carbonate precipitation. In conclusion, the formation and degradation of extracellular polymeric substances, as well as sulphate reduction, may play a pivotal role in the formation of microbialites both in marine and hypersaline environments.