Degradation kinetics of aromatic organic solutes introduced into a heterogeneous aquifer

MacIntyre, William G.; Boggs, Mark A.; Antworth, Christopher P.; Stauffer, Thomas B.

doi:10.1029/93wr02276

Cited by 80 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…As mentioned in the introduction, a long-standing criticism of this approach is that resultant data may be misleading because of artifacts imposed on microbial reactions by unrealistic laboratory conditions (34,55). Other approaches to measure biodegradation have ranged from empirical observation of diminished effectiveness of intentionally released chemicals (e.g., herbicides [38]) to rare field release of 14 C-labeled substrates (8,30) to the use of conservative tracers during injection and retrieval of substrates in subsurface environments (16,22,25,47). Issues surrounding the effectiveness and interpretations of such assays have been previously addressed (34,39).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Respiration of ¹³ C-Labeled Substrates Added to Soil in the Field and Subsequent 16S rRNA Gene Analysis of ¹³ C-Labeled Soil DNA

Parameswaran

Padmanabhan

DeRito

et al. 2003

Appl Environ Microbiol

197

133

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Our goal was to develop a field soil biodegradation assay using 13 C-labeled compounds and identify the active microorganisms by analyzing 16S rRNA genes in soil-derived 13 C-labeled DNA. Our biodegradation approach sought to minimize microbiological artifacts caused by physical and/or nutritional disturbance of soil associated with sampling and laboratory incubation. The new field-based assay involved the release of 13 Clabeled compounds (glucose, phenol, caffeine, and naphthalene) to soil plots, installation of open-bottom glass chambers that covered the soil, and analysis of samples of headspace gases for 13 CO 2 respiration by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). We verified that the GC/MS procedure was capable of assessing respiration of the four substrates added (50 ppm) to 5 g of soil in sealed laboratory incubations. Next, we determined background levels of 13 CO 2 emitted from naturally occurring soil organic matter to chambers inserted into our field soil test plots. We found that the conservative tracer, SF 6 , that was injected into the headspace rapidly diffused out of the soil chamber and thus would be of little value for computing the efficiency of retaining respired 13 CO 2 . Field respiration assays using all four compounds were completed. Background respiration from soil organic matter interfered with the documentation of in situ respiration of the slowly metabolized (caffeine) and sparingly soluble (naphthalene) compounds. Nonetheless, transient peaks of 13 CO 2 released in excess of background were found in glucose-and phenol-treated soil within 8 h. Cesium-chloride separation of 13 C-labeled soil DNA was followed by PCR amplification and sequencing of 16S rRNA genes from microbial populations involved with 13 C-substrate metabolism. A total of 29 full sequences revealed that active populations included relatives of Arthrobacter, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Massilia, Flavobacterium, and Pedobacter spp. for glucose; Pseudomonas, Pantoea, Acinetobacter, Enterobacter, Stenotrophomonas, and Alcaligenes spp. for phenol; Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, and Variovorax spp. for naphthalene; and Acinetobacter, Enterobacter, Stenotrophomonas, and Pantoea spp. for caffeine.Achieving a mechanistic understanding of microorganisms where they dwell, in terrestrial and aquatic field habitats, is one of the major goals of microbial ecology; such understanding is facilitated by an ability to directly measure microbial metabolic processes and to identify microorganisms responsible for particular field biogeochemical reactions (4,24,35,41,48). But a variety of methodological obstacles have traditionally prevented investigators from simultaneously documenting identity and activity in real-world habitats such as soil. The most notable obstacles are the size discrepancy between humans and microorganisms, incomplete understanding of microhabitat physicochemical characteristics, a large reservoir of inactive, but potentially responsive cells in environmental samples, and the related propensity for microbial comm...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Respiration of ¹³ C-Labeled Substrates Added to Soil in the Field and Subsequent 16S rRNA Gene Analysis of ¹³ C-Labeled Soil DNA

Parameswaran

Padmanabhan

DeRito

et al. 2003

Appl Environ Microbiol

197

133

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“…Biological Decay Rate (day-') Chapelle (1994) 0.01" Wilson et al (1994) 0.19" Stauffer et al (1994) O.Olb to 0.019c MacIntyre et al (1993) 0.01 to 0.02c MacIntyre et al (1993) 0.007 to 0.012 ' Wilson et al (1993) 0.0024 to 0.067" Buscheck et al (1993) 0.001 to O.Ola…”

Section: Referencementioning

confidence: 99%

Approximation of Biodegradation Rate Constants for Monoaromatic Hydrocarbons (BTEX) in Ground Water

Wiedemeier

Swanson

Wilson

et al. 1996

Groundwater Monitoring Rem

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Two methods were used to approximate site‐specific biodegradation rates of monoaromatic hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes [BTEX]) dissolved in ground water. Both use data from monitoring wells and the hydrologic properties of the quifer to estimate a biodegradation rate constant that can be used in ground water solute fate and transport models. The first method uses a biologically recalcitrant tracer in the ground water associated with the hydrocarbon plume to normalize changes in concentration of BTEX under anaerobic conditions; attenuation of the tracer is attributed to dilution, sorption, and/or volatilization. Attenuation of BTEX in excess of the attenuation of the tracer is attributed to biodegradation, although other processes may affect the observed rate. The second method assumes that the plume has evolved to a dynamic steady‐state equilibrium. A one‐dimensional analytical solution to the advection‐dispersion equation is used to extract the rate of attenuation that would be necessary to produce a steady‐state plume of the configuration found at the site. Attention is attributed largely to biodegradation bacause the analytical solution removes the effects of sorption and dispersion and volatilization is assumed to be minimal. Neither method fully accounts for the effects of continuing dissolution of BTEX in the source area or nonlinear sorption. Therefore, the rats cannot be attributed fully to biodegradation, but still are useful for ground water contaminant fate and transport modeling. The methods were applied to a data set from a JP‐4 jet fuel spill at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. In estimats along two seprate flow paths, natural attenuation rates for BTEX ranged form 0.006 to 0.038 day−1, with most rates near 0.02 day−1. The rate for benzene ranged from 0.025 to 0.038 day−1. The rates of attenuation of individual BTEX compounds as estimated by the two methods were in close aggrement. For an individual compound, the rate estimated using the second method was at most 36 percent greater than, but usually within 20 percent of, the rate estimated using the first method, suggesting that intrinsic bioremediation was the dominant process that attenuated BTEX.

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“…These observations directly linked molecular and physiological changes in the microbial community to field observations of contaminant attenuation in a transient system. Previous field experiments at Columbus AFB provided detailed knowledge of the aquifer's hydraulic features (14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19) as well as the natural biodegradative potential (20). After preliminary characterization of the site's microbiology (12) and geochemistry, the study aquifer was contaminated with a "model" jet fuel consisting of BTEX, naphthalene, and decane.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in Subsurface Catabolic Gene Frequencies during Natural Attenuation of Petroleum Hydrocarbons

Stapleton¹,

Sayler²,

Boggs

et al. 2000

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Public reporting burden for this collection of information Is estimated to average 1 hour per response. Including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. AUTHOR(S)Stapleton, Raymond D.; Sayler, Gary S.; Boggs, Mark; Libelo, Laurence; Stauffer, Thomas; Macintyre, William G. FUNDING NUMBERSC -F08637-94-C-6037 PE -62202F JON -1900C301 PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES)Center ABSTRACT (Maximum 200 words)Subsurface hydrocarbon contamination associated with petroleum spills is a widespread occurrence that presents a significant threat to groundwater resources. The natural attenuation test site (NATS) at Columbus Air Force Base, MS, provided a unique opportunity to monitor changes in the molecular microbial ecology as well as stimulation of natural biodegradative processes under transient field study conditions. A large, synthetic jet fuel mixture containing BTEX compounds and naphthalene in a decane carrier was introduced into the subsurface. Over 462 days, a plume of hydrocarbon contamination developed and stabilized at a distance of less than 15 m downgradient from the source area. Exposure of indigenous microoranisms to thexontaminant hydrocarbons was evaluated using an array of gene probes targeting common genotypes associated with the aerobic biodegradation of BTEX and naphthalene. Each of the targeted genotypes alkB, nahA, nahH, todClC2, and xylA showed significant responses to hydrocarbon exposure. Aerobic mineralization potentials of selected contaminants were greater in sediments collected from within the plume relative to uncontaminated areas, suggesting that an aerobic contaminant-degrading community successfully developed within the plume. An increase in aerobic degradation activity coincided with the arrival of the hydrocarbon front within the well field. The Natural Attenuation Study at Columbus AFB successfully linked adaptations of indigenous microorganisms to hydrocarbon exposure during a transient field study.

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Degradation kinetics of aromatic organic solutes introduced into a heterogeneous aquifer

Cited by 80 publications

References 15 publications

Respiration of ¹³ C-Labeled Substrates Added to Soil in the Field and Subsequent 16S rRNA Gene Analysis of ¹³ C-Labeled Soil DNA

Respiration of ¹³ C-Labeled Substrates Added to Soil in the Field and Subsequent 16S rRNA Gene Analysis of ¹³ C-Labeled Soil DNA

Approximation of Biodegradation Rate Constants for Monoaromatic Hydrocarbons (BTEX) in Ground Water

Changes in Subsurface Catabolic Gene Frequencies during Natural Attenuation of Petroleum Hydrocarbons

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Degradation kinetics of aromatic organic solutes introduced into a heterogeneous aquifer

Cited by 80 publications

References 15 publications

Respiration of 13 C-Labeled Substrates Added to Soil in the Field and Subsequent 16S rRNA Gene Analysis of 13 C-Labeled Soil DNA

Respiration of 13 C-Labeled Substrates Added to Soil in the Field and Subsequent 16S rRNA Gene Analysis of 13 C-Labeled Soil DNA

Approximation of Biodegradation Rate Constants for Monoaromatic Hydrocarbons (BTEX) in Ground Water

Changes in Subsurface Catabolic Gene Frequencies during Natural Attenuation of Petroleum Hydrocarbons

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Respiration of ¹³ C-Labeled Substrates Added to Soil in the Field and Subsequent 16S rRNA Gene Analysis of ¹³ C-Labeled Soil DNA

Respiration of ¹³ C-Labeled Substrates Added to Soil in the Field and Subsequent 16S rRNA Gene Analysis of ¹³ C-Labeled Soil DNA