Degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil by a two-step sequential treatment

Isolation of diverse pyrene-degrading bacteria via introducing readily utilized phenanthrene

Bacteria able to degrade pyrene play a critical role in the biodegradation of high-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). However, the traditional isolation procedure only obtains strains related to the genus Mycobacterium. The aim of the present study was to develop a modified method to isolate taxonomically distinct pyrene-degrading strains. The results indicated that replacing pyrene with phenanthrene in the isolation step improved the isolation efficiency. Using the modified method, six PAH degraders belonging to the genera Bosea, Arthrobacter, Paenibacillus, Bacillus, and Rhodococcus were obtained. They were capable of effectively utilizing pyrene (∼100%) as their sole carbon source, and could co-metabolize the degradation of benzo [a]pyrene (26.9-71.5%). In contrast, a small amount of pyrene (5.6%) and benzo [a]pyrene (8.6%) were degraded by a phenanthrene-degrading Sphingobium sp. NS7 under the same conditions. The difference in PAHs degradation between agar plate culture and liquid culture may lead to the low isolation efficiency in the traditional procedure. Hereditary stability analysis showed that PAH degradation capability of the Bosea, Paenibacillus, and Rhodococcus strains were easily lost without PAH pressure, which may partly explain why those strains were difficult to obtain using the traditional method.

Bacteria capable of degrading anthracene, phenanthrene, and fluoranthene as revealed by DNA based stable-isotope probing in a forest soil

Information on microorganisms possessing the ability to metabolize different polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in complex environments helps in understanding PAHs behavior in natural environment and developing bioremediation strategies. In the present study, stable-isotope probing (SIP) was applied to investigate degraders of PAHs in a forest soil with the addition of individually (13)C-labeled phenanthrene, anthracene, and fluoranthene. Three distinct phylotypes were identified as the active phenanthrene-, anthracene- and fluoranthene-degrading bacteria. The putative phenanthrene degraders were classified as belonging to the genus Sphingomona. For anthracene, bacteria of the genus Rhodanobacter were the putative degraders, and in the microcosm amended with fluoranthene, the putative degraders were identified as belonging to the phylum Acidobacteria. Our results from DNA-SIP are the first to directly link Rhodanobacter- and Acidobacteria-related bacteria with anthracene and fluoranthene degradation, respectively. The results also illustrate the specificity and diversity of three- and four-ring PAHs degraders in forest soil, contributes to our understanding on natural PAHs biodegradation processes, and also proves the feasibility and practicality of DNA-based SIP for linking functions with identity especially uncultured microorganisms in complex microbial biota.

Characterization of pyrene degradation by Pseudomonas sp. strain Jpyr-1 isolated from active sewage sludge

Using pyrene as a sole carbon, a new polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)-degrading bacterial strain was isolated from the active sewage sludge. This strain was identified as Pseudomonas sp. Jpyr-1 by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The maximum degradation rate of pyrene was 3.07 mg L(-1)h(-1) in 48 h incubation with initial pyrene concentration of 200 mg L(-1). Moreover, in binary system consisting of pyrene and another PAH, the enzyme system of Jpyr-1 showed a preference toward pyrene. Furthermore, competitive inhibition of pyrene degradation by other PAH compounds occurred in the binary system. Jpyr-1 could also rapidly degrade other PAHs, such as benzanthracene, chrysene and benzo[a]pyrene. Moreover, several metabolites were detected during pyrene degradation which indicated that Jpyr-1 degraded pyrene through the o-phthalate pathway. Taken together, these results indicated that Pseudomonas sp. Jpyr-1 was a new PAHs-degrading strain that might be useful in the bioremediation of sites contaminated with PAHs.

Dairy ruminant exposure to persistent organic pollutants and excretion to milk

Human activities produce polluting compounds such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which may interact with agriculture. These molecules have raised concern about the risk of transfer through the food chain via the animal product. POPs are characterised by a strong persistence in the environment, a high volatility and a lipophilicity, which lead to their accumulation in fat tissues. These compounds are listed in international conventions to organise the information about their potential toxicity for humans and the environment. The aim of this paper is to synthesise current information on dairy ruminant exposure to POPs and the risk of their transfer to milk. Three major groups of POPs have been considered: the polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), the polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) and the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The results show that contamination of fodder and soil by these compounds is observed when they are exposed to emission sources (steelworks, cementworks, waste incinerators or motorways) compared with remote areas. In general, soil contamination is considered higher than plant contamination. Highest concentrations of POPs in soil may be close to 1000 ng/kg dry matter (DM) for PCDD/Fs, to 10 000 mg/kg DM for PAHs and 100 μg/kg DM for PCBs. The contamination of milk by POPs depends on environmental factors, factors related to the rearing system (fodder and potentially contaminated soil, stage of lactation, medical state of the herd) and of the characteristics of the contaminants. Transfer rates to milk have been established: for PCBs the rate of transfer varies from 5% to 90%, for PCDD/Fs from 1% to 40% and for PAHs from 0.5% to 8%. The differential transfer of the compounds towards milk is related to the hydrophobicity of the pollutants as well as to the metabolic susceptibility of the compounds.

Fenton based remediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons-contaminated soils

This paper aims to review the applications of Fenton based treatments specifically for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons-contaminated soils. An overview of the background and principles of Fenton treatment catalysed by both homogenous (conventional and modified Fenton) and heterogeneous (Fenton-like) catalysts is firstly presented. Laboratory and field soil remediation studies are then discussed in terms of efficiency, kinetics and associated factors. Four main scopes of integrated Fenton treatments, i.e. physical-Fenton, biological-Fenton, electro-Fenton and photo-Fenton are also reviewed in this paper. For each of these integrated remediation technologies, the theoretical background and mechanisms are detailed alongside with achievable removal efficiencies for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in contaminated soils compared to sole Fenton treatment. Finally, the environmental impacts of Fenton based soil treatments are documented and discussed.

The development of a liquid formulation of Pseudoxanthomonas sp. RN402 and its application in the treatment of pyrene-contaminated soil

AIM

To develop a liquid formulation of Pseudoxanthomonas sp. RN402 for prolonged storage and maintaining high survival rates and pyrene biodegradability.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Liquid formulations of RN402, designated as L-RN402, were prepared by suspending bacterial cells (10⁹ CFU ml⁻¹) in various buffers. Analysis found that phosphate buffer containing glycerol maintained high survival rate (94%) as well as pyrene biodegradability of bacteria after a 30-day storage. This L-RN402 could be stored at 30°C for at least 6 months. Bioaugmentation treatment with stored L-RN402 resulted in the complete degradation of pyrene (300 mg kg⁻¹) in soil microcosms within 4 weeks. RN402 could be detected by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis throughout the period; moreover, real-time PCR indicated the presence of high number of nidA-containing bacteria.

CONCLUSIONS

A liquid formulation of RN402, an effective pyrene degrader, was developed by suspending RN402 in phosphate buffer containing 1% glycerol. This formulation could be stored at 30°C for at least 6 months and maintain high efficacy in the treatment of pyrene-contaminated soil.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This work is the first description of a liquid formulation of pyrene-degrading bacteria for prolonged storage that retains biological activity for the treatment of environmental pollutants.

In vitro degradation of fluoranthene by bacteria isolated from petroleum sludge

An investigation was carried out for in vitro degradation of fluoranthene by four bacterial strains (PSM6, PSM7, PSM10 and PSM11) isolated from the petroleum sludge. Although all the strains registered their growth in MSM with 100 ppm fluoranthene, PSM11 growth was better than other strains. Growth of bacterial strains invariably corresponded to their degradation potential of fluoranthene. After 168 h of incubation, 61% fluoranthene was degraded by PSM11, followed by PSM10 (48%) and PSM6 (42%) and the least was recorded in PSM7 (41%). Besides, 11% loss in fluoranthene was attributed to abiotic factors. Thirty-eight times more activity of catechol 2,3-dioxygenase than catechol 1,2-dioxygenase showed that it played a significant role in fluoranthene degradation. Molecular weight of catechol 2,3-dioxygenase isolated from PSM11 was determined as ∼ 136 kDa by size exclusion chromatography and 34 kDa on denaturing SDS-PAGE, indicating tetrameric nature of the enzyme.

Isolation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)-degrading Mycobacterium spp. and the degradation in soil

The goal of this study was to isolate PAHs degraders that can utilize PAHs associated with soil particulates and investigate the biodegradation of PAHs on agar plate, in liquid culture and soil. Two Mycobacterium strains (NJS-1 and NJS-P) were isolated from PAHs-contaminated farmland soil using enrichment based on soil slurry. The isolates could degrade five test PAHs including pyrene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, anthracene and benzo[a]pyrene on plate, but showed different effects in liquid culture, especially for fluoranthene. Isolate NJS-1 was capable of utilizing benzo[a]pyrene as a sole carbon and energy source, and an enhanced degradation was observed when pyrene was supplied as cometabolic substrate. Reintroduction of the isolates into sterile contaminated soil resulted in a significant removal of aged pyrene and fluoranthene (over 40%) in 2-months incubation. In pyrene-spiked soil, the degradation of pyrene and fluoranthene increased to 90% and 50%, respectively. Comparing PAHs degradation on plate, in liquid culture and soil, we can conclude that there was corresponding degradation in different test systems. In addition, the degradation of aged PAHs in soil suggested the potential application of two isolates in further bioremediation.

Application of vegetable oils in the treatment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons-contaminated soils

A brief review is conducted on the application of vegetable oils in the treatment of PAH-contaminated soils. Three main scopes of treatment strategies are discussed in this work including soil washing by oil, integrated oil-biological treatment and integrated oil-non-biological treatment. For each of these, the arguments supporting vegetable oil application, the applied treatment techniques and their efficiencies, associated factors, as well as the feasibility of the techniques are detailed. Additionally, oil regeneration, the environmental impacts of oil residues in soil and comparison with other commonly employed techniques are also discussed.

Advances in the field of high-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon biodegradation by bacteria

Interest in understanding prokaryotic biotransformation of high-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (HMW PAHs) has continued to grow and the scientific literature shows that studies in this field are originating from research groups from many different locations throughout the world. In the last 10 years, research in regard to HMW PAH biodegradation by bacteria has been further advanced through the documentation of new isolates that represent diverse bacterial types that have been isolated from different environments and that possess different metabolic capabilities. This has occurred in addition to the continuation of in-depth comprehensive characterizations of previously isolated organisms, such as Mycobacterium vanbaalenii PYR-1. New metabolites derived from prokaryotic biodegradation of four- and five-ring PAHs have been characterized, our knowledge of the enzymes involved in these transformations has been advanced and HMW PAH biodegradation pathways have been further developed, expanded upon and refined. At the same time, investigation of prokaryotic consortia has furthered our understanding of the capabilities of microorganisms functioning as communities during HMW PAH biodegradation.