Biodegradation of gasoline ether oxygenates

Implementation of in situ aerobic cometabolism for groundwater treatment: State of the knowledge and important factors for field operation

In situ aerobic cometabolism of groundwater contaminants has been demonstrated to be a valuable bioremediation technology to treat many legacy and emerging contaminants in dilute plumes. Several well-designed and documented field studies have shown that this technology can concurrently treat multiple contaminants and reach very low cleanup goals. Fundamentally different from metabolism-based biodegradation of contaminants, microorganisms that cometabolically degrade contaminants do not obtain sufficient carbon and energy from the degradation process to support their growth and require an exogenous growth supporting primary substrate. Successful applications of aerobic cometabolic treatment therefore require special considerations beyond conventional in situ bioremediation, such as competitive inhibition between growth-supporting primary substrate(s) and contaminant non-growth substrates, toxic effects resulting from contaminant degradation, and differences in microbial population dynamics exhibited by biostimulated indigenous consortia versus bioaugmentation cultures. This article first provides a general review of microbiological factors that are likely to affect the rate of aerobic cometabolic biodegradation. We subsequently review fourteen well documented field-scale aerobic cometabolic bioremediation studies and summarize the underlying microbiological factors that may affect the performance observed in these field studies. The combination of microbiological and engineering principles gained from field testing leads to insights and recommendations on planning, design, and operation of an in situ aerobic cometabolic treatment system. With a vision of more aerobic cometabolic treatments being considered to tackle large, dilute plumes, we present several novel topics and future research directions that can potentially enhance technology development and foster success in implementing this technology for environmental restoration.

Potential of stable isotope analysis to deduce anaerobic biodegradation of ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE) and tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) in groundwater: a review

Understanding anaerobic biodegradation of ether oxygenates beyond MTBE in groundwater is important, given that it is replaced by ETBE as a gasoline additive in several regions. The lack of studies demonstrating anaerobic biodegradation of ETBE, and its product TBA, reflects the relative resistance of ethers and alcohols with a tertiary carbon atom to enzymatic attack under anoxic conditions. Anaerobic ETBE- or TBA-degrading microorganisms have not been characterized. Only one field study suggested anaerobic ETBE biodegradation. Anaerobic (co)metabolism of ETBE or TBA was reported in anoxic microcosms, indicating their biodegradation potential in anoxic groundwater systems. Non-isotopic methods, such as the detection of contaminant loss, metabolites, or ETBE- and TBA-degrading bacteria are not sufficiently sensitive to track anaerobic biodegradation in situ. Compound- and position-specific stable isotope analysis provides a means to study MTBE biodegradation, but isotopic fractionation of ETBE has only been studied with a few aerobic bacteria (εC -0.7 to -1.7‰, εH -11 to -73‰) and at one anoxic field site (δ2H-ETBE +14‰). Similarly, stable carbon isotope enrichment (δ13C-TBA +6.5‰) indicated TBA biodegradation at an anoxic field site. CSIA and PSIA are promising methods to detect anaerobic ETBE and TBA biodegradation but need to be investigated further to assess their full potential at field scale.

A multicomponent propane monooxygenase catalyzes the initial degradation of methyl tert-butyl ether in Mycobacterium vaccae JOB5

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) has been recognized as a groundwater contaminant due to its widespread distribution and potential threat to human health. The limited understanding of the enzymes catalyzing MTBE degradation restricts their application in MTBE bioremediation. In this study, an MTBE-degrading soluble di-iron monooxygenase that clusters phylogenetically with a known propane monooxygenase (PRM) encoded by the prmABCD gene cluster was identified and functionally characterized, revealing their role in MTBE metabolism by Mycobacterium vaccae JOB5. Transcriptome analysis demonstrated that the expression of prmABCD was upregulated when JOB5 was induced by MTBE. Escherichia coli Rosetta heterologously expressing prmABCD from JOB5 could transform MTBE, indicating that the PRM of JOB5 is capable of the initial degradation of MTBE. The loss of the gene encoding the oxygenase α-subunit or β-subunit, the coupling protein, or the reductase disrupted MTBE transformation by the recombinant E. coli Rosetta. In addition, the catalytic capacity of PRM is likely affected by residue G95 in the active site pocket and residues I84, P165, A269, and V270 in the substrate tunnel structure. Mutation of amino acids in the active site and substrate tunnel resulted in inefficiency or inactivation of MTBE degradation, and the activity in 1,4-dioxane (1,4-D) degradation was diminished less than that in MTBE degradation.IMPORTANCEMulticomponent monooxygenases catalyzing the initial hydroxylation of MTBE are important in MTBE biodegradation. Previous studies of MTBE degradation enzymes have focused on P450s, alkane monooxygenase and MTBE monooxygenase, but the vital role of soluble di-iron monooxygenases has rarely been reported. In this study, we deciphered the essential catalytic role of a PRM and revealed the key residues of the PRM in MTBE metabolism. Our findings provide new insight into the MTBE-degrading gene cluster and enzymes in bacteria. This characterization of the PRM associated with MTBE degradation expands our understanding of MTBE-degrading gene diversity and provides a novel candidate enzyme for the bioremediation of MTBE-contaminated sites.

Metabolites of the anaerobic degradation of diethyl ether by denitrifying betaproteobacterium strain HxN1

The constitutions of five metabolites formed during co-metabolic, anaerobic degradation of diethyl ether by the denitrifying betaproteobacterium Aromatoleum sp. strain HxN1 were elucidated by comparison of mass spectrometric and gas chromatographic data with those of synthetic reference standards. Furthermore, the absolute configurations of two stereogenic centers in the metabolites were established. Based on these results a degradation pathway for diethyl ether by Aromatoleum sp. HxN1 analogous to that of n-hexane is proposed. Synthesis of both enantiomers of methyl (E)-4-ethoxy-2-pentenoate was accomplished by etherification of ethyl (R)- or (S)-lactate, followed by hydrolysis of the ester group and reduction to furnish 2-ethoxy-1-propanol. The primary alcohol was converted by a Swern oxidation followed by a Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction to methyl (E)-4-ethoxy-2-pentenoate that was finally hydrogenated to methyl 4-ethoxypentanoate. Methyl (S)-4-ethoxy-3-oxopentanoate was prepared by conversion of (S)-2-ethoxypropanoyl chloride with Meldrum's acid. Reduction of the resulting β-oxoester with NaBH4 or baker's yeast gave both diastereoisomers of methyl 4-ethoxy-3-hydroxypentanoate. The stereocenter at C-3 of the main diastereoisomer produced with baker's yeast was determined by Mosher ester analysis to be (R)-configurated. Dimethyl 2-(1-ethoxyethyl)succinate was prepared by Michael addition of nitroethane to diethyl maleate, followed by conjugate addition of sodium ethanolate, hydrolysis and esterification with diazomethane.

ATP-dependent hydroxylation of an unactivated primary carbon with water

Enzymatic hydroxylation of unactivated primary carbons is generally associated with the use of molecular oxygen as co-substrate for monooxygenases. However, in anaerobic cholesterol-degrading bacteria such as Sterolibacterium denitrificans the primary carbon of the isoprenoid side chain is oxidised to a carboxylate in the absence of oxygen. Here, we identify an enzymatic reaction sequence comprising two molybdenum-dependent hydroxylases and one ATP-dependent dehydratase that accomplish the hydroxylation of unactivated primary C26 methyl group of cholesterol with water: (i) hydroxylation of C25 to a tertiary alcohol, (ii) ATP-dependent dehydration to an alkene via a phosphorylated intermediate, (iii) hydroxylation of C26 to an allylic alcohol that is subsequently oxidised to the carboxylate. The three-step enzymatic reaction cascade divides the high activation energy barrier of primary C–H bond cleavage into three biologically feasible steps. This finding expands our knowledge of biological C–H activations beyond canonical oxygenase-dependent reactions.

Monooxygenases catalyse the hydroxylation of C-H bonds using oxygen as a co-substrate, which, in turn, is unavailable for anaerobic bacteria. Here, the authors report a three-step reaction cascade involving two hydroxylases and one dehydratase which hydroxylate the C26 methyl group of cholesterol with water as a co-substrate.

Biodegradation and fate of ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE) in soil and groundwater: A review

This review summarises the current state of knowledge on the biodegradation and fate of the gasoline ether oxygenate ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE) in soil and groundwater. Microorganisms have been identified in soil and groundwater with the ability to degrade ETBE aerobically as a carbon and energy source, or via cometabolism using alkanes as growth substrates. Aerobic biodegradation of ETBE initially occurs via hydroxylation of the ethoxy carbon by a monooxygenase enzyme, with subsequent formation of intermediates which include acetaldehyde, tert-butyl acetate (TBAc), tert-butyl alcohol (TBA), 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-propanol (MHP) and 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid (2-HIBA). Slow cell growth and low biomass yields on ETBE are believed to result from the ether structure and slow degradation kinetics, with potential limitations on ETBE metabolism. Genes known to facilitate transformation of ETBE include ethB (within the ethRABCD cluster), encoding a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase, and alkB-encoding alkane hydroxylases. Other genes have been identified in microorganisms but their activity and specificity towards ETBE remains poorly characterised. Microorganisms and pathways supporting anaerobic biodegradation of ETBE have not been identified, although this potential has been demonstrated in limited field and laboratory studies. The presence of co-contaminants (other ether oxygenates, hydrocarbons and organic compounds) in soil and groundwater may limit aerobic biodegradation of ETBE by preferential metabolism and consumption of available dissolved oxygen or enhance ETBE biodegradation through cometabolism. Both ETBE-degrading microorganisms and alkane-oxidising bacteria have been characterised, with potential for use in bioaugmentation and biostimulation of ETBE degradation in groundwater.

Influence of contaminant exposure on the development of aerobic ETBE biodegradation potential in microbial communities from a gasoline-impacted aquifer

Aerobic biodegradation of ethyl tert butyl ether (ETBE) in a gasoline-impacted aquifer was investigated in laboratory microcosms containing groundwater and aquifer material from ETBE-impacted and non-impacted locations amended with either ETBE, or ETBE plus methyl tert butyl ether (MTBE). As sole substrate, ETBE was biodegraded (maximum rate of 0.54 day^-1) without a lag in ETBE-impacted microcosms but with a lag of up to 66 days in non-impacted microcosms (maximum rate of 0.38 day^-1). As co-substrate, ETBE was biodegraded preferentially (maximum rate of 0.25 and 0.99 day^-1 in non-impacted and impacted microcosms, respectively) before MTBE (maximum rate of 0.24 and 0.36 day^-1 in non-impacted and impacted microcosms, respectively). Further addition of ETBE and MTBE reduced lags and increased biodegradation rates. ethB gene copy numbers increased significantly (>100 fold) after exposure to ETBE, while overall cell numbers remained constant, suggesting that ethB-containing microorganisms come to dominate the microbial communities. Deep sequencing of 16S rRNA genes identified members of the Comamonadaceae family that increased in relative abundance upon exposure to ETBE. This study demonstrates the potential for ETBE biodegradation within the unsaturated and saturated zone, and that ETBE biodegrading capability is rapidly developed and maintained within the aquifer microbial community over extended timescales.

Distinct Bacterial Consortia Established in ETBE-Degrading Enrichments from a Polluted Aquifer

Ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE) is a gasoline additive that became an important aquifer pollutant. The information about natural bacterial consortia with a capacity for complete ETBE degradation is limited. Here we assess the taxonomical composition of bacterial communities and diversity of the ethB gene (involved in ETBE biodegradation) in ETBE-enrichment cultures that were established from a gasoline-polluted aquifer, either from anoxic ETBE-polluted plume water (PW), or from an upstream non-polluted water (UW). We used a 16S rRNA microarray, and 16S rRNA and ethB gene sequencing. Despite the dissimilar initial chemical conditions and microbial composition, ETBE-degrading consortia were obtained from both PW and UW. The composition of ETBE-enrichment cultures was distinct from their initial water samples, reflecting the importance of the rare biosphere as a reservoir of potential ETBE degraders. No convergence was observed between the enrichment cultures originating from UW and PW, which were dominated by Mesorhizobium and Hydrogenophaga, respectively, indicating that distinct consortia with the same functional properties may be present at one site. Conserved ethB genes were evidenced in both PW and UW ETBE-enrichment cultures and in PW water. Our results suggest that the presence of ethB genes rather than the taxonomical composition of in situ bacterial communities indicate the potential for the ETBE degradation at a given site.

Removal of unleaded gasoline from water by multi-walled carbon nanotubes

This article displays an efficient and cost effective technique for the removal of unleaded gasoline from water. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were used as the sorbent material. Nanotubes were synthesized according to a well-known procedure and successfully used avoiding cumbersome purifications from traces of catalyst. A series of lab-scale experiments was performed on dispersions of commercial unleaded gasoline (20 mL) in water (30 mL), which were subjected to the action of variable amounts of MWCNTs at room temperature. Physicochemical characteristics and sorbent capacity of nanotubes were investigated by thermal analysis and FT-IR spectroscopy. The highest percentage of removed unleaded gasoline was obtained using small amounts (0.7 g) of MWCNTs, over very short stirring times (5 min). The composition of residual organic materials in water was investigated by ¹H and ¹³C high-resolution NMR spectroscopy, which confirmed the almost complete removal of unleaded gasoline hydrocarbon components from polluted waters.

Anaerobic degradation of a mixture of MtBE, EtBE, TBA, and benzene under different redox conditions

The increasing use of biobased fuels and fuel additives can potentially change the typical fuel-related contamination in soil and groundwater. Anaerobic biotransformation of the biofuel additive ethyl tert-butyl ether (EtBE), as well as of methyl tert-butyl ether (MtBE), benzene, and tert-butyl alcohol (TBA, a possible oxygenate metabolite), was studied at an industrially contaminated site and in the laboratory. Analysis of groundwater samples indicated that in the field MtBE was degraded, yielding TBA as major product. In batch microcosms, MtBE was degraded under different conditions: unamended control, with medium without added electron acceptors, or with ferrihydrite or sulfate (with or without medium) as electron acceptor, respectively. Degradation of EtBE was not observed under any of these conditions tested. TBA was partially depleted in parallel with MtBE. Results of microcosm experiments with MtBE substrate analogues, i.e., syringate, vanillate, or ferulate, were in line with the hypothesis that the observed TBA degradation is a cometabolic process. Microcosms with ferulate, syringate, isopropanol, or diethyl ether showed EtBE depletion up to 86.5% of the initial concentration after 83 days. Benzene was degraded in the unamended controls, with medium without added electron acceptors and with ferrihydrite, sulfate, or chlorate as electron acceptor, respectively. In the presence of nitrate, benzene was only degraded after addition of an anaerobic benzene-degrading community. Nitrate and chlorate hindered MtBE, EtBE, and TBA degradation.

Vapor intrusion risk of fuel ether oxygenates methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), tert-amyl methyl ether (TAME) and ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE): A modeling study

Vapor intrusion of synthetic fuel additives represents a critical yet still neglected problem at sites contaminated by petroleum fuel releases. This study used an advanced numerical model to investigate the vapor intrusion potential of fuel ether oxygenates methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), tert-amyl methyl ether (TAME), and ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE). Simulated indoor air concentration of these compounds can exceed USEPA indoor air screening level for MTBE (110μg/m³). Our results also reveal that MTBE has much higher chance to cause vapor intrusion problems than TAME and ETBE. This study supports the statements made by USEPA in the Petroleum Vapor Intrusion (PVI) Guidance that the vertical screening criteria for petroleum hydrocarbons may not provide sufficient protectiveness for fuel additives, and ether oxygenates in particular. In addition to adverse impacts on human health, ether oxygenate vapor intrusion may also cause aesthetic problems (i.e., odour and flavour). Overall, this study points out that ether oxygenates can cause vapor intrusion problems. We recommend that USEPA consider including the field measurement data of synthetic fuel additives in the existing PVI database and possibly revising the PVI Guidance as necessary.

Anaerobic biodegradation of (emerging) organic contaminants in the aquatic environment

Although strictly anaerobic conditions prevail in several environmental compartments, up to now, biodegradation studies with emerging organic contaminants (EOCs), such as pharmaceuticals and personal care products, have mainly focused on aerobic conditions. One of the reasons probably is the assumption that the aerobic degradation is more energetically favorable than degradation under strictly anaerobic conditions. Certain aerobically recalcitrant contaminants, however, are biodegraded under strictly anaerobic conditions and little is known about the organisms and enzymatic processes involved in their degradation. This review provides a comprehensive survey of characteristic anaerobic biotransformation reactions for a variety of well-studied, structurally rather simple contaminants (SMOCs) bearing one or a few different functional groups/structural moieties. Furthermore it summarizes anaerobic degradation studies of more complex contaminants with several functional groups (CMCs), in soil, sediment and wastewater treatment. While strictly anaerobic conditions are able to promote the transformation of several aerobically persistent contaminants, the variety of observed reactions is limited, with reductive dehalogenations and the cleavage of ether bonds being the most prevalent. Thus, it becomes clear that the transferability of degradation mechanisms deduced from culture studies of SMOCs to predict the degradation of CMCs, such as EOCs, in environmental matrices is hampered due the more complex chemical structure bearing different functional groups, different environmental conditions (e.g. matrix, redox, pH), the microbial community (e.g. adaptation, competition) and the low concentrations typical for EOCs.

Polypyrrole-Grafted Coconut Shell Biological Carbon as a Potential Adsorbent for Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether Removal: Characterization and Adsorption Capability

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) has been used as a common gasoline additive worldwide since the late twentieth century, and it has become the most frequently detected groundwater pollutant in many countries. This study aimed to synthesize a novel microbial carrier to improve its adsorptive capacity for MTBE and biofilm formation, compared to the traditional granular activated carbon (GAC). A polypyrrole (PPy)-modified GAC composite (PPy/GAC) was synthesized, and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis. The adsorption behaviors of MTBE were well described by the pseudo-second-order and Langmuir isotherm models. Furthermore, three biofilm reactors were established with PPy/GAC, PPy, and GAC as the carriers, respectively, and the degradation of MTBE under continuous flow was investigated. Compared to the biofilm reactors with PPy or GAC (which both broke after a period of operation), the PPy/GAC biofilm column produced stable effluents under variable treatment conditions with a long-term effluent MTBE concentration <20 μg/L. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter pittii may be the predominant bacteria responsible for MTBE degradation in these biofilm reactors.

Draft genome sequence of Methylibium sp. strain T29, a novel fuel oxygenate-degrading bacterial isolate from Hungary

Methylibium sp. strain T29 was isolated from a gasoline-contaminated aquifer and proved to have excellent capabilities in degrading some common fuel oxygenates like methyl tert-butyl ether, tert-amyl methyl ether and tert-butyl alcohol along with other organic compounds. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of M. sp. strain T29 together with the description of the genome properties and its annotation. The draft genome consists of 608 contigs with a total size of 4,449,424 bp and an average coverage of 150×. The genome exhibits an average G + C content of 68.7 %, and contains 4754 protein coding and 52 RNA genes, including 48 tRNA genes. 71 % of the protein coding genes could be assigned to COG (Clusters of Orthologous Groups) categories. A formerly unknown circular plasmid designated as pT29A was isolated and sequenced separately and found to be 86,856 bp long.

Cometabolism of methyl tert-butyl ether by a new microbial consortium ERS

The release of methyl tert-butyl-ether (MTBE) into the environment has increased the worldwide concern about the pollution of MTBE. In this paper, a microbial consortium was isolated from the soil sample near an oil station, which can degrade MTBE directly with a low biomass yield and MTBE degrading efficiency. Further research has indicated that this consortium can degrade MTBE efficiently when grown on n-octane as the cometabolic substrate. The results of 16S rDNA based on phylogenetic analysis of the selected operating taxonomic units (OTUs) involved in the consortium revealed that one OTU was related to Pseudomonas putida GPo1, which could cometabolically degrade MTBE on the growth of n-octane. This may help explain why n-octane could be the optimal cometabolic substrate of the consortium for MTBE degradation. Furthermore, the degradation of MTBE was observed along with the consumption of n-octane. Different K s values for MTBE were observed for cells grown with or without n-octane, suggesting that different enzymes are responsible for the oxidation of MTBE in cells grown on n-octane or MTBE. The results are discussed in terms of their impacts on our understanding of MTBE biodegradation and cometabolism.

Hydrocarbon degrading microbial communities in bench scale aerobic biobarriers for gasoline contaminated groundwater treatment

BTEX compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes) and methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) are some of the main constituents of gasoline and can be accidentally released in the environment. In this work the effect of bioaugmentation on the microbial communities in a bench scale aerobic biobarrier for gasoline contaminated water treatment was studied by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Catabolic genes (tmoA and xylM) were quantified by qPCR, in order to estimate the biodegradation potential, and the abundance of total bacteria was estimated by the quantification of the number of copies of the 16S rRNA gene. Hydrocarbon concentration was monitored over time and no difference in the removal efficiency for the tested conditions was observed, either with or without the microbial inoculum. In the column without the inoculum the most abundant genera were Acidovorax, Bdellovibrio, Hydrogenophaga, Pseudoxanthomonas and Serpens at the beginning of the column, while at the end of the column Thauera became dominant. In the inoculated test the microbial inoculum, composed by Rhodococcus sp. CE461, Rhodococcus sp. CT451 and Methylibium petroleiphilum LMG 22953, was outcompeted. Quantitative PCR results showed an increasing in xylM copy number, indicating that hydrocarbon degrading bacteria were selected during the treatment, although only a low increase of the total biomass was observed. However, the bioaugmentation did not lead to an increase in the degradative potential of the microbial communities.

Metabolism of 2-methylpropene (isobutylene) by the aerobic bacterium Mycobacterium sp. strain ELW1

An aerobic bacterium (Mycobacterium sp. strain ELW1) that utilizes 2-methylpropene (isobutylene) as a sole source of carbon and energy was isolated and characterized. Strain ELW1 grew on 2-methylpropene (growth rate = 0.05 h(-1)) with a yield of 0.38 mg (dry weight) mg 2-methylpropene(-1). Strain ELW1 also grew more slowly on both cis- and trans-2-butene but did not grow on any other C2 to C5 straight-chain, branched, or chlorinated alkenes tested. Resting 2-methylpropene-grown cells consumed ethene, propene, and 1-butene without a lag phase. Epoxyethane accumulated as the only detected product of ethene oxidation. Both alkene consumption and epoxyethane production were fully inhibited in cells exposed to 1-octyne, suggesting that alkene oxidation is initiated by an alkyne-sensitive, epoxide-generating monooxygenase. Kinetic analyses indicated that 1,2-epoxy-2-methylpropane is rapidly consumed during 2-methylpropene degradation, while 2-methyl-2-propen-1-ol is not a significant metabolite of 2-methylpropene catabolism. Degradation of 1,2-epoxy-2-methylpropane by 2-methylpropene-grown cells led to the accumulation and further degradation of 2-methyl-1,2-propanediol and 2-hydroxyisobutyrate, two sequential metabolites previously identified in the aerobic microbial metabolism of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and tert-butyl alcohol (TBA). Growth of strain ELW1 on 2-methylpropene, 1,2-epoxy-2-methylpropane, 2-methyl-1,2-propanediol, and 2-hydroxyisobutyrate was fully inhibited when cobalt ions were omitted from the growth medium, while growth on 3-hydroxybutyrate and other substrates was unaffected by the absence of added cobalt ions. Our results suggest that, like aerobic MTBE- and TBA-metabolizing bacteria, strain ELW1 utilizes a cobalt/cobalamin-dependent mutase to transform 2-hydroxyisobutyrate. Our results have been interpreted in terms of their impact on our understanding of the microbial metabolism of alkenes and ether oxygenates.

Pilot-scale ISCO treatment of a MtBE contaminated site using a Fenton-like process

This paper reports about a pilot-scale feasibility study of In-Situ Chemical Oxidation (ISCO) application based on the use of stabilized hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by naturally occurring iron minerals (Fenton-like process) to a site formerly used for fuel storage and contaminated by MtBE. The stratigraphy of the site consists of a 2-3 meter backfill layer followed by a 3-4 meter low permeability layer, that confines the main aquifer, affected by a widespread MtBE groundwater contamination with concentrations up to 4000 μg/L, also with the presence of petroleum hydrocarbons. The design of the pilot-scale treatment was based on the integration of the results obtained from experimental and numerical modeling accounting for the technological and regulatory constraints existing in the site to be remediated. In particular, lab-scale batch tests allowed the selection of the most suitable operating conditions. Then, this information was implemented in a numerical software that allowed to define the injection and monitoring layout and to predict the propagation of hydrogen peroxide in groundwater. The pilot-scale field results confirmed the effective propagation of hydrogen peroxide in nearly all the target area (around 75 m(2) using 3 injection wells). As far as the MtBE removal is concerned, the ISCO application allowed us to meet the clean-up goals in an area of 60 m(2). Besides, the concentration of TBA, i.e. a potential by-product of MtBE oxidation, was actually reduced after the ISCO treatment. The results of the pilot-scale test suggest that ISCO may be a suitable option for the remediation of the groundwater plume contaminated by MtBE, providing the background data for the design and cost-estimate of the full-scale treatment.

Enhanced biodegradation of methyl tert-butyl-ether by a microbial consortium

The widespread use of Methyl tert-butyl-ether (MTBE) as a gasoline additive has resulted in a higher detection rate of MTBE in groundwater systems. Therefore, the researchers show more concern about the bioremediation of MTBE-impacted aquifers. In this paper, a MTBE-direct-degrading bacterial consortium was enriched (named RS1) and further studied. In order to identify the microbial community of the consortium, 17 and 12 different single strains were isolated from nutrient medium and MSM media (with MTBE as the sole carbon source), respectively. 16S rDNA-based phylogenetic analysis revealed that these diverse bacteria belonged to 14 genera, in which Pseudomonas was dominant. Several strains which can grow with MTBE as the sole carbon and energy source were also identified, such as M1, related to MTBE-degrading Arthrobacter sp. ATCC27778. Furthermore, the appropriate addition of certain single strain in consortium RS1 (M1:RS1 = 1:2) facilitates MTBE degradation by increasing the quantity of efficient MTBE-degrading bacteria. This work will provide microbial source and theoretical fundament for further bioremediation of MTBE-contaminated aquifers, which has applied potential and environmental importance.

Constitutive expression of the cytochrome P450 EthABCD monooxygenase system enables degradation of synthetic dialkyl ethers in Aquincola tertiaricarbonis L108

In Rhodococcus ruber IFP 2001, Rhodococcus zopfii IFP 2005, and Gordonia sp. strain IFP 2009, the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase EthABCD catalyzes hydroxylation of methoxy and ethoxy residues in the fuel oxygenates methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE), and tert-amyl methyl ether (TAME). The expression of the IS3-type transposase-flanked eth genes is ETBE dependent and controlled by the regulator EthR (C. Malandain et al., FEMS Microbiol. Ecol. 72:289-296, 2010). In contrast, we demonstrated by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) that the betaproteobacterium Aquincola tertiaricarbonis L108, which possesses the ethABCD genes but lacks ethR, constitutively expresses the P450 system at high levels even when growing on nonether substrates, such as glucose. The mutant strain A. tertiaricarbonis L10, which is unable to degrade dialkyl ethers, resulted from a transposition event mediated by a rolling-circle IS91-type element flanking the eth gene cluster in the wild-type strain L108. The constitutive expression of Eth monooxygenase is likely initiated by the housekeeping sigma factor σ(70), as indicated by the presence in strain L108 of characteristic -10 and -35 binding sites upstream of ethA which are lacking in strain IFP 2001. This enables efficient degradation of diethyl ether, diisopropyl ether, MTBE, ETBE, TAME, and tert-amyl ethyl ether (TAEE) without any lag phase in strain L108. However, ethers with larger residues, n-hexyl methyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, and alkyl aryl ethers, were not attacked by the Eth system at significant rates in resting-cell experiments, indicating that the residue in the ether molecule which is not hydroxylated also contributes to the determination of substrate specificity.

Using DNA-Stable Isotope Probing to Identify MTBE- and TBA-Degrading Microorganisms in Contaminated Groundwater

Although the anaerobic biodegradation of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) has been documented in the laboratory and the field, knowledge of the microorganisms and mechanisms involved is still lacking. In this study, DNA-stable isotope probing (SIP) was used to identify microorganisms involved in anaerobic fuel oxygenate biodegradation in a sulfate-reducing MTBE and TBA plume. Microorganisms were collected in the field using Bio-Sep® beads amended with ¹³C₅-MTBE, ¹³C₁-MTBE (only methoxy carbon labeled), or¹³C₄-TBA. ¹³C-DNA and ¹²C-DNA extracted from the Bio-Sep beads were cloned and 16S rRNA gene sequences were used to identify the indigenous microorganisms involved in degrading the methoxy group of MTBE and the tert-butyl group of MTBE and TBA. Results indicated that microorganisms were actively degrading ¹³C-labeled MTBE and TBA in situ and the ¹³C was incorporated into their DNA. Several sequences related to known MTBE- and TBA-degraders in the Burkholderiales and the Sphingomonadales orders were detected in all three¹³C clone libraries and were likely to be primary degraders at the site. Sequences related to sulfate-reducing bacteria and iron-reducers, such as Geobacter and Geothrix, were only detected in the clone libraries where MTBE and TBA were fully labeled with ¹³C, suggesting that they were involved in processing carbon from the tert-butyl group. Sequences similar to the Pseudomonas genus predominated in the clone library where only the methoxy carbon of MTBE was labeled with ¹³C. It is likely that members of this genus were secondary degraders cross-feeding on ¹³C-labeled metabolites such as acetate.