1
|
Skinner JP, Palar S, Allen C, Raderstorf A, Blake P, Morán Reyes A, Berg RN, Muse C, Robles A, Hamdan N, Chu MY, Delgado AG. Acetylene Tunes Microbial Growth During Aerobic Cometabolism of Trichloroethene. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:6274-6283. [PMID: 38531380 PMCID: PMC11008246 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c08068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Microbial aerobic cometabolism is a possible treatment approach for large, dilute trichloroethene (TCE) plumes at groundwater contaminated sites. Rapid microbial growth and bioclogging pose a persistent problem in bioremediation schemes. Bioclogging reduces soil porosity and permeability, which negatively affects substrate distribution and contaminant treatment efficacy while also increasing the operation and maintenance costs of bioremediation. In this study, we evaluated the ability of acetylene, an oxygenase enzyme-specific inhibitor, to decrease biomass production while maintaining aerobic TCE cometabolism capacity upon removal of acetylene. We first exposed propane-metabolizing cultures (pure and mixed) to 5% acetylene (v v-1) for 1, 2, 4, and 8 d and we then verified TCE aerobic cometabolic activity. Exposure to acetylene overall decreased biomass production and TCE degradation rates while retaining the TCE degradation capacity. In the mixed culture, exposure to acetylene for 1-8 d showed minimal effects on the composition and relative abundance of TCE cometabolizing bacterial taxa. TCE aerobic cometabolism and incubation conditions exerted more notable effects on microbial ecology than did acetylene. Acetylene appears to be a viable approach to control biomass production that may lessen the likelihood of bioclogging during TCE cometabolism. The findings from this study may lead to advancements in aerobic cometabolism remediation technologies for dilute plumes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Justin P. Skinner
- Biodesign
Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
- School
of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
- Engineering
Research Center for Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics (CBBG), Arizona State University, 650 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
| | - Skye Palar
- Biodesign
Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
- School
of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
- Engineering
Research Center for Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics (CBBG), Arizona State University, 650 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
| | - Channing Allen
- Biodesign
Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
- School
of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
- Engineering
Research Center for Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics (CBBG), Arizona State University, 650 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
| | - Alia Raderstorf
- Biodesign
Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
- School
of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
- Engineering
Research Center for Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics (CBBG), Arizona State University, 650 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
| | - Presley Blake
- Biodesign
Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
- School
of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
- Engineering
Research Center for Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics (CBBG), Arizona State University, 650 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
| | - Arantza Morán Reyes
- Biodesign
Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
- Instituto
de Energías Renovables, Universidad
Nacional Autónoma de México, Xochicalco s/n, Azteca, Temixco, Morelos 62588, Mexico
| | - Riley N. Berg
- Biodesign
Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
- School
of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
- Engineering
Research Center for Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics (CBBG), Arizona State University, 650 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
| | - Christopher Muse
- Biodesign
Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
- School
of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
- Engineering
Research Center for Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics (CBBG), Arizona State University, 650 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
| | - Aide Robles
- Biodesign
Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
- School
of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
- Engineering
Research Center for Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics (CBBG), Arizona State University, 650 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
- Haley
& Aldrich, Inc., 400 E Van Buren St., Suite 545, Phoenix, Arizona 85004, United States
| | - Nasser Hamdan
- School
of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
- Engineering
Research Center for Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics (CBBG), Arizona State University, 650 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
| | - Min-Ying Chu
- Haley
& Aldrich, Inc., 400 E Van Buren St., Suite 545, Phoenix, Arizona 85004, United States
| | - Anca G. Delgado
- Biodesign
Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
- School
of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
- Engineering
Research Center for Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics (CBBG), Arizona State University, 650 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kabir SF, Sundar SV, Robles A, Miranda EM, Delgado AG, Fini EH. Microbially Mediated Rubber Recycling to Facilitate the Valorization of Scrap Tires. Polymers (Basel) 2024; 16:1017. [PMID: 38611275 PMCID: PMC11013845 DOI: 10.3390/polym16071017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The recycling of scrap tire rubber requires high levels of energy, which poses challenges to its proper valorization. The application of rubber in construction requires significant mechanical and/or chemical treatment of scrap rubber to compatiblize it with the surrounding matrix. These methods are energy-consuming and costly and may lead to environmental concerns associated with chemical leachates. Furthermore, recent methods usually call for single-size rubber particles or a narrow rubber particle size distribution; this, in turn, adds to the pre-processing cost. Here, we used microbial etching (e.g., microbial metabolism) to modify the surface of rubber particles of varying sizes. Specifically, we subjected rubber particles with diameters of 1.18 mm and 0.6 mm to incubation in flask bioreactors containing a mineral medium with thiosulfate and acetate and inoculated them with a microbial culture from waste-activated sludge. The near-stoichiometric oxidation of thiosulfate to sulfate was observed in the bioreactors. Most notably, two of the most potent rubber-degrading bacteria (Gordonia and Nocardia) were found to be significantly enriched in the medium. In the absence of added thiosulfate in the medium, sulfate production, likely from the desulfurization of the rubber, was also observed. Microbial etching increased the surface polarity of rubber particles, enhancing their interactions with bitumen. This was evidenced by an 82% reduction in rubber-bitumen separation when 1.18 mm microbially etched rubber was used. The study outcomes provide supporting evidence for a rubber recycling method that is environmentally friendly and has a low cost, promoting pavement sustainability and resource conservation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sk Faisal Kabir
- School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, 660 S College Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
- Center for Research and Education in Advanced Transportation Engineering Systems (CREATEs), Rowan University, South Jersey Technology Park, 107 Gilbreth Parkway, Mullica Hill, NJ 08062, USA
| | - Skanda Vishnu Sundar
- Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, 1001 S McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA (E.M.M.)
- School for Engineering of Matter, Transport & Energy, Arizona State University, 501 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Aide Robles
- Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, 1001 S McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA (E.M.M.)
- School for Engineering of Matter, Transport & Energy, Arizona State University, 501 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Evelyn M. Miranda
- Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, 1001 S McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA (E.M.M.)
- School for Engineering of Matter, Transport & Energy, Arizona State University, 501 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Anca G. Delgado
- Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, 1001 S McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA (E.M.M.)
- School for Engineering of Matter, Transport & Energy, Arizona State University, 501 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Elham H. Fini
- School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, 660 S College Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Miranda EM, McLaughlin CM, Reep JK, Edgar M, Landrum C, Severson C, Grubb DG, Hamdan N, Hansen S, Santisteban L, Delgado AG. High Efficacy Two-Stage Metal Treatment Incorporating Basic Oxygen Furnace Slag and Microbiological Sulfate Reduction. ACS ES&T ENGINEERING 2024; 4:433-444. [PMID: 38357246 PMCID: PMC10862489 DOI: 10.1021/acsestengg.3c00381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Lignocellulosic sulfate-reducing biochemical reactors (SRBRs) can be implemented as passive treatment for mining-influenced water (MIW) mitigating the potentially deleterious effects of MIW acidic pH, and high concentrations of metal(loid)s and SO42-. In this study, a novel two-stage treatment for MIW was designed, where basic oxygen furnace slag (slag stage) and microbial SO42- reduction (SRBR stage) were incorporated in series. The SRBRs contained spent brewing grains or sugarcane bagasse as sources of lignocellulose. The slag reactor removed >99% of the metal(loid) concentration present in the MIW (130 ± 40 mg L-1) and increased MIW pH from 2.6 ± 0.2 to 12 ± 0.3. The alkaline effluent pH of the slag reactor was mitigated by remixing slag effluent with acidic MIW before SRBR treatment. The SRBR stage removed the bulk of SO42- from MIW, additional metal(loid)s, and yielded a circumneutral effluent pH. Cadmium, copper, and zinc showed high removal rates in SRBRs (≥96%) and likely precipitated as sulfide minerals. The microbial communities developed in SRBRs were enriched in hydrolytic, fermentative, and sulfate-reducing taxa. However, the SRBRs developed distinct community compositions due to the different lignocellulose sources employed. Overall, this study underscores the potential of a two-stage treatment employing steel slag and SRBRs for full-scale implementation at mining sites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn M. Miranda
- Biodesign
Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, 1001 S. McAllister Avenue, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
- Engineering
Research Center for Bio-Mediated & Bio-Inspired Geotechnics (CBBG), Arizona State University, 425 E. University Dr., Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
- School
for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Arizona State University, 501 E. Tyler Mall, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
| | - Caleb M. McLaughlin
- Biodesign
Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, 1001 S. McAllister Avenue, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
- Engineering
Research Center for Bio-Mediated & Bio-Inspired Geotechnics (CBBG), Arizona State University, 425 E. University Dr., Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
- School
of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, 660 S. College Avenue, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
| | - Jeffrey K. Reep
- Biodesign
Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, 1001 S. McAllister Avenue, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
- Engineering
Research Center for Bio-Mediated & Bio-Inspired Geotechnics (CBBG), Arizona State University, 425 E. University Dr., Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
- School
of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, 660 S. College Avenue, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
| | - Michael Edgar
- Biodesign
Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, 1001 S. McAllister Avenue, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
- Engineering
Research Center for Bio-Mediated & Bio-Inspired Geotechnics (CBBG), Arizona State University, 425 E. University Dr., Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
- School
of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, 660 S. College Avenue, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
| | - Colton Landrum
- Biodesign
Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, 1001 S. McAllister Avenue, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
- Engineering
Research Center for Bio-Mediated & Bio-Inspired Geotechnics (CBBG), Arizona State University, 425 E. University Dr., Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
| | - Carli Severson
- Biodesign
Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, 1001 S. McAllister Avenue, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
- Engineering
Research Center for Bio-Mediated & Bio-Inspired Geotechnics (CBBG), Arizona State University, 425 E. University Dr., Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
| | - Dennis G. Grubb
- Jacobs
Engineering, 2001 Market
St., Suite 900, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Nasser Hamdan
- Engineering
Research Center for Bio-Mediated & Bio-Inspired Geotechnics (CBBG), Arizona State University, 425 E. University Dr., Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
- School
of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, 660 S. College Avenue, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
| | - Shane Hansen
- Freeport-McMoRan
Inc., 800 E. Pima Mine Road, Sahuarita, Arizona 85629, United States
| | - Leonard Santisteban
- Freeport-McMoRan
Inc., 800 E. Pima Mine Road, Sahuarita, Arizona 85629, United States
| | - Anca G. Delgado
- Biodesign
Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, 1001 S. McAllister Avenue, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
- Engineering
Research Center for Bio-Mediated & Bio-Inspired Geotechnics (CBBG), Arizona State University, 425 E. University Dr., Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
- School
of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, 660 S. College Avenue, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Wang H, Zhang M, Dong P, Xue J, Liu L. Bioremediation of acid mine drainage using sulfate-reducing wetland bioreactor: Filling substrates influence, sulfide oxidation and microbial community. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 349:140789. [PMID: 38013025 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Two sulfate-reducing wetland bioreactors (SRB-1 filled with lignocellulosic wastes and SRB-2 with river sand) were applied for synthetic acid mine drainage treatment with bio-waste fermentation liquid as electron donor, and the influence of filling substrates on sulfate reduction, sulfur transformation and microbial community was studied. The presence of lignocellulosic wastes (mixture of cow manure, bark, sawdust, peanut shell and straw) in SRB-1 promoted sulfate reduction efficiency (68.9%), sulfate reduction rate (42.1 ± 11 mg S/(L·d)), dissolved sulfide production rate (27.4 ± 7 mg S/(L·d)), and particularly caused high conversion ratio of sulfate reduction into dissolved sulfide (66.4%). In comparison, the relatively low sulfate reduction efficiency (42.9%), sulfate reduction rate (27.0 ± 10 mg S/(L·d)), dissolved sulfide production rate (5.6 ± 3 mg S/(L·d)) and low dissolved sulfide conversion efficiency (21.2%) occurred in SRB-2. Mixed organic substrates including easily assimilated electron donors (in manure) and lignocellulosic matter were effective to promote quick start and long-term microbial sulfate reduction. More than 98% of produced dissolved sulfide was oxidized dominantly by photoautotrophic green sulfur bacteria (genera Chlorobium and Chlorobaculum), of which 64.6% and 54.5% was converted into elemental sulfur for SRB-1 and SRB-2. The oxidation of sulfide into elemental sulfur for potential recovery rather than sulfate is preferred. Diverse sulfate reducing bacteria and sulfide oxidizing bacteria co-existed in the treatment system, which led to a sustainable sulfur transformation. High metal removal efficiency for Fe (99.6%, 92.5%), Cd (99.9%, 99.9%), Zn (99.4%, 98.5%), Cu (94.5%, 94.6%) except for Mn (9.3%, 3.6%) was achieved, and effluent pH increased to 6.5-7.7 and 6.7-7.7 for SRB-1 and SRB-2, respectively. Microbial community was regulated by filling substrates. Synergism between lignocellulosic decomposing bacteria and sulfate reducing bacteria played a vital role in lignocellulosic bioreactor treating AMD, in addition to fermentation liquid serving as effective electron donor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Haixia Wang
- School of Water Conservancy and Environment, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022, China.
| | - Mingliang Zhang
- School of Water Conservancy and Environment, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022, China
| | - Peng Dong
- School of Water Conservancy and Environment, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022, China
| | - Junbing Xue
- School of Water Conservancy and Environment, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022, China
| | - Lele Liu
- School of Water Conservancy and Environment, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Henry GBL, Awedem Wobiwo F, Isenborghs A, Nicolay T, Godin B, Stenuit BA, Gerin PA. A specific H 2/CO 2 consumption molar ratio of 3 as a signature for the chain elongation of carboxylates from brewer's spent grain acidogenesis. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1165197. [PMID: 37324420 PMCID: PMC10267453 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1165197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Brewer's spent grain (BSG) is an undervalorized organic feedstock residue composed of fermentable macromolecules, such as proteins, starch, and residual soluble carbohydrates. It also contains at least 50% (as dry weight) of lignocellulose. Methane-arrested anaerobic digestion is one of the promising microbial technologies to valorize such complex organic feedstock into value-added metabolic intermediates, such as ethanol, H2, and short-chain carboxylates (SCC). Under specific fermentation conditions, these intermediates can be microbially transformed into medium-chain carboxylates through a chain elongation pathway. Medium-chain carboxylates are of great interest as they can be used as bio-based pesticides, food additives, or components of drug formulations. They can also be easily upgraded by classical organic chemistry into bio-based fuels and chemicals. This study investigates the production potential of medium-chain carboxylates driven by a mixed microbial culture in the presence of BSG as an organic substrate. Because the conversion of complex organic feedstock to medium-chain carboxylates is limited by the electron donor content, we assessed the supplementation of H2 in the headspace to improve the chain elongation yield and increase the production of medium-chain carboxylates. The supply of CO2 as a carbon source was tested as well. The additions of H2 alone, CO2 alone, and both H2 and CO2 were compared. The exogenous supply of H2 alone allowed CO2 produced during acidogenesis to be consumed and nearly doubled the medium-chain carboxylate production yield. The exogenous supply of CO2 alone inhibited the whole fermentation. The supplementation of both H2 and CO2 allowed a second elongation phase when the organic feedstock was exhausted, which increased the medium-chain carboxylate production by 285% compared to the N2 reference condition. Carbon- and electron-equivalent balances, and the stoichiometric ratio of 3 observed for the consumed H2/CO2, suggest an H2- and CO2-driven second elongation phase, converting SCC to medium-chain carboxylates without an organic electron donor. The thermodynamic assessment confirmed the feasibility of such elongation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Grégoire B. L. Henry
- Laboratory of Bioengineering and Biorefining, Earth and Life Institute—Applied Microbiology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Florent Awedem Wobiwo
- Laboratory of Bioengineering and Biorefining, Earth and Life Institute—Applied Microbiology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Arnaud Isenborghs
- Laboratory of Bioengineering and Biorefining, Earth and Life Institute—Applied Microbiology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Thomas Nicolay
- Laboratory of Bioengineering and Biorefining, Earth and Life Institute—Applied Microbiology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Bruno Godin
- Walloon Agricultural Research Center (CRA-W), Valorization of Agricultural Products Department, Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Benoit A. Stenuit
- Laboratory of Bioengineering and Biorefining, Earth and Life Institute—Applied Microbiology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Patrick A. Gerin
- Laboratory of Bioengineering and Biorefining, Earth and Life Institute—Applied Microbiology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Robles A, Sundar SV, Mohana Rangan S, Delgado AG. Butanol as a major product during ethanol and acetate chain elongation. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1181983. [PMID: 37274171 PMCID: PMC10233103 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1181983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chain elongation is a relevant bioprocess in support of a circular economy as it can use a variety of organic feedstocks for production of valuable short and medium chain carboxylates, such as butyrate (C4), caproate (C6), and caprylate (C8). Alcohols, including the biofuel, butanol (C4), can also be generated in chain elongation but the bioreactor conditions that favor butanol production are mainly unknown. In this study we investigated production of butanol (and its precursor butyrate) during ethanol and acetate chain elongation. We used semi-batch bioreactors (0.16 L serum bottles) fed with a range of ethanol concentrations (100-800 mM C), a constant concentration of acetate (50 mM C), and an initial total gas pressure of ∼112 kPa. We showed that the butanol concentration was positively correlated with the ethanol concentration provided (up to 400 mM C ethanol) and to chain elongation activity, which produced H2 and further increased the total gas pressure. In bioreactors fed with 400 mM C ethanol and 50 mM C acetate, a concentration of 114.96 ± 9.26 mM C butanol (∼2.13 g L-1) was achieved after five semi-batch cycles at a total pressure of ∼170 kPa and H2 partial pressure of ∼67 kPa. Bioreactors with 400 mM C ethanol and 50 mM C acetate also yielded a butanol to butyrate molar ratio of 1:1. At the beginning of cycle 8, the total gas pressure was intentionally decreased to ∼112 kPa to test the dependency of butanol production on total pressure and H2 partial pressure. The reduction in total pressure decreased the molar ratio of butanol to butyrate to 1:2 and jolted H2 production out of an apparent stall. Clostridium kluyveri (previously shown to produce butyrate and butanol) and Alistipes (previously linked with butyrate production) were abundant amplicon sequence variants in the bioreactors during the experimental phases, suggesting the microbiome was resilient against changes in bioreactor conditions. The results from this study clearly demonstrate the potential of ethanol and acetate-based chain elongation to yield butanol as a major product. This study also supports the dependency of butanol production on limiting acetate and on high total gas and H2 partial pressures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aide Robles
- Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- Engineering Research Center for Bio-Mediated and Bio-Inspired Geotechnics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Skanda Vishnu Sundar
- Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Srivatsan Mohana Rangan
- Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- Engineering Research Center for Bio-Mediated and Bio-Inspired Geotechnics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Anca G. Delgado
- Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- Engineering Research Center for Bio-Mediated and Bio-Inspired Geotechnics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Mohana Rangan S, Rao S, Robles A, Mouti A, LaPat-Polasko L, Lowry GV, Krajmalnik-Brown R, Delgado AG. Decoupling Fe 0 Application and Bioaugmentation in Space and Time Enables Microbial Reductive Dechlorination of Trichloroethene to Ethene: Evidence from Soil Columns. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:4167-4179. [PMID: 36866930 PMCID: PMC10018760 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c06433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Fe0 is a powerful chemical reductant with applications for remediation of chlorinated solvents, including tetrachloroethene and trichloroethene. Its utilization efficiency at contaminated sites is limited because most of the electrons from Fe0 are channeled to the reduction of water to H2 rather than to the reduction of the contaminants. Coupling Fe0 with H2-utilizing organohalide-respiring bacteria (i.e., Dehalococcoides mccartyi) could enhance trichloroethene conversion to ethene while maximizing Fe0 utilization efficiency. Columns packed with aquifer materials have been used to assess the efficacy of a treatment combining in space and time Fe0 and aD. mccartyi-containing culture (bioaugmentation). To date, most column studies documented only partial conversion of the solvents to chlorinated byproducts, calling into question the feasibility of Fe0 to promote complete microbial reductive dechlorination. In this study, we decoupled the application of Fe0 in space and time from the addition of organic substrates andD. mccartyi-containing cultures. We used a column containing soil and Fe0 (at 15 g L-1 in porewater) and fed it with groundwater as a proxy for an upstream Fe0 injection zone dominated by abiotic reactions and biostimulated/bioaugmented soil columns (Bio-columns) as proxies for downstream microbiological zones. Results showed that Bio-columns receiving reduced groundwater from the Fe0-column supported microbial reductive dechlorination, yielding up to 98% trichloroethene conversion to ethene. The microbial community in the Bio-columns established with Fe0-reduced groundwater also sustained trichloroethene reduction to ethene (up to 100%) when challenged with aerobic groundwater. This study supports a conceptual model where decoupling the application of Fe0 and biostimulation/bioaugmentation in space and/or time could augment microbial trichloroethene reductive dechlorination, particularly under oxic conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Srivatsan Mohana Rangan
- School
of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
- Biodesign
Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
- Center
for Bio-Mediated and Bio-Inspired Geotechnics (CBBG), Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
- Biodesign
Center for Health Through Microbiomes, Arizona
State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
| | - Shefali Rao
- School
of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
- Biodesign
Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
- Center
for Bio-Mediated and Bio-Inspired Geotechnics (CBBG), Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
| | - Aide Robles
- School
of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
- Biodesign
Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
- Center
for Bio-Mediated and Bio-Inspired Geotechnics (CBBG), Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
| | - Aatikah Mouti
- Biodesign
Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
| | | | - Gregory V. Lowry
- Center
for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (CEINT), Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
- Department
of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown
- School
of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
- Biodesign
Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
- Center
for Bio-Mediated and Bio-Inspired Geotechnics (CBBG), Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
- Biodesign
Center for Health Through Microbiomes, Arizona
State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
| | - Anca G. Delgado
- School
of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
- Biodesign
Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
- Center
for Bio-Mediated and Bio-Inspired Geotechnics (CBBG), Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Meinel M, Delgado AG, Ilhan ZE, Aguero ML, Aguiar S, Krajmalnik-Brown R, Torres CI. Organic carbon metabolism is a main determinant of hydrogen demand and dynamics in anaerobic soils. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 303:134877. [PMID: 35577129 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Hydrogen (H2) is a crucial electron donor for many processes in the environment including nitrate-, sulfate- and, iron-reduction, homoacetogenesis, and methanogenesis, and is a major determinant of microbial competition and metabolic pathways in groundwater, sediments, and soils. Despite the importance of H2 for many microbial processes in the environment, the total H2 consuming capacity (or H2 demand) of soils is generally unknown. Using soil microcosms with added H2, the aims of this study were 1) to measure the H2 demand of geochemically diverse soils and 2) to define the processes leading to this demand. Study results documented a large range of H2 demand in soil (0.034-1.2 millielectron equivalents H2 g-1 soil). The measured H2 demand greatly exceeded the theoretical demand predicted based on measured concentrations of common electron acceptors initially present in a library of 15 soils. While methanogenesis accounted for the largest fraction of H2 demand, humic acid reduction and acetogenesis were also significant contributing H2-consuming processes. Much of the H2 demand could be attributed to CO2 produced during incubation from fermentation and/or acetoclastic methanogenesis. The soil initial total organic carbon showed the strongest correlation to H2 demand. Besides external additions, H2 was likely generated or cycled in the microcosms. Apart from fermentative H2 production, carboxylate elongation to produce C4-C7 fatty acids may have accounted for additional H2 production in these soils. Many of these processes, especially the organic carbon contribution is underestimated in microbial models for H2 consumption in natural soil ecosystems or during bioremediation of contaminants in soils.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Megan Meinel
- Arizona State University, Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, 1001 S McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State University, School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, 1001 S McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State University, Engineering Research Center for Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics (CBBG), 1001 S McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Anca G Delgado
- Arizona State University, Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, 1001 S McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State University, School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, 1001 S McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State University, Engineering Research Center for Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics (CBBG), 1001 S McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Zehra Esra Ilhan
- Arizona State University, Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, 1001 S McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Marisol Luna Aguero
- Arizona State University, Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, 1001 S McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State University, School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, 1001 S McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State University, Engineering Research Center for Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics (CBBG), 1001 S McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Samuel Aguiar
- Arizona State University, Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, 1001 S McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State University, Engineering Research Center for Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics (CBBG), 1001 S McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown
- Arizona State University, Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, 1001 S McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State University, School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, 1001 S McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State University, Engineering Research Center for Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics (CBBG), 1001 S McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State University, Biodesign Center for Health Through Microbiomes, 1001 S McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ, USA.
| | - César I Torres
- Arizona State University, Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, 1001 S McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State University, Engineering Research Center for Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics (CBBG), 1001 S McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State University, School for Engineering of Matter, Transport & Energy, 1001 S McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ, USA.
| |
Collapse
|