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Surger MJ, Mayer K, Shivaram K, Stibany F, Plum W, Schäffer A, Eiden S, Blank LM. Evaluating microbial contaminations of alternative heating oils. Eng Life Sci 2023; 23:e2300010. [PMID: 37275211 PMCID: PMC10235886 DOI: 10.1002/elsc.202300010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Since 2008, European and German legislative initiatives for climate protection and reduced dependency on fossil resources led to the introduction of biofuels as CO2-reduced alternatives in the heating oil sector. In the case of biodiesel, customers were confronted with accelerated microbial contaminations during storage. Since then, other fuel alternatives, like hydrogenated vegetable oils (HVOs), gas-to-liquid (GtL) products, or oxymethylene ether (OME) have been developed. In this study, we use online monitoring of microbial CO2 production and the simulation of onset of microbial contamination to investigate the contamination potential of fuel alternatives during storage. As references, fossil heating oil of German refineries are used. Biodiesel blends with fossil heating oils confirmed the promotion of microbial activity. In stark contrast, OMEs have an antimicrobial effect. The paraffinic Fischer-Tropsch products and biogenic hydrogenation products demonstrate to be at least as resistant to microbial contamination as fossil heating oils despite allowing a diversity of representative microbes. Through mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, and microbial sequencing, we can discuss fuel properties that affect microbial contaminations. In summary, novel, non-fossil heating oils show clear differences in microbial resistance during long-term storage. Designing blends with an intrinsic resistance against microbial contamination and hence reduced activity might be an option.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian J. Surger
- Institute of Applied Microbiology (iAMB)Aachen Biology and Biotechnology (ABBt)RWTH Aachen UniversityAachenGermany
| | - Katharina Mayer
- Institute for Environmental ResearchRWTH Aachen UniversityAachenGermany
| | - Karthik Shivaram
- Institute of Applied Microbiology (iAMB)Aachen Biology and Biotechnology (ABBt)RWTH Aachen UniversityAachenGermany
| | - Felix Stibany
- Institute for Environmental ResearchRWTH Aachen UniversityAachenGermany
| | | | - Andreas Schäffer
- Institute for Environmental ResearchRWTH Aachen UniversityAachenGermany
| | | | - Lars M. Blank
- Institute of Applied Microbiology (iAMB)Aachen Biology and Biotechnology (ABBt)RWTH Aachen UniversityAachenGermany
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Wu S, Chen Z, Zhou M, Shao Y, Jin C, Tang J, Fang F, Guo J, Stibany F, Schäffer A. Freeze-thaw alternations accelerate plasticizers release and pose a risk for exposed organisms. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2022; 241:113742. [PMID: 35679726 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The application of plastic mulch films brings convenience to agricultural production, but also causes plastic waste that can be degraded into microplastics (MPs). However, little is known about the fate of plastic waste in agricultural ecosystem under freeze-thaw alternation in middle and high latitudes, as well as in highlands around the world. Whether the release of plasticizers, i.e. phthalate esters (PAEs), under such conditions would pose a potential risk to exposed organisms due to bioaccumulation is also unknown. To fill these data gaps, the agricultural fields in Liaoning of China with typical freeze-thaw alternation was selected as the study area. The transformation of plastic film was demonstrated by simulation freeze-thaw alternating from -30 to 20 ℃. Soil samples were collected to investigate the patterns of MP composition, abundance, and distribution. Concurrently, the concentrations of two PAEs including bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and diethyl phthalate (DEP) in soils were analyzed to provide information on the correlation between MPs abundance and PAEs concentrations as well as potential risks. The results showed that freeze-thaw alternating can accelerate the formation of MPs and release of PAEs from plastic waste. The abundance of MPs was positively correlated with the concentration of PAEs. Soil PAEs ranged from 3268 ± 213-6351 ± 110 μg/kg, indicating that over 40 % of the PAEs were transferred from plastic films to soils. Such residual amounts could pose risk for exposed organisms. Hence, the current study suggested that special concerns should be given to the release plasticizers in plastic waste of agricultural soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siqi Wu
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for the Ecological Environment of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China
| | - Zhongli Chen
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for the Ecological Environment of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China
| | - Min Zhou
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for the Ecological Environment of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China
| | - Ying Shao
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for the Ecological Environment of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China.
| | - Chao Jin
- Chongqing Beibei District Ecological Environment Bureau, Chongqing City, Chongqing 400700, China
| | - Jinjing Tang
- Analytical and Testing Center of Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China
| | - Fang Fang
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for the Ecological Environment of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China
| | - Jinsong Guo
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for the Ecological Environment of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China
| | - Felix Stibany
- Institute for Environmental Research, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen 52074, Germany
| | - Andreas Schäffer
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for the Ecological Environment of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China; Institute for Environmental Research, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen 52074, Germany; State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
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Stibany F, Schmidt SN, Mayer P, Schäffer A. Toxicity of dodecylbenzene to algae, crustacean, and fish - Passive dosing of highly hydrophobic liquids at the solubility limit. Chemosphere 2020; 251:126396. [PMID: 32163782 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Revised: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In the current study, improved exposure control and measurements were applied for the aquatic toxicity testing of a highly hydrophobic organic compound. The aim was to reliably determine the ecotoxicity of the model compound dodecylbenzene (DDB, Log KOW = 8.65) by applying passive dosing for aquatic toxicity testing exactly at the solubility limit. Methodologically, silicone O-rings were saturated by immersion in pure liquid DDB (i.e., "loading by swelling") and then used as passive dosing donors. Daphnia immobilization and fish embryo toxicity tests were successfully conducted and provide, together with recently reported algal growth inhibition data, a full base-set of ecotoxicological data according to REACH. All tests were conducted in closed test systems to avoid evaporative losses, and exposure concentrations were measured throughout test durations. The Daphnia test was optimized by placing the O-rings in cages to prevent direct contact between daphnids and the passive dosing donor. Toxicologically, Daphnia magna immobilization was 19.3 ± 8% (mean ± 95% CI; 6 tests) within 72 h, whereas Danio rerio fish embryos did not show any significant lethal or sublethal toxic responses within 96 h. Growth rate inhibition for the algae Raphidocelis subcapitata was previously reported to be 13 ± 5% in a first and 8 ± 3% in a repeated test. These results for aquatic organisms, spanning three trophic levels, demonstrate toxicity of a highly hydrophobic compound and suggest that improvements of the current ecotoxicological standard tests are needed for these "difficult-to-test" chemicals. Furthermore, the obtained toxicity results significantly question the existence of a generic Log KOW cut-off in baseline toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Stibany
- Institute for Environmental Research (Biology V), RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074, Aachen, Germany; Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet B115, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Stine Nørgaard Schmidt
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet B115, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Philipp Mayer
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet B115, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Andreas Schäffer
- Institute for Environmental Research (Biology V), RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074, Aachen, Germany
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Stibany F, Ewald F, Miller I, Hollert H, Schäffer A. Improving the reliability of aquatic toxicity testing of hydrophobic chemicals via equilibrium passive dosing - A multiple trophic level case study on bromochlorophene. Sci Total Environ 2017; 584-585:96-104. [PMID: 28142058 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.01.082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2016] [Revised: 01/13/2017] [Accepted: 01/13/2017] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
The main objective of the present study was to improve the reliability and practicability of aquatic toxicity testing of hydrophobic chemicals based upon the model substance bromochlorophene (BCP). Therefore, we adapted a passive dosing format to test the toxicity of BCP at different concentrations and in multiple test systems with aquatic organisms of various trophic levels. At the same time, the method allowed for the accurate determination of exposure concentrations (i.e., in the presence of exposed organisms; Ctest) and freely dissolved concentrations (i.e., without organisms present; Cfree) of BCP in all tested media. We report on the joint adaptation of three ecotoxicity tests - algal growth inhibition, Daphnia magna immobilization, and fish-embryo toxicity - to a silicone O-ring based equilibrium passive dosing format. Effect concentrations derived by passive dosing methods were compared with corresponding effect concentrations derived by standard co-solvent setups. The passive dosing format led to EC50-values in the lower μgL-1 range for algae, daphnids, and fish embryos, whereas increased effect concentrations were measured in the co-solvent setups for algae and daphnids. This effect once more shows that passive dosing might offer advantages over standard methods like co-solvent setups when it comes to a reliable risk assessment of hydrophobic substances. The presented passive dosing setup offers a facilitated, practical, and repeatable way to test hydrophobic chemicals on their toxicity to aquatic organisms, and is an ideal basis for the detailed investigation of this important group of chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Stibany
- Institute for Environmental Research (Biology V), RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
| | - Franziska Ewald
- Institute for Environmental Research (Biology V), RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Ina Miller
- Institute for Environmental Research (Biology V), RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Henner Hollert
- Institute for Environmental Research (Biology V), RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Andreas Schäffer
- Institute for Environmental Research (Biology V), RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
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Stibany F, Schmidt SN, Schäffer A, Mayer P. Aquatic toxicity testing of liquid hydrophobic chemicals - Passive dosing exactly at the saturation limit. Chemosphere 2017; 167:551-558. [PMID: 27770722 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2016] [Revised: 09/30/2016] [Accepted: 10/03/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The aims of the present study were (1) to develop a passive dosing approach for aquatic toxicity testing of liquid substances with very high Kow values and (2) to apply this approach to the model substance dodecylbenzene (DDB, Log Kow = 8.65). The first step was to design a new passive dosing format for testing DDB exactly at its saturation limit. Silicone O-rings were saturated by direct immersion in pure liquid DDB, which resulted in swelling of >14%. These saturated O-rings were used to establish and maintain DDB exposure exactly at the saturation limit throughout 72-h algal growth inhibition tests with green algae Raphidocelis subcapitata. Growth rate inhibition at DDB solubility was 13 ± 5% (95% CI) in a first and 8 ± 3% (95% CI) in a repeated test, which demonstrated that improved exposure control can lead to good precision and repeatability of toxicity tests. This moderate toxicity at chemical activity of unity was higher than expected relative to a reported hydrophobicity cut-off in toxicity, but lower than expected relative to a reported chemical activity range for baseline toxicity. The present study introduces a new effective approach for toxicity testing of an important group of challenging chemicals, while providing a basis for investigating toxicity cut-off theories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Stibany
- Institute for Environmental Research (Biology V), RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany; Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet B115, DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Stine Nørgaard Schmidt
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet B115, DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Andreas Schäffer
- Institute for Environmental Research (Biology V), RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Philipp Mayer
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet B115, DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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Maes HM, Stibany F, Giefers S, Daniels B, Deutschmann B, Baumgartner W, Schäffer A. Accumulation and distribution of multiwalled carbon nanotubes in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Environ Sci Technol 2014; 48:12256-12264. [PMID: 25299126 DOI: 10.1021/es503006v] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
No data on the bioaccumulation and distribution of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in aquatic vertebrates is available until now. We quantified uptake and elimination of dispersed radiolabeled MWCNTs ((14)C-MWCNT; 1 mg/L) by zebrafish (Danio rerio) over time. The influences of the feeding regime and presence of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) on accumulation of the nanomaterial were determined. The partitioning of radioactivity to different organs and tissues was measured in all experiments. A bioaccumulation factor of 16 L/kg fish wet weight was derived. MWCNTs quickly associated with the fish, and steady state was reached within 1 day. After transfer to clear medium, MWCNTs were quickly released to the water phase, but on average 5 mg of MWCNTs/kg fish dry weight remained associated with the fish. The nanomaterial mainly accumulated in the gut of all fish. Feeding led to lower internal concentrations due to facilitated elimination via the digestive tract. In the presence of DOC, 10-fold less was taken up by the fish after 48 h of exposure compared to without DOC. Quick adhesion to and detachment from superficial tissues were observed. Remarkably, little fractions of the internalized radioactivity were detected in the blood and muscle tissue of exposed fish. The part accumulated in these fish compartments remained constant during the elimination phase. Hence, biomagnification of MWCNTs in the food chain is possible and should be a subject of further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna M Maes
- Institute for Environmental Research (Biology V), RWTH Aachen University , Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
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