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Rios-Valenciana EE, Menezes O, Blubaum C, Romero J, Krzmarzick MJ, Sierra-Alvarez R, Field JA. Biodegradation of the emerging contaminant 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one and its product 3-amino-1,2,4-triazol-5-one in perlite/soil columns. Chemosphere 2023:139121. [PMID: 37271465 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139121] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
3-Nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO) is an ingredient of new safer-to-handle military insensitive munitions formulations. NTO can be microbially reduced to 3-amino-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (ATO) under anaerobic conditions if an electron donor is available. Conversely, ATO can undergo aerobic biodegradation. Previously, our research group developed an anaerobic enrichment culture that reduces NTO to ATO. A second culture could aerobically mineralize ATO. This study aimed to combine anaerobic/aerobic conditions within a down-flow perlite/soil column for simultaneous NTO reduction and ATO oxidation. Acetate biostimulation was investigated to promote oxygen depletion and create anaerobic micro-niches for NTO reduction, whereas perlite increased soil porosity and oxygen convection, allowing ATO oxidation. Two columns packed with a perlite/soil mixture (70:30, wet wt.%) or 100% perlite were operated aerobically and inoculated with the NTO- and ATO-degrading cultures. Initially, the influent consisted of ∼280 μM ATO, and after 30 days, the feeding was switched to ∼260 μM NTO and ∼250 μM acetate. By progressively increasing acetate from 250 to 4000 μM, the NTO removal gradually improved in both columns. The perlite/soil column reached a 100% NTO removal after 4000 μM acetate was supplemented. Additionally, there was no ATO accumulation, and inorganic nitrogen was produced, indicating ATO mineralization. Although NH4+ was produced following ATO oxidation, most nitrogen was recovered as NO3- likely via nitrification reactions. Microbial community analysis revealed that phylotypes hosted in the enrichment cultures specialized in NTO reduction (e.g., Geobacter) and ATO oxidation (e.g., Hydrogenophaga, Ramlibacter, Terrimonas, and Pseudomonas) were established in the columns. Besides, the predominant genera (Azohydromonas, Zoogloea, and Azospirillum) are linked to nitrogen cycling by performing nitrogen fixation, NO3- reduction, and nitroaromatics degradation. This study applied a bulking agent (perlite) and acetate biostimulation to achieve simultaneous NTO reduction and ATO oxidation in a single column. Such a strategy can assist with real-world applications of NTO and ATO biodegradation mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika E Rios-Valenciana
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, P.O. Box 210011, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Osmar Menezes
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, P.O. Box 210011, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Corey Blubaum
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, P.O. Box 210011, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Jonathan Romero
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, P.O. Box 210011, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Mark J Krzmarzick
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, P.O. Box 210011, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, P.O. Box 210011, AZ, 85721, USA.
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Yu Y, Root RA, Sierra-Alvarez R, Chorover J, Field JA. Treatment of the insensitive munitions compound, 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO), in flow-through columns packed with zero-valent iron. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2023; 30:64606-64616. [PMID: 37071366 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-26922-5] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The need for effective technologies to remediate the insensitive munitions compound 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO) is emerging due to the increasing use by the US Army and environmental concerns about the toxicity and aqueous mobility of NTO. Reductive treatment is essential for the complete degradation of NTO to environmentally safe products. The objective of this study is to investigate the feasibility of applying zero-valent iron (ZVI) in a continuous-flow packed bed reactor as an effective NTO remediation technology. The ZVI-packed columns treated an acidic influent (pH 3.0) or a circumneutral influent (pH 6.0) for 6 months (ca. 11,000 pore volumes, PVs). Both columns effectively reduced NTO to the amine product, 3-amino-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (ATO). The column treating the pH-3.0 influent exhibited prolonged longevity in reducing NTO, treating 11-fold more PVs than the column treating pH-6.0 influent until the breakthrough point (defined as when 85% of NTO was removed). The exhausted columns (defined as when only 10% of NTO was removed) regained the NTO reducing capacity by reactivation using 1 M HCl, fully removing NTO. After the experiment, solid-phase analysis of the packed-bed material showed that ZVI was oxidized to iron (oxyhydr)oxide minerals such as magnetite, lepidocrocite, and goethite during NTO treatment. This is the first report on the reduction of NTO and the concomitant oxidation of ZVI in continuous-flow column experiments. The evidence indicates that treatment in a ZVI-packed bed reactor is an effective approach for the removal of NTO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youngjae Yu
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Robert A Root
- Department of Environmental Science, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85719, USA
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Jon Chorover
- Department of Environmental Science, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85719, USA
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA.
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Moreno-Andrade I, Sierra-Alvarez R, Pérez-Rangel M, Barrera C, Field JA, Pat-Espadas A. Antimony toxicity upon microorganisms from aerobic and anaerobic environments. J Environ Sci Health A Tox Hazard Subst Environ Eng 2023; 58:61-68. [PMID: 36751723 DOI: 10.1080/10934529.2023.2176664] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Antimony (Sb) is a toxic and carcinogenic metalloid that can be present in contaminated water generated by mining operations and other industrial activities. The toxicity of Sb (III) and Sb (V) to aerobic microorganisms remains limited and unexplored for anaerobic microorganisms involved in hydrogen (H2) and methane (CH4) production. This study aimed to evaluate the toxicity of Sb (III) and Sb (V) upon aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms important in biological wastewater treatment systems. Sb (III) was more toxic than Sb (V) independently of the test and environment evaluated. Under aerobic conditions maintained in the Microtox assay, Sb (V) was not toxic to Allivibrio fischeri at concentrations as high as 500 mg/L, whereas Sb (III) caused just over 50% inhibition at concentration of 250 mg/L after 5 min of exposure. In the respirometry test, for the specific oxygen uptake rate, the concentrations of Sb (III) and Sb (V) displaying 50% inhibition were 0.09 and 56.2 mg/L, respectively. Under anaerobic conditions, exposure to Sb (III) and Sb (V) led to a decrease in microorganisms activity of fermentative and methanogenic processes. The results confirm that the microbial toxicity of Sb depends on its speciation and Sb (III) displays a significantly higher inhibitory potential than Sb (V) in both aerobic and anaerobic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Moreno-Andrade
- Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Laboratory for Research on Advanced Processes for Water Treatment, Unidad Academica Juriquilla, Queretaro, Mexico
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Marisol Pérez-Rangel
- Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Laboratory for Research on Advanced Processes for Water Treatment, Unidad Academica Juriquilla, Queretaro, Mexico
| | - Cinthya Barrera
- Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Laboratory for Research on Advanced Processes for Water Treatment, Unidad Academica Juriquilla, Queretaro, Mexico
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Aurora Pat-Espadas
- Institute of Geology, Estación Regional del Noroeste, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Luis Donaldo Colosio s/n, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico
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Rios-Valenciana EE, Menezes O, Romero J, Blubaum C, Krzmarzick MJ, Sierra-Alvarez R, Field JA. Elucidating the mechanisms associated with the anaerobic biotransformation of the emerging contaminant nitroguanidine. Water Res 2023; 229:119496. [PMID: 36535085 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.119496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Nitroguanidine (NQ) is a constituent of gas generators for automobile airbags, smokeless pyrotechnics, insecticides, propellants, and new insensitive munitions formulations applied by the military. During its manufacture and use, NQ can easily spread in soils, ground, and surface waters due to its high aqueous solubility. Very little is known about the microbial biotransformation of NQ. This study aimed to elucidate important mechanisms operating during NQ anaerobic biotransformation. To achieve this goal, we developed an anaerobic enrichment culture able to reduce NQ to nitrosoguanidine (NsoQ), which was further abiotically transformed to cyanamide. Effective electron donors for NQ biotransformation were lactate and, to a lesser extent, pyruvate. The results demonstrate that the enrichment process selected a sulfate-reducing culture that utilized lactate as its electron donor and sulfate as its electron acceptor while competing with NQ as an electron sink. A unique property of the culture was its requirement for exogenous nitrogen (e.g., from yeast extract or NH4Cl) for NQ biotransformation since NQ itself did not serve as a nitrogen source. The main phylogenetic groups associated with the NQ-reducing culture were sulfate-reducing and fermentative bacteria, namely Cupidesulfovibrio oxamicus (63.1% relative abundance), Dendrosporobacter spp. (12.0%), and Raoultibacter massiliens (10.9%). The molecular ecology results corresponded to measurable physiological properties of the most abundant members. The results establish the conditions for NQ anaerobic biotransformation and the microbial community associated with the process, improving our present comprehension of NQ environmental fate and assisting the development of NQ remediation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika E Rios-Valenciana
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, United States
| | - Osmar Menezes
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, United States
| | - Jonathan Romero
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, United States
| | - Corey Blubaum
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, United States
| | - Mark J Krzmarzick
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, United States
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, United States
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, United States.
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Rios-Valenciana EE, Menezes O, Niu XZ, Romero J, Root RA, Chorover J, Sierra-Alvarez R, Field JA. Reductive transformation of the insensitive munitions compound nitroguanidine by different iron-based reactive minerals. Environ Pollut 2022; 309:119788. [PMID: 35843454 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [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: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Nitroguanidine (NQ) is an emerging contaminant being used by the military as a constituent of new insensitive munitions. NQ is also used in rocket propellants, smokeless pyrotechnics, and vehicle restraint systems. Its uncontrolled transformation in the environment can generate toxic and potentially mutagenic products, posing hazards that need to be remediated. NQ transformation has only been investigated to a limited extent. Thus, it is crucial to expand the narrow spectrum of NQ remediation strategies and understand its transformation pathways and end products. Iron-based reactive minerals should be investigated for NQ treatment because they are successfully used in existing technologies, such as permeable reactive barriers, for treating a wide range of organic pollutants. This study tested the ability of micron-sized zero-valent iron (m-ZVI), mackinawite, and commercial FeS, to transform NQ under anoxic conditions. NQ transformation followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. The reaction rate constants decreased as follows: commercial FeS > mackinawite > m-ZVI. For the assessed minerals, the NQ transformation started with the reduction of the nitro group forming nitrosoguanidine (NsoQ). Then, aminoguanidine (AQ) was accumulated during the reaction of NQ with m-ZVI, accounting for 86% of the nitrogen mass recovery. When NQ was reacted with commercial FeS, 45% and 20% of nitrogen were recovered as AQ and guanidine, respectively, after 24 h. Nonetheless, NsoQ persisted, contributing to the N-balance. When mackinawite was present, NsoQ disappeared, but AQ was not detected, and guanidine accounted for 11% of the nitrogen recovery. AQ was ultimately transformed into cyanamide, whose dimerization triggered the formation of cyanoguanidine. Alternatively, NsoQ was transformed into guanidine, which reacted with cyanamide to form biguanide. This is the first report systematically investigating the NQ transformation by different iron-based reactive minerals. The evidence indicates that these minerals are attractive alternatives for developing NQ remediation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika E Rios-Valenciana
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, P.O. Box 210011, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Osmar Menezes
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, P.O. Box 210011, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Xi-Zhi Niu
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, P.O. Box 210011, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Jonathan Romero
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, P.O. Box 210011, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Robert A Root
- Department of Environmental Science, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Jon Chorover
- Department of Environmental Science, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, P.O. Box 210011, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, P.O. Box 210011, AZ, 85721, USA.
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Menezes O, Kocaman K, Wong S, Rios-Valenciana EE, Baker EJ, Hatt JK, Zhao J, Madeira CL, Krzmarzick MJ, Spain JC, Sierra-Alvarez R, Konstantinidis KT, Field JA. Quinone Moieties Link the Microbial Respiration of Natural Organic Matter to the Chemical Reduction of Diverse Nitroaromatic Compounds. Environ Sci Technol 2022; 56:9387-9397. [PMID: 35704431 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c01329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Insensitive munitions compounds (IMCs) are emerging nitroaromatic contaminants developed by the military as safer-to-handle alternatives to conventional explosives. Biotransformation of nitroaromatics via microbial respiration has only been reported for a limited number of substrates. Important soil microorganisms can respire natural organic matter (NOM) by reducing its quinone moieties to hydroquinones. Thus, we investigated the NOM respiration combined with the abiotic reduction of nitroaromatics by the hydroquinones formed. First, we established nitroaromatic concentration ranges that were nontoxic to the quinone respiration. Then, an enrichment culture dominated by Geobacter anodireducens could indirectly reduce a broad array of nitroaromatics by first respiring NOM components or the NOM surrogate anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AQDS). Without quinones, no nitroaromatic tested was reduced except for the IMC 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO). Thus, the quinone respiration expanded the spectrum of nitroaromatics susceptible to transformation. The system functioned with very low quinone concentrations because NOM was recycled by the nitroaromatic reduction. A metatranscriptomic analysis demonstrated that the microorganisms obtained energy from quinone or NTO reduction since respiratory genes were upregulated when AQDS or NTO was the electron acceptor. The results indicated microbial NOM respiration sustained by the nitroaromatic-dependent cycling of quinones. This process can be applied as a nitroaromatic remediation strategy, provided that a quinone pool is available for microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osmar Menezes
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Kumru Kocaman
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Stanley Wong
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Erika E Rios-Valenciana
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Eliot J Baker
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Janet K Hatt
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Jianshu Zhao
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30318, United States
| | - Camila L Madeira
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Mark J Krzmarzick
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078, United States
| | - Jim C Spain
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
- Center for Environmental Diagnostics & Bioremediation, University of West Florida, Pensacola, Florida 32514, United States
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Konstantinos T Konstantinidis
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
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Menezes O, Owens C, Rios-Valenciana EE, Sierra-Alvarez R, Field JA, Spain JC. Designing bacterial consortia for the complete biodegradation of insensitive munitions compounds in waste streams. Biotechnol Bioeng 2022; 119:2437-2446. [PMID: 35706349 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Insensitive munitions compounds (IMCs), such as 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN) and 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO), are replacing conventional explosives in munitions formulations. Manufacture and use of IMCs generate waste streams in manufacturing plants and load/assemble/pack facilities. There is a lack of practical experience in executing biodegradation strategies to treat IMCs waste streams. This study establishes a proof-of-concept that bacterial consortia can be designed to mineralize IMCs and co-occurring nitroaromatics in waste streams. First, DNAN, 4-nitroanisole (4-NA), and 4-chloronitrobenzene (4-CNB) in a synthetic DNAN-manufacturing waste stream were biodegraded using an aerobic fluidized-bed reactor (FBR) inoculated with Nocardioides sp. JS 1661 (DNAN degrader), Rhodococcus sp. JS 3073 (4-NA degrader), and Comamonadaceae sp. LW1 (4-CNB degrader). No biodegradation was detected when the FBR was operated under anoxic conditions. Second, DNAN and NTO were biodegraded in a synthetic load/assemble/pack waste stream during a sequential treatment comprising: (i) aerobic DNAN biodegradation in the FBR; (ii) anaerobic NTO biotransformation to 3-amino-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (ATO) by an NTO-respiring enrichment; and (iii) aerobic ATO mineralization by an ATO-oxidizing enrichment. Complete biodegradation relied on switching redox conditions. The results provide the basis for designing consortia to treat mixtures of IMCs and related waste products by incorporating microbes with the required catabolic capabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osmar Menezes
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Cameron Owens
- Center for Environmental Diagnostics and Bioremediation, University of West Florida, Pensacola, Florida, USA
| | - Erika E Rios-Valenciana
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Jim C Spain
- Center for Environmental Diagnostics and Bioremediation, University of West Florida, Pensacola, Florida, USA.,School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Niu XZ, Pepel RD, Paniego R, Abrell L, Field JA, Chorover J, Sierra-Alvarez R. Fate of bis-(4-tert-butyl phenyl)-iodonium under photolithography relevant irradiation and the environmental risk properties of the formed photoproducts. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2022; 29:25988-25994. [PMID: 35218486 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-19376-8] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Aryl-iodonium salts are utilized as photoacid generators (PAGs) in semiconductor photolithography and other photo-initiated manufacturing processes. Despite their utilization and suspected toxicity, the fate of these compounds within the perimeter of semiconductor fabrication plants is inadequately understood; the identification of photolithography products is still needed for a comprehensive environmental impact assessment. This study investigated the photolytic transformation of a representative iodonium PAG cation, bis-(4-tert-butyl phenyl)-iodonium, under conditions simulating industrial photolithography. Under 254-nm irradiation, bis-(4-tert-butyl phenyl)-iodonium reacted rapidly with a photolytic half-life of 39.2 s; different counter ions or solvents did not impact the degradation kinetics. At a semiconductor photolithography-relevant UV dosage of 25 mJ cm-2, 33% of bis-(4-tert-butyl phenyl)-iodonium was estimated to be transformed. Six aromatic/hydrophobic photoproducts were identified utilizing a combination of HPLC-DAD and GC-MS. Selected photoproducts such as tert-butyl benzene and tert-butyl iodobenzene had remarkably higher acute microbial toxicity toward bacterium Aliivibrio fischeri compared to bis-(4-tert-butyl phenyl)-iodonium. Octanol-water partition coefficients estimated using the Estimation Programs Interface Suite™ indicated that the photoproducts were substantially more hydrophobic than the parent compound. The results fill a critical data gap hindering the environmental impact assessment of iodonium PAGs and provide clues on potential management strategies for both iodonium compounds and their photoproducts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi-Zhi Niu
- Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, 1133 James E. Rogers Way, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
- Department of Environmental Science & Arizona Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, The University of Arizona, AZ, 85721, Tucson, USA
| | - Richard D Pepel
- Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, 1133 James E. Rogers Way, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Rodrigo Paniego
- Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, 1133 James E. Rogers Way, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Leif Abrell
- Department of Environmental Science & Arizona Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, The University of Arizona, AZ, 85721, Tucson, USA
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, 1133 James E. Rogers Way, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Jon Chorover
- Department of Environmental Science & Arizona Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, The University of Arizona, AZ, 85721, Tucson, USA
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, 1133 James E. Rogers Way, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA.
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Niu XZ, Abrell L, Sierra-Alvarez R, Field JA, Chorover J. Analysis of hydrophilic per- and polyfluorinated sulfonates including trifluoromethanesulfonate using solid phase extraction and mixed-mode liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr A 2022; 1664:462817. [PMID: 35032899 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2022.462817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Ultra-hydrophilic per- and polyfluorinated sulfonates (PFSA) are increasingly scrutinized in recent years due to their ubiquitous occurrence, persistence, and aqueous mobility in the environment, yet analysis remains a challenge. This study developed methods for the analysis of trifluoromethanesulfonate, perfluorobutanesulfonate, 10-camphorsulfonate, and a di-fluorinated sulfonate utilizing mixed-mode liquid chromatography, where all analytes were adequately retained and separated. Chromatography and electrospray ionization parameters were optimized; instrumental limits of quantification for the anionic target analytes were in the range of 4.3 - 16.1 ng L-1. Solid phase extraction (SPE) methods were developed using Oasis WAX cartridges; SPE recoveries for the analytes ranged from 86% to 125%. Salinity and total organic carbon both impaired the SPE performance to different extents, depending on the respective analyte. Utilizing widely accessible instrumentation and materials, this is a single method to simultaneously analyze conceivably the most hydrophilic PFAS chemical, i.e., trifluoromethanesulfonate, and moderately hydrophobic PFSAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi-Zhi Niu
- Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; Department of Environmental Science & Arizona Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Leif Abrell
- Department of Environmental Science & Arizona Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Jon Chorover
- Department of Environmental Science & Arizona Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.
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Menezes O, Yu Y, Root RA, Gavazza S, Chorover J, Sierra-Alvarez R, Field JA. Iron(II) monosulfide (FeS) minerals reductively transform the insensitive munitions compounds 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN) and 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO). Chemosphere 2021; 285:131409. [PMID: 34271466 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [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: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
As military applications of the insensitive munitions compounds (IMCs) 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN) and 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO) increase, there is a growing need to understand their environmental fate and to develop remediation strategies to mitigate their impacts. Iron (II) monosulfide (FeS) minerals are abundant in freshwater and marine sediments, marshes, and hydrothermal environments. This study shows that FeS solids can reduce DNAN and NTO to their corresponding amines under anoxic ambient conditions. The reactions between IMCs and the FeS minerals were surface-mediated since they did not occur when only dissolved Fe2+(aq) and S2-(aq) were present. Mackinawite, a tetragonal FeS with a layered structure, reduced DNAN mainly to 2-methoxy-5-nitroaniline (MENA), which in turn was partially reduced to 2-4-diaminoanisole (DAAN). The layered structure of mackinawite provided intercalation sites likely responsible for partial adsorption of MENA and DAAN. Mackinawite entirely reduced NTO to 3-amino-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (ATO). The reduction of IMCs showed concurrent oxidation of mackinawite to goethite and elemental sulfur. A commercial FeS product, composed mainly of pyrrhotite and troilite, reduced DNAN to DAAN and NTO to ATO. At pH 6.5, DNAN and NTO transformation rates were 667 and 912 μmol h-1 m-2, respectively, on the mackinawite surface and 417 and 1344 μmol h-1 m-2, respectively, on the commercial FeS surface. This is the first report of the reduction of a nitro-heterocyclic compound (NTO) by FeS minerals. The evidence indicates that DNAN and NTO can be rapidly transformed to their succeeding amines in anoxic subsurface environments and aquatic sediments rich in FeS minerals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osmar Menezes
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA; Laboratório de Saneamento Ambiental, Departamento de Engenharia Civil e Ambiental, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, 50740-530, Brazil
| | - Youngjae Yu
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Robert A Root
- Department of Environmental Science, The University of Arizona, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Savia Gavazza
- Laboratório de Saneamento Ambiental, Departamento de Engenharia Civil e Ambiental, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, 50740-530, Brazil
| | - Jon Chorover
- Department of Environmental Science, The University of Arizona, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA.
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Jog KV, Hess KZ, Field JA, Krzmarzick MJ, Sierra-Alvarez R. Aerobic biodegradation of emerging azole contaminants by return activated sludge and enrichment cultures. J Hazard Mater 2021; 417:126151. [PMID: 34229401 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [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: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Azoles are an emerging class of contaminants with a growing ubiquitous presence in the environment. This study investigates the aerobic microbial degradation of four azoles, pyrazole (PA), 1,2,4-triazole (TA), benzotriazole (BTA) and 5-methylbenzotriazole (5-MBTA), with return activated sludge and microbial enrichment cultures. Slow degradation of PA was observed in the presence of glucose and NH4+ with a peak degradation rate of 0.5 mg d-1 gVSS-1. TA was found to be highly persistent, with no significant degradation observed in 6-8 months under any incubation condition. In contrast, the benzotriazoles were readily degraded at faster rates in all incubation conditions. The degradation rates observed for BTA and 5-MBTA, when provided as the sole substrates, were 8.1 and 16.5 mg d-1 gVSS-1, respectively. Two enrichment cultures, one degrading BTA and the other degrading 5-MBTA, were developed from the activated sludge. Mass balance studies revealed complete mineralization of 5-MBTA and partial breakdown of BTA by the enrichment cultures. Nocardioides sp. and Pandoraea pnomenusa were the most abundant bacteria in the BTA and 5-MBTA degrading enrichment cultures, respectively. The research shows large differences in the biodegradability of various azoles, ranging from complete mineralization of 5-MBTA to complete persistence for TA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalyani V Jog
- Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721-0011, USA
| | - Kendra Z Hess
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721-0011, USA
| | - Mark J Krzmarzick
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721-0011, USA.
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Menezes O, Kadoya WM, Gavazza S, Sierra-Alvarez R, Mash EA, Abrell L, Field JA. Covalent binding with model quinone compounds unveils the environmental fate of the insensitive munitions reduced product 2,4-diaminoanisole (DAAN) under anoxic conditions. J Hazard Mater 2021; 413:125459. [PMID: 33930971 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
2,4-Dinitroanisole (DNAN) is an insensitive munitions compound expected to replace 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT). The product of DNAN's reduction in the environment is 2,4-diaminoanisole (DAAN), a toxic and carcinogenic aromatic amine. DAAN is known to become irreversibly incorporated into soil natural organic matter (NOM) after DNAN's reduction. Herein, we investigate the reactions between DAAN and NOM under anoxic conditions, using 1,4-benzoquinone (BQ) and methoxybenzoquinone (MBQ) as model humic moieties of NOM. A new method stopped the fast reactions between DAAN and quinones, capturing the fleeting intermediates. We observed that DAAN incorporation into NOM (represented by BQ and MBQ models) is quinone-dependent and occurs via Michael addition, imine (Schiff-base) formation, and azo bond formation. After dimers are formed, incorporation reactions continue, resulting in trimers and tetramers. After 20 days, 56.4% of dissolved organic carbon from a mixture of DAAN (1 mM) and MBQ (3 mM) had precipitated, indicating an extensive polymerization, with DAAN becoming incorporated into high-molecular-weight humic-like compounds. The present work suggests a new approach for DNAN environmental remediation, in which DNAN anaerobic transformation can be coupled to the formation of non-extractable bound DAAN residues in soil organic matter. This process does not require aerobic conditions nor a specific catalyst.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osmar Menezes
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; Laboratório de Saneamento Ambiental, Departamento de Engenharia Civil e Ambiental, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE 50740-530, Brazil
| | - Warren M Kadoya
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Savia Gavazza
- Laboratório de Saneamento Ambiental, Departamento de Engenharia Civil e Ambiental, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE 50740-530, Brazil
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Eugene A Mash
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Leif Abrell
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; Department of Environmental Science, The University of Arizona, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.
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13
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Niu XZ, Pepel RD, Paniego R, Field JA, Chorover J, Abrell L, Sáez AE, Sierra-Alvarez R. Photochemical fate of sulfonium photoacid generator cations under photolithography relevant UV irradiation. J Photochem Photobiol A Chem 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotochem.2021.113324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Madeira CL, Menezes O, Park D, Jog KV, Hatt JK, Gavazza S, Krzmarzick MJ, Sierra-Alvarez R, Spain JC, Konstantinidis KT, Field JA. Bacteria Make a Living Breathing the Nitroheterocyclic Insensitive Munitions Compound 3-Nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO). Environ Sci Technol 2021; 55:5806-5814. [PMID: 33835790 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c07161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The nitroheterocyclic 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO) is an ingredient of insensitive explosives increasingly used by the military, becoming an emergent environmental pollutant. Cometabolic biotransformation of NTO occurs in mixed microbial cultures in soils and sludges with excess electron-donating substrates. Herein, we present the unusual energy-yielding metabolic process of NTO respiration, in which the NTO reduction to 3-amino-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (ATO) is linked to the anoxic acetate oxidation to CO2 by a culture enriched from municipal anaerobic digester sludge. Cell growth was observed simultaneously with NTO reduction, whereas the culture was unable to grow in the presence of acetate only. Extremely low concentrations (0.06 mg L-1) of the uncoupler carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone inhibited NTO reduction, indicating that the process was linked to respiration. The ultimate evidence of NTO respiration was adenosine triphosphate production due to simultaneous exposure to NTO and acetate. Metagenome sequencing revealed that the main microorganisms (and relative abundances) were Geobacter anodireducens (89.3%) and Thauera sp. (5.5%). This study is the first description of a nitroheterocyclic compound being reduced by anaerobic respiration, shedding light on creative microbial processes that enable bacteria to make a living reducing NTO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila L Madeira
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721-0011, United States
| | - Osmar Menezes
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721-0011, United States
- Laboratório de Saneamento Ambiental, Departamento de Engenharia Civil e Ambiental, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco 50740-530, Brazil
| | - Doyoung Park
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0355, United States
| | - Kalyani V Jog
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721-0011, United States
| | - Janet K Hatt
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0355, United States
| | - Savia Gavazza
- Laboratório de Saneamento Ambiental, Departamento de Engenharia Civil e Ambiental, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco 50740-530, Brazil
| | - Mark J Krzmarzick
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078, United States
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721-0011, United States
| | - Jim C Spain
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0355, United States
- Center for Environmental Diagnostics & Bioremediation, University of West Florida, Pensacola, Florida 32514, United States
| | - Konstantinos T Konstantinidis
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0355, United States
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721-0011, United States
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Niu XZ, Field JA, Paniego R, Pepel RD, Chorover J, Abrell L, Sierra-Alvarez R. Bioconcentration potential and microbial toxicity of onium cations in photoacid generators. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2021; 28:8915-8921. [PMID: 33400114 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-12250-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [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: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Despite the widespread utilization of onium salts as photoacid generators (PAGs) in semiconductor photolithography, their environmental, health, and safety (EHS) properties remain poorly understood. The present work reports the bioconcentration potential of five representative onium species (four sulfonium and one iodonium compound) by determining the octanol-water partition coefficient (POW) and lipid membrane affinity coefficient (KMA); microbial toxicity was evaluated using the bioluminescent bacterium Aliivibrio fischeri (Microtox bioassay). Four of the oniums exhibited varying degrees of hydrophobic (lipophilic) partitioning (log POW: 0.08-4.12; KMA: 1.70-5.62). A strong positive linear correlation was observed between log POW and KMA (KMA = log POW + 1.76, R2 = 0.99). The bioconcentration factors (log BCF) estimated from POW and KMA for the four oniums ranged from 0.13 to 3.67 L kg-1. Bis-(4-tert-butyl phenyl)-iodonium and triphenylsulfonium had 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of 4.8 and 84.6 μM, whereas the IC50 values of the other three oniums were not determined because these values were higher than their aqueous solubility. Given the increased regulatory scrutiny regarding the use and potential health impacts from onium PAGs, this study fulfills critical knowledge gaps concerning the EHS properties of PAG oniums, enabling more comprehensive evaluation of their environmental impacts and potential risk management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi-Zhi Niu
- Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, 1133 James E. Rogers Way, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
- Department of Environmental Science & Arizona Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, 1133 James E. Rogers Way, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Rodrigo Paniego
- Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, 1133 James E. Rogers Way, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Richard D Pepel
- Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, 1133 James E. Rogers Way, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Jon Chorover
- Department of Environmental Science & Arizona Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Leif Abrell
- Department of Environmental Science & Arizona Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, 1133 James E. Rogers Way, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA.
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16
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Lakhey N, Sierra-Alvarez R, Couger MB, Krzmarzick MJ, Field JA. Anammox enrichment culture has unexpected capabilities to biotransform azole contaminants of emerging concern. Chemosphere 2021; 264:128550. [PMID: 33065321 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128550] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Azoles are contaminants of emerging concern. They have a ubiquitous presence in the environment due to their wide variety of uses. This study investigated the fate of two commonly occurring azole compounds in an anammox enrichment culture. The results showed that 1H-pyrazole (PA) and 1H-1,2,4-triazole (TA) were biotransformed yielding major biotransformation products, 3-amino-1H-pyrazole and 3-amino-1H-1,2,4-triazole, respectively. Nitrate and glucose greatly stimulated the biotransformation. Under optimized conditions, 80.7% of PA and 16.4% of TA were biotransformed in an incubation period of 6 days. High molar product yield of 84.5% and 83.6% was observed per mole of PA and TA biotransformed, respectively. This novel and selective biotransformation constitutes the first report on the microbial biotransformation of PA and is amongst the very few reports on the biotransformation of TA. This study also provides evidence that anammox enrichments have unexpected capabilities to biotransform organic contaminants of emerging concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nivrutti Lakhey
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Matthew Brian Couger
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Mark J Krzmarzick
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA.
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17
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Kadoya WM, Sierra-Alvarez R, Jagadish B, Wong S, Abrell L, Mash EA, Field JA. Covalent bonding of aromatic amine daughter products of 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN) with model quinone compounds representing humus via nucleophilic addition. Environ Pollut 2021; 268:115862. [PMID: 33120159 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [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: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
2,4-Dinitroanisole (DNAN) is a component of insensitive munitions (IM), which are replacing traditional explosives due to their improved safety. Incomplete IM combustion releases DNAN onto the soil, where it can leach into the subsurface with rainwater, encounter anoxic conditions, and undergo (a)biotic reduction to aromatic amines 2-methoxy-5-nitroaniline (MENA), 4-methoxy-3-nitroaniline (iMENA, isomer of MENA), and 2,4-diaminoanisole (DAAN). We report here studies of nucleophilic addition mechanisms that may account for the sequestration of aromatic amine daughter products of DNAN into soil organic matter (humus), effectively removing these toxic compounds from the aqueous environment. Because quinones are important moieties in humus, we incubated MENA, iMENA, DAAN, and related analogs with model compounds 1,4-benzoquinone and 2,3-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone under anoxic conditions. Mass spectrometry and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography revealed that the aromatic amines had covalently bonded to either carbonyl carbons or ring carbons β to carbonyl carbons of the quinones, producing a mixture of imines and Michael adducts, respectively. These products formed rapidly and accumulated in the one-to four-day incubations. Nucleophilic addition reactions, which do not require catalysis or oxic conditions, are proposed as a mechanism resulting in the binding of DNAN to soil observed in previous studies. To remediate sites contaminated with DNAN or other nitroaromatics, reducing conditions and humus amendments may promote their immobilization into the soil matrix.
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Affiliation(s)
- Warren M Kadoya
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Bhumasamudram Jagadish
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Stanley Wong
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Leif Abrell
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA; Department of Environmental Science, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Eugene A Mash
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA.
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Jog KV, Sierra-Alvarez R, Field JA. Rapid biotransformation of the insensitive munitions compound, 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO), by wastewater sludge. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2020; 36:67. [DOI: 10.1007/s11274-020-02843-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
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19
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Nguyen CH, Zeng C, Boitano S, Field JA, Sierra-Alvarez R. Cytotoxicity Assessment of Gallium- and Indium-Based Nanoparticles Toward Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells Using an Impedance-Based Real-Time Cell Analyzer. Int J Toxicol 2020; 39:218-231. [PMID: 32228215 DOI: 10.1177/1091581820914255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The semiconductor manufacturing sector plans to introduce III/V film structures (eg, gallium arsenide (GaAs), indium arsenide (InAs) onto silicon wafers due to their high electron mobility and low power consumption. Aqueous solutions generated during chemical and mechanical planarization of silicon wafers can contain a mixture of metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) and soluble indium, gallium, and arsenic. In this work, the cytotoxicity induced by Ga- and In-based NPs (GaAs, InAs, Ga2O3, In2O3) and soluble III-V salts on human bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE14o-) was evaluated using a cell impedance real-time cell analysis (RTCA) system. The RTCA system provided inhibition data at different concentrations for multiple time points, for example, GaAs (25 mg/L) caused 60% inhibition after 8 hours of exposure and 100% growth inhibition after 24 hours. Direct testing of As(III) and As(V) demonstrated significant cytotoxicity with 50% growth inhibition concentrations after 16-hour exposure (IC50) of 2.4 and 4.5 mg/L, respectively. Cell signaling with rapid rise and decrease in signal was unique to arsenic cytotoxicity, a precursor of strong cytotoxicity over the longer term. In contrast with arsenic, soluble gallium(III) and indium(III) were less toxic. Whereas the oxide NPs caused low cytotoxicity, the arsenide compounds were highly inhibitory (IC50 of GaAs and InAs = 6.2 and 68 mg/L, respectively). Dissolution experiments over 7 days revealed that arsenic was fully leached from GaAs NPs, whereas only 10% of the arsenic was leached out of InAs NPs. These results indicate that the cytotoxicity of GaAs and InAs NPs is largely due to the dissolution of toxic arsenic species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi H Nguyen
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Chao Zeng
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Scott Boitano
- Department of Physiology and The Asthma and Airway Disease Research Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
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Moreno-Andrade I, Regidor-Alfageme E, Durazo A, Field JA, Umlauf K, Sierra-Alvarez R. LC-ICP-OES method for antimony speciation analysis in liquid samples. J Environ Sci Health A Tox Hazard Subst Environ Eng 2020; 55:457-463. [PMID: 31905046 PMCID: PMC7380449 DOI: 10.1080/10934529.2019.1707565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Revised: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
A method for the analysis of different species of antimony (Sb) that couples liquid chromatography with an inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (LC-ICP-OES) system is presented. The method is simple and reliable to separate and quantify directly and simultaneously Sb(III) and Sb(V) in aqueous samples. The calibration curves showed high linearity at the three wavelengths tested. The limits of detection ranged from 24.9 to 32.3 μg/L for Sb(III) and from 36.2 to 46.0 μg/L for Sb(V), at the three wavelengths evaluated. The limit of detection for this method varied depending on the wavelength used. The lowest limit of quantification for Sb(V) (49.9 μg/L) and Sb(III) (80.7 μg/L) was obtained at a wavelength of 217.582 nm. The method sensitivity for Sb(V) was higher compared to Sb(III) at all the wavelengths considered. Samples containing different concentrations of Sb(III) and Sb(V) in three different matrices, i.e., water, basal culture medium, and anaerobic sludge plus basal medium, were analyzed. The coefficients of variation were low and ranged from 0.1 to 5.0 depending on the sample matrix. Recoveries of Sb(III) and Sb(V) were higher than 90% independently of the matrix analyzed and the wavelength used in the analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iván Moreno-Andrade
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
- Laboratory for Research on Advanced Processes for Water Treatment, Unidad Académica Juriquilla, Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Blvd. Juriquilla 3001, 76230 Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Enrique Regidor-Alfageme
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Armando Durazo
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Jim A. Field
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Kelly Umlauf
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
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Madeira CL, Jog KV, Vanover ET, Brooks MD, Taylor DK, Sierra-Alvarez R, Waidner LA, Spain JC, Krzmarzick MJ, Field JA. Microbial Enrichment Culture Responsible for the Complete Oxidative Biodegradation of 3-Amino-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (ATO), the Reduced Daughter Product of the Insensitive Munitions Compound 3-Nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO). Environ Sci Technol 2019; 53:12648-12656. [PMID: 31553579 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b04065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
3-Nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO) is one of the main ingredients of many insensitive munitions, which are being used as replacements for conventional explosives. As its use becomes widespread, more research is needed to assess its environmental fate. Previous studies have shown that NTO is biologically reduced to 3-amino-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (ATO). However, the final degradation products of ATO are still unknown. We have studied the aerobic degradation of ATO by enrichment cultures derived from the soil. After multiple transfers, ATO degradation was monitored in closed bottles through measurements of inorganic carbon and nitrogen species. The results indicate that the members of the enrichment culture utilize ATO as the sole source of carbon and nitrogen. As ATO was mineralized to CO2, N2, and NH4+, microbial growth was observed in the culture. Co-substrates addition did not increase the ATO degradation rate. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that the organisms that enriched using ATO as carbon and nitrogen source were Terrimonas spp., Ramlibacter-related spp., Mesorhizobium spp., Hydrogenophaga spp., Ralstonia spp., Pseudomonas spp., Ectothiorhodospiraceae, and Sphingopyxis. This is the first study to report the complete mineralization of ATO by soil microorganisms, expanding our understanding of natural attenuation and bioremediation of the explosive NTO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila L Madeira
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering , University of Arizona , Tucson , Arizona 85721-0011 , United States
| | - Kalyani V Jog
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering , University of Arizona , Tucson , Arizona 85721-0011 , United States
| | - Erica T Vanover
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering , University of Arizona , Tucson , Arizona 85721-0011 , United States
| | - Matthew D Brooks
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering , Oklahoma State University , Stillwater , Oklahoma 74078 , United States
| | - David K Taylor
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering , Oklahoma State University , Stillwater , Oklahoma 74078 , United States
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering , University of Arizona , Tucson , Arizona 85721-0011 , United States
| | - Lisa A Waidner
- Center for Environmental Diagnostics & Bioremediation , University of West Florida , Pensacola , Florida 32514 , United States
| | - Jim C Spain
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering , Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta , Georgia 30332-0355 , United States
- Center for Environmental Diagnostics & Bioremediation , University of West Florida , Pensacola , Florida 32514 , United States
| | - Mark J Krzmarzick
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering , Oklahoma State University , Stillwater , Oklahoma 74078 , United States
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering , University of Arizona , Tucson , Arizona 85721-0011 , United States
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Nguyen CH, Field JA, Sierra-Alvarez R. Microbial toxicity of gallium- and indium-based oxide and arsenide nanoparticles. J Environ Sci Health A Tox Hazard Subst Environ Eng 2019; 55:168-178. [PMID: 31607225 DOI: 10.1080/10934529.2019.1676065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [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: 07/29/2019] [Revised: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
III-V semiconductor materials such as gallium arsenide (GaAs) and indium arsenide (InAs) are increasingly used in the fabrication of electronic devices. There is a growing concern about the potential release of these materials into the environment leading to effects on public and environmental health. The waste effluents from the chemical mechanical planarization process could impact microorganisms in biological wastewater treatment systems. Currently, there is only limited information about the inhibition of gallium- and indium-based nanoparticles (NPs) on microorganisms. This study evaluated the acute toxicity of GaAs, InAs, gallium oxide (Ga2O3), and indium oxide (In2O3) particulates using two microbial inhibition assays targeting methanogenic archaea and the marine bacterium, Aliivibrio fischeri. GaAs and InAs NPs were acutely toxic towards these microorganisms; Ga2O3 and In2O3 NPs were not. The toxic effect was mainly due to the release of soluble arsenic species and it increased with decreasing particle size and with increasing time due to the progressive corrosion of the NPs in the aqueous bioassay medium. Collectively, the results indicate that the toxicity exerted by the arsenide NPs under environmental conditions will vary depending on intrinsic properties of the material such as particle size as well as on the dissolution time and aqueous chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi H Nguyen
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
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Kadoya WM, Sierra-Alvarez R, Jagadish B, Wong S, Abrell L, Mash EA, Field JA. Coupling reactions between reduced intermediates of insensitive munitions compound analog 4-nitroanisole. Chemosphere 2019; 222:789-796. [PMID: 30739063 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.01.163] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Revised: 01/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Explosives, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals contain toxic nitroaromatic compounds that may form even more toxic azo compounds if they encounter reducing conditions in the environment. We investigated the mechanism by which 4,4'-dimethoxyazobenzene forms in anaerobic sludge incubations of 4-nitroanisole, an analog for the insensitive munitions compound 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN). Because studies have reported the mechanism to involve the coupling of reduced nitroaromatic intermediates, specifically aromatic amines and nitrosoaromatics, by nucleophilic processes, we abiotically paired 10 mM 4-aminoanisole with 2 mM 4-nitrosoanisole in nitrogen-flushed microcosms. However, only 7 μM of 4,4'-dimethoxyazobenzene had formed after 24 h. We identified the major product to be 4-methoxy-4'-nitrosodiphenylamine. Repeating this experiment in phosphate buffer at pH 5.1, 7.1, and 8.6 demonstrated that the formation of this unexpected product is acid catalyzed. We found that 4-methoxy-4'-nitrosodiphenylamine is more toxic than 4,4'-dimethoxyazobenzene to the bioluminescent bacterium Aliivibrio fischeri, with IC50 values of 0.1 μM and 0.5 μM, respectively. Both products are several orders of magnitude more toxic than reduced 4-nitroanisole intermediates 4-aminoanisole and 4-nitrosoanisole, as well as DNAN and its aromatic amine metabolites. Six-fold more 4,4'-dimethoxyazobenzene formed when we incubated 4-nitrosoanisole with ascorbic acid, a reducing agent, than when we incubated 4-nitrosoanisole with 4-aminoanisole in the absence of ascorbic acid. We therefore suspect that 4-hydroxylaminoanisole, the first reduction product of 4-nitrosoanisole, is a better nucleophile than 4-aminoanisole and couples more readily with 4-nitrosoanisole. Slightly basic and reducing conditions can prevent the formation and persistence of toxic coupling products on sites contaminated with nitroaromatics, i.e. DNAN-contaminated firing ranges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Warren M Kadoya
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Bhumasamudram Jagadish
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Stanley Wong
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Leif Abrell
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA; Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Eugene A Mash
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA.
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Simon-Pascual A, Sierra-Alvarez R, Field JA. Platinum(II) reduction to platinum nanoparticles in anaerobic sludge. J Chem Technol Biotechnol 2019; 94:468-474. [PMID: 31105372 PMCID: PMC6521854 DOI: 10.1002/jctb.5791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 08/01/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To help mitigate future problems in the supply of platinum group metals (PGM) due to their scarcity and high demand, new recovery processes must be developed. Microbial processes are a great alternative for the recovery of PGM from waste since they are clean and environmentally friendly techniques. This research studied the microbial reduction of Pt(II) using an anaerobic granular sludge under different physiological conditions. RESULTS The anaerobic granular sludge was able to reduce Pt(II) to Pt(0) nanoparticles that were deposited intracellularly as well as extracellularly as confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses. Hydrogen (H2) and formate supported the chemical reduction of Pt(II) while ethanol supported the biologically catalyzed reduction of Pt(II). Increasing initial concentrations of Pt(II), ethanol or biomass were each shown to increase the Pt(II) reduction rates. CONCLUSIONS This study reported for the first time the reduction of Pt(II) using anaerobic granular sludge and provided insights that could help develop biorecovery techniques to alleviate future problems in the supply of PGMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvaro Simon-Pascual
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, 1133 James E. Rogers Way, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, 1133 James E. Rogers Way, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Jim A. Field
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, 1133 James E. Rogers Way, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
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Zeng C, Nguyen C, Boitano S, Field JA, Shadman F, Sierra-Alvarez R. Cerium dioxide (CeO 2) nanoparticles decrease arsenite (As(III)) cytotoxicity to 16HBE14o- human bronchial epithelial cells. Environ Res 2018; 164:452-458. [PMID: 29574255 PMCID: PMC6240918 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Revised: 02/24/2018] [Accepted: 03/05/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The production and application of engineered nanoparticles (NPs) are increasing in demand with the rapid development of nanotechnology. However, there are concerns that some of these novel materials could lead to emerging environmental and health problems. Some NPs are able to facilitate the transport of contaminants into cells/organisms via a "Trojan Horse" effect which enhances the toxicity of the adsorbed materials. In this work, we evaluated the toxicity of arsenite (As(III)) adsorbed onto cerium dioxide (CeO2) NPs to human bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE14o-) using the xCELLigence real time cell analyzing system (RTCA). Application of 0.5 mg/L As(III) resulted in 81.3% reduction of cell index (CI, an RTCA measure of cell toxicity) over 48 h when compared to control cells exposed to medium lacking As(III). However, when the cells were exposed to 0.5 mg/L As(III) in the presence of CeO2 NPs (250 mg/L), the CI was only reduced by 12.9% compared to the control. The CeO2 NPs had a high capacity for As(III) adsorption (20.2 mg/g CeO2) in the bioassay medium, effectively reducing dissolved As(III) in the aqueous solution and resulting in reduced toxicity. Transmission electron microscopy was used to study the transport of CeO2 NPs into 16HBE14o- cells. NP uptake via engulfment was observed and the internalized NPs accumulated in vesicles. The results demonstrate that dissolved As(III) in the aqueous solution was the decisive factor controlling As(III) toxicity of 16HBE14o- cells, and that CeO2 NPs effectively reduced available As(III) through adsorption. These data emphasize the evaluation of mixtures when assaying toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Zeng
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Chi Nguyen
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Scott Boitano
- Department of Physiology and The Asthma and Airway Disease Research Center, The University of Arizona, P.O. Box 245030, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Farhang Shadman
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.
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26
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Simon-Pascual A, Sierra-Alvarez R, Ramos-Ruiz A, Field JA. Reduction of platinum (IV) ions to elemental platinum nanoparticles by anaerobic sludge. J Chem Technol Biotechnol 2018; 93:1611-1617. [PMID: 30140114 PMCID: PMC6101971 DOI: 10.1002/jctb.5530] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 11/25/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The future supply of platinum group metals (PGM) is at risk because of their scarcity combined with a high demand. Thus recovery of platinum (Pt) from waste is an option worthy of study to help alleviate future shortages. This research explored the microbial reduction of platinum (Pt). The ability of anaerobic granular sludge to reduce Pt(IV) ions under different physiological conditions was studied. RESULTS X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) analyses demonstrated the capacity of the microbial mixed culture to reduce Pt(IV) to Pt(0) nanoparticles, which were deposited on the cell-surface and in the periplasmic space. Ethanol supported the biologically catalyzed Pt(IV) reduction, meanwhile other electron donors; hydrogen (H2) and formate, promoted the chemical reduction of Pt(IV) with some additional biological stimulation in the case of H2. A hypothesis is proposed in which H2 formed from the acetogenesis of ethanol is implicated in subsequent abiotic reduction of Pt(IV) indicating an integrated bio-chemical process. Endogenous controls also resulted in slow Pt(IV) removal from aqueous solution. Selected redox mediators, exemplified by riboflavin, enhanced the Pt(IV) reduction rate. CONCLUSION This study reported for the first time the ability of an anaerobic granular sludge to reduce Pt(IV) to elemental Pt(0) nanoparticles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvaro Simon-Pascual
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, 1133 James E. Rogers Way, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, 1133 James E. Rogers Way, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Adriana Ramos-Ruiz
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, 1133 James E. Rogers Way, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Jim A. Field
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, 1133 James E. Rogers Way, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
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Kadoya WM, Sierra-Alvarez R, Wong S, Abrell L, Mash EA, Field JA. Evidence of anaerobic coupling reactions between reduced intermediates of 4-nitroanisole. Chemosphere 2018; 195:372-380. [PMID: 29274576 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.12.083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [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: 09/12/2017] [Revised: 12/10/2017] [Accepted: 12/12/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Nitroaromatic compounds are widely used in agricultural pesticides, pharmaceuticals, military explosives, and other applications. They enter the environment via manufacturing and municipal wastewater discharges and releases from agricultural and military operations. Because of their ubiquity and toxicity, they are considered an important class of environmental contaminants. Nitroaromatics are known to undergo reductive transformation to aromatic amines, and under aerobic conditions they are susceptible to coupling reactions which may lead to their irreversible incorporation into soil organic matter. However, there is also evidence of coupling reactions in the absence of oxygen between reduced intermediates of the insensitive munitions compound 2,4-dinitroanisole, leading to the formation of azo dimers. The formation of such products is a concern since they may be more toxic than the original nitroaromatic compounds. The objective of this research is to provide evidence of the anaerobic formation of azo coupling products. 4-Nitroanisole was used as a model compound and was spiked into incubations containing anaerobic granular sludge with H2 as the electron donor. Using liquid chromatography, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry, the formation of the azo dimer 4,4'-dimethoxyazobenzene was confirmed. However, due to the instability of the azo bond under the reducing conditions of our incubations, the azo dimer did not accumulate. Consequently, 4-aminoanisole was the major product formed in our experiment. Other minor suspected coupling products were also detected in our incubations. The results provide clear evidence for the temporal formation of at least one azo dimer in the anaerobic reduction of a model nitroaromatic compound.
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Affiliation(s)
- Warren M Kadoya
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Stanley Wong
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Leif Abrell
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Eugene A Mash
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.
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Madeira CL, Field JA, Simonich MT, Tanguay RL, Chorover J, Sierra-Alvarez R. Ecotoxicity of the insensitive munitions compound 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO) and its reduced metabolite 3-amino-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (ATO). J Hazard Mater 2018; 343:340-346. [PMID: 28992572 PMCID: PMC5771256 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2017.09.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2017] [Revised: 09/07/2017] [Accepted: 09/27/2017] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The insensitive munitions compound 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO) was recently approved by the U.S. Army to replace cyclotrimethylene trinitramine (RDX) in conventional explosives. As its use becomes widespread, concern about the potential toxicity of NTO increases. NTO can undergo microbial reduction to 3-amino-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (ATO), which is recalcitrant in waterlogged soils. In this study, the acute toxicity of NTO and ATO towards various organisms, including microorganisms (i.e., methanogenic archaea, aerobic heterotrophs, and Aliivibrio fischeri (Microtox assay)), the microcrustacean Daphnia magna (ATO only), and zebrafish embryos (Danio rerio), was assessed. NTO was notably more inhibitory to methanogens than ATO (IC50=1.2mM,>62.8mM, respectively). NTO and ATO did not cause noteworthy inhibition on aerobic heterotrophs even at the highest concentrations tested (32.0mM). High concentrations of both NTO and ATO were required to inhibit A. fischeri (IC20=19.2, 22.4mM, respectively). D. magna was sensitive to ATO (LC50=0.27mM). Exposure of zebrafish embryos to NTO or ATO (750μM) did not cause lethal or developmental effects (22 endpoints tested). However, both compounds led to swimming behavior abnormalities at low concentrations (7.5μM). The results indicate that the reductive biotransformation of NTO could enhance or lower its toxicity according to the target organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila L Madeira
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Michael T Simonich
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Sinnhuber Aquatic Research Laboratory and the Environmental Health Sciences Center at Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Robert L Tanguay
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Sinnhuber Aquatic Research Laboratory and the Environmental Health Sciences Center at Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Jon Chorover
- Department of Soil, Water & Environmental Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
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Olivares CI, Madeira CL, Sierra-Alvarez R, Kadoya W, Abrell L, Chorover J, Field JA. Environmental Fate of 14C Radiolabeled 2,4-Dinitroanisole in Soil Microcosms. Environ Sci Technol 2017; 51:13327-13334. [PMID: 29072907 PMCID: PMC5772931 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b03699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
2,4-Dinitrosanisole (DNAN) is an insensitive munitions component replacing conventional explosives. While DNAN is known to biotransform in soils to aromatic amines and azo-dimers, it is seldom mineralized by indigenous soil bacteria. Incorporation of DNAN biotransformation products into soil as humus-bound material could serve as a plausible remediation strategy. The present work studied biotransformation of DNAN in soil and sludge microcosms supplemented with uniformly ring-labeled 14C-DNAN to quantify the distribution of label in soil, aqueous, and gaseous phases. Electron donor amendments, different redox conditions (anaerobic, aerobic, sequential anaerobic-aerobic), and the extracellular oxidoreductase enzyme horseradish peroxidase (HRP) were evaluated to maximize incorporation of DNAN biotransformation products into the nonextractable soil humus fraction, humin. Irreversible humin incorporation of 14C-DNAN occurred at higher rates in anaerobic conditions, with a moderate increase when pyruvate was added. Additionally, a single dose of HRP resulted in an instantaneous increased incorporation of 14C-DNAN into the humin fraction. 14C-DNAN incorporation to the humin fraction was strongly correlated (R2 = 0.93) by the soil organic carbon (OC) amount present (either intrinsic or amended). Globally, our results suggest that DNAN biotransformation products can be irreversibly bound to humin in soils as a remediation strategy, which can be enhanced by adding soil OC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher I. Olivares
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA 85721
| | - Camila L. Madeira
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA 85721
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA 85721
| | - Warren Kadoya
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA 85721
| | - Leif Abrell
- Department of Soil, Water & Environmental Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA 85721
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA 85721
| | - Jon Chorover
- Department of Soil, Water & Environmental Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA 85721
| | - Jim A. Field
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA 85721
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Zeng C, Gonzalez-Alvarez A, Orenstein E, Field JA, Shadman F, Sierra-Alvarez R. Ecotoxicity assessment of ionic As(III), As(V), In(III) and Ga(III) species potentially released from novel III-V semiconductor materials. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2017; 140:30-36. [PMID: 28231503 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.02.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [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: 11/11/2016] [Revised: 02/15/2017] [Accepted: 02/17/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
III-V materials such as indium arsenide (InAs) and gallium arsenide (GaAs) are increasingly used in electronic and photovoltaic devices. The extensive application of these materials may lead to release of III-V ionic species during semiconductor manufacturing or disposal of decommissioned devices into the environment. Although arsenic is recognized as an important contaminant due to its high toxicity, there is a lack of information about the toxic effects of indium and gallium ions. In this study, acute toxicity of As(III), As(V), In(III) and Ga(III) species was evaluated using two microbial assays testing for methanogenic activity and O2 uptake, as well as two bioassays targeting aquatic organisms, including the marine bacterium Aliivibrio fischeri (bioluminescence inhibition) and the crustacean Daphnia magna (mortality). The most noteworthy finding was that the toxicity is mostly impacted by the element tested. Secondarily, the toxicity of these species also depended on the bioassay target. In(III) and Ga(III) were not or only mildly toxic in the experiments. D. magna was the most sensitive organism for In(III) and Ga(III) with 50% lethal concentrations of 0.5 and 3.4mM, respectively. On the other hand, As(III) and As(V) caused clear inhibitory effects, particularly in the methanogenic toxicity bioassay. The 50% inhibitory concentrations of both arsenic species towards methanogens were about 0.02mM, which is lower than the regulated maximum allowable daily effluent discharge concentration (2.09mg/L or 0.03mM) for facilities manufacturing electronic components in the US. Overall, the results indicate that the ecotoxicity of In(III) and Ga(III) is much lower than that of the As species tested. This finding is important in filling the knowledge gap regarding the ecotoxicology of In and Ga.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Zeng
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85704, USA.
| | - Adrian Gonzalez-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85704, USA
| | - Emily Orenstein
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85704, USA
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85704, USA
| | - Farhang Shadman
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85704, USA
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85704, USA
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Li G, Carvajal-Arroyo JM, Sierra-Alvarez R, Field JA. Mechanisms and Control of NO 2- Inhibition of Anaerobic Ammonium Oxidation (Anammox). Water Environ Res 2017; 89:330-336. [PMID: 28377002 DOI: 10.2175/106143017x14839994523064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Nitrite (NO2-), one of the main substrates in the anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) process, has the potential to inhibit anammox bacteria. The sensitivity of anammox cells with different energy status to NO2- was evaluated, and addition of nitrate (NO3-) inhibition on the basis of narK gene with the putative function of facilitating NO3-/NO2- antiporter. The results showed that the resistance of anammox bacteria to NO2- inhibition follows the order: active-cells > starved-cells > resting-cells > starved-/resting-cells. Anammmox resting cells have increasing tolerance to NO2- in the pH range from 7.0 to 7.5. Dissipating the proton gradient by using carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazine (CCCP) caused severe inhibition at all pH values including pH = 7.5. Addition of NO3- enabled activity recovery of NO2--inhibited anammox bacteria regardless of whether the proton gradient was disrupted or not, supporting the hypothesis of NO3--dependent detoxification via a secondary transport system.
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Ramos-Ruiz A, Sesma-Martin J, Sierra-Alvarez R, Field JA. Continuous reduction of tellurite to recoverable tellurium nanoparticles using an upflow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) reactor. Water Res 2017; 108:189-196. [PMID: 27825682 PMCID: PMC5593269 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2016.10.074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2016] [Revised: 10/28/2016] [Accepted: 10/28/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
According to the U.S. Department of Energy and the European Union, tellurium is a critical element needed for energy and defense technology. Thus methods are needed to recover tellurium from waste streams. The objectives of this study was to determine the feasibility of utilizing upflow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) reactors to convert toxic tellurite (TeIV) oxyanions to non-toxic insoluble elemental tellurium (Te0) nanoparticles (NP) that are amendable to separation from aqueous effluents. The reactors were supplied with ethanol as the electron donating substrate to promote the biological reduction of TeIV. One reactor was additionally amended with the redox mediating flavonoid compound, riboflavin (RF), with the goal of enhancing the bioreduction of TeIV. Its performance was compared to a control reactor lacking RF. The continuous formation of Te0 NPs using the UASB reactors was found to be feasible and remarkably improved by the addition of RF. The presence of this flavonoid was previously shown to enhance the conversion rate of TeIV by approximately 11-fold. In this study, we demonstrated that this was associated with the added benefit of reducing the toxic impact of TeIV towards the methanogenic consortium in the UASB and thus enabled a 4.7-fold higher conversion rate of the chemical oxygen demand. Taken as a whole, this work demonstrates the potential of a methanogenic granular sludge to be applied as a bioreactor technology producing recoverable Te0 NPs in a continuous fashion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Ramos-Ruiz
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 21011, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Juan Sesma-Martin
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 21011, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 21011, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 21011, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.
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Madeira CL, Speet SA, Nieto CA, Abrell L, Chorover J, Sierra-Alvarez R, Field JA. Sequential anaerobic-aerobic biodegradation of emerging insensitive munitions compound 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO). Chemosphere 2017; 167:478-484. [PMID: 27750172 PMCID: PMC5605804 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.10.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2016] [Revised: 10/07/2016] [Accepted: 10/10/2016] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Insensitive munitions, such as 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO), are being considered by the U.S. Army as replacements for conventional explosives. Environmental emissions of NTO are expected to increase as its use becomes widespread; but only a few studies have considered the remediation of NTO-contaminated sites. In this study, sequential anaerobic-aerobic biodegradation of NTO was investigated in bioreactors using soil as inoculum. Batch bioassays confirmed microbial reduction of NTO under anaerobic conditions to 3-amino-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (ATO) using pyruvate as electron-donating cosubstrate. However, ATO biodegradation was only observed after the redox condition was switched to aerobic. This study also demonstrated that the high-rate removal of NTO in contaminated water can be attained in a continuous-flow aerated bioreactor. The reactor was first fed ATO as sole energy and nitrogen source prior to NTO addition. After few days, ATO was removed in a sustained fashion by 100%. When NTO was introduced together with electron-donor (pyruvate), NTO degradation increased progressively, reaching a removal efficiency of 93.5%. Mineralization of NTO was evidenced by the partial release of inorganic nitrogen species in the effluent, and lack of ATO accumulation. A plausible hypothesis for these findings is that NTO reduction occurred in anaerobic zones of the biofilm whereas ATO was mineralized in the bulk aerobic zones of the reactor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila L Madeira
- Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721-0011, USA.
| | - Samuel A Speet
- Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721-0011, USA
| | - Cristina A Nieto
- Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721-0011, USA
| | - Leif Abrell
- Department of Soil, Water & Environmental Science, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210038, Tucson, AZ 85721-0038, USA; Departments of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721-0041, USA
| | - Jon Chorover
- Department of Soil, Water & Environmental Science, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210038, Tucson, AZ 85721-0038, USA
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721-0011, USA
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721-0011, USA
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Li G, Sierra-Alvarez R, Vilcherrez D, Weiss S, Gill C, Krzmarzick MJ, Abrell L, Field JA. Correction to Nitrate Reverses Severe Nitrite Inhibition of Anaerobic Ammonium Oxidation (Anammox) Activity in Continuously-Fed Bioreactors. Environ Sci Technol 2016; 50:12526. [PMID: 27783491 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b05013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
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Ayala-Parra P, Sierra-Alvarez R, Field JA. Algae as an electron donor promoting sulfate reduction for the bioremediation of acid rock drainage. J Hazard Mater 2016; 317:335-343. [PMID: 27318730 PMCID: PMC5654326 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2016.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2016] [Revised: 06/03/2016] [Accepted: 06/05/2016] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
This study assessed bioremediation of acid rock drainage in simulated permeable reactive barriers (PRB) using algae, Chlorella sorokiniana, as the sole electron donor for sulfate-reducing bacteria. Lipid extracted algae (LEA), the residues of biodiesel production, were compared with whole cell algae (WCA) as an electron donor to promote sulfate-reducing activity. Inoculated columns containing anaerobic granular sludge were fed a synthetic medium containing H2SO4 and Cu(2+). Sulfate, sulfide, Cu(2+) and pH were monitored throughout the experiment of 123d. Cu recovered in the column packing at the end of the experiment was evaluated using sequential extraction. Both WCA and LEA promoted 80% of sulfate removal (12.7mg SO4(2-) d(-1)) enabling near complete Cu removal (>99.5%) and alkalinity generation raising the effluent pH to 6.5. No noteworthy sulfate reduction, alkalinity formation and Cu(2+) removal were observed in the endogenous control. In algae amended-columns, Cu(2+) was precipitated with biogenic H2S produced by sulfate reduction. Formation of CuS was evidenced by sequential extraction and X-ray diffraction. LEA and WCA provided similar levels of electron donor based on the COD balance. The results demonstrate an innovative passive remediation system using residual algae biomass from the biodiesel industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Ayala-Parra
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ, USA.
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Olivares CI, Sierra-Alvarez R, Abrell L, Chorover J, Simonich M, Tanguay RL, Field JA. Zebrafish embryo toxicity of anaerobic biotransformation products from the insensitive munitions compound 2,4-dinitroanisole. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016; 35:2774-2781. [PMID: 27058972 PMCID: PMC5052101 DOI: 10.1002/etc.3446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2016] [Revised: 02/24/2016] [Accepted: 03/30/2016] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
2,4-Dinitroanisole (DNAN) is an emerging insensitive munitions compound that readily undergoes anaerobic nitro-group reduction to 2-methoxy-5-nitroaniline (MENA) and 2,4-diaminoanisole (DAAN), followed by formation of unique azo dimers. Currently there is little knowledge on the ecotoxicity of DNAN (bio)transformation products. In the present study, mortality, development, and behavioral effects of DNAN (bio)transformation products were assessed using zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos. The authors tested individual products, MENA and DAAN, as well as dimer and trimer surrogates. As pure compounds, 3-nitro-4-methoxyaniline and 2,2'-dimethoxy-4,4'-azodianiline caused statistically significant effects, with lowest-observable-adverse effect levels (LOAEL) at 6.4 μM on 1 or 2 developmental endpoints, respectively. The latter had 6 additional statistically significant developmental endpoints with LOAELs of 64 μM. Based on light-to-dark swimming behavioral tests, DAAN (640 μM) caused reduction in swimming, suggestive of neurotoxicity. No statistically significant mortality occurred (≤64 μM) for any of the individual compounds. However, metabolite mixtures formed during different stages of MENA (bio)transformation in soil were characterized using high-resolution mass spectrometry in parallel with zebrafish embryo toxicity assays, which demonstrated statistically significant mortality during the onset of azo-dimer formation. Overall the results indicate that several DNAN (bio)transformation products cause different types of toxicity to zebrafish embryos. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:2774-2781. © 2016 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher I Olivares
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Leif Abrell
- Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Jon Chorover
- Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Michael Simonich
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Sinnhuber Aquatic Research Laboratory and the Environmental Health Sciences Center at Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Robert L Tanguay
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Sinnhuber Aquatic Research Laboratory and the Environmental Health Sciences Center at Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA.
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Ramos-Ruiz A, Zeng C, Sierra-Alvarez R, Teixeira LH, Field JA. Microbial toxicity of ionic species leached from the II-VI semiconductor materials, cadmium telluride (CdTe) and cadmium selenide (CdSe). Chemosphere 2016; 162:131-8. [PMID: 27494313 PMCID: PMC5003732 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.07.081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2016] [Revised: 07/21/2016] [Accepted: 07/25/2016] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
This work investigated the microbial toxicity of soluble species that can potentially be leached from the II-VI semiconductor materials, cadmium telluride and cadmium selenide. The soluble ions tested included: cadmium, selenite, selenate, tellurite, and tellurate. Their toxicity towards the acetoclastic and hydrogen-consuming trophic groups in a methanogenic consortium as well as towards a bioluminescent marine bacterium, Aliivibrio fischeri (Microtox(®) test), was assessed. The acetoclastic methanogenic activity was the most affected as evidenced by the low 50% inhibiting concentrations (IC50) values obtained of 8.6 mg L(-1) for both cadmium and tellurite, 10.2 mg L(-1) for tellurate, and 24.1 mg L(-1) for selenite. Both tellurium oxyanions caused a strong inhibition of acetoclastic methanogenesis at low concentrations, each additional increment in concentration provided progressively less inhibition increase. In the case of the hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis, cadmium followed by selenite caused the greatest inhibition with IC50 values of 2.9 and 18.0 mg L(-1), respectively. Tellurite caused a moderate effect as evidenced by a 36.8% inhibition of the methanogenic activity at the highest concentration tested, and a very mild effect of tellurate was observed. Microtox(®) analyses showed a noteworthy inhibition of cadmium, selenite, and tellurite with 50% loss in bioluminescence after 30 min of exposure of 5.5, 171.1, and 458.6 mg L(-1), respectively. These results suggest that the leaching of cadmium, tellurium and selenium ions from semiconductor materials can potentially cause microbial toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Ramos-Ruiz
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721-0011, USA
| | - Chao Zeng
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721-0011, USA
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721-0011, USA
| | - Luiz H Teixeira
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721-0011, USA
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721-0011, USA.
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Li G, Sierra-Alvarez R, Vilcherrez D, Weiss S, Gill C, Krzmarzick MJ, Abrell L, Field JA. Nitrate Reverses Severe Nitrite Inhibition of Anaerobic Ammonium Oxidation (Anammox) Activity in Continuously-Fed Bioreactors. Environ Sci Technol 2016; 50:10518-10526. [PMID: 27597320 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b01560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Nitrite (NO2-) substrate under certain conditions can cause failure of N-removal processes relying on anaerobic ammonium oxidizing (anammox) bacteria. Detoxification of NO2- can potentially be achieved by using exogenous nitrate (NO3-). In this work, continuous experiments in bioreactors with anammox bacteria closely related to "Candidatus Brocadia caroliniensis" were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of short NO3- additions to reverse NO2- toxicity. The results show that a timely NO3- addition immediately after a NO2- stress event completely reversed the NO2- inhibition. This reversal occurs without NO3- being metabolized as evidence by lack of any 30N2 formation from 15N-NO3-. The maximum recovery rate was observed with 5 mM NO3- added for 3 days; however, slower but significant recovery was also observed with 5 mM NO3- for 1 day or 2 mM NO3- for 3 days. Without NO3- addition, long-term NO2- inhibition of anammox biomass resulted in irreversible damage of the cells. These results suggest that a short duration dose of NO3- to an anammox bioreactor can rapidly restore the activity of NO2--stressed anammox cells. On the basis of the results, a hypothesis about the detoxification mechanism related to narK genes in anammox bacteria is proposed and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangbin Li
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona , 1133 E. James E. Rogers Way, Tucson, Arizona 85721-001, United States
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona , 1133 E. James E. Rogers Way, Tucson, Arizona 85721-001, United States
| | - David Vilcherrez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona , 1133 E. James E. Rogers Way, Tucson, Arizona 85721-001, United States
| | - Stefan Weiss
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona , 1133 E. James E. Rogers Way, Tucson, Arizona 85721-001, United States
| | - Callie Gill
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona , 1133 E. James E. Rogers Way, Tucson, Arizona 85721-001, United States
| | - Mark J Krzmarzick
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Oklahoma State University , 207 Engineering, South Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078, United States
| | - Leif Abrell
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona , Tucson, Arizona 85721-0041, United States
- Department of Soil, Water & Environmental Science, University of Arizona , Tucson, Arizona 85721-0041, United States
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona , 1133 E. James E. Rogers Way, Tucson, Arizona 85721-001, United States
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Ochoa-Herrera V, Field JA, Luna-Velasco A, Sierra-Alvarez R. Microbial toxicity and biodegradability of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and shorter chain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). Environ Sci Process Impacts 2016; 18:1236-1246. [PMID: 27711852 DOI: 10.1039/c6em00366d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and related perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are emerging contaminants that have been widely applied in consumer and industrial applications for decades. However, PFOS has raised public concern due to its high bioaccumulative character, environmental persistence, and toxicity. Shorter PFASs such as perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) and polyfluoroalkyl compounds have been proposed as alternatives to PFOS but it is unclear whether these fluorinated substances pose a risk for public health and the environment. The objective of this research was to investigate the microbial toxicity and the susceptibility to microbial degradation of PFOS and several related fluorinated compounds, i.e., short-chain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl sulfonic and carboxylic acids. None of the compounds tested were toxic to the methanogenic activity of anaerobic wastewater sludge even at very high concentrations (up to 500 mg L-1). All PFASs evaluated were highly resistant to microbial degradation. PFOS was not reductively dehalogenated by the anaerobic microbial consortium even after very long periods of incubation (3.4 years). Similarly, the tested short chain perfluoroalkyl substances (i.e., PFBS and trifluoroacetic acid) and a polyfluoroalkyl PFOS analogue, 6 : 2 fluorotelomer sulfonic acid (FTSA) were also resistant to anaerobic biodegradation. Likewise, no conclusive evidence of microbial degradation was observed under aerobic conditions for any of the short-chain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids tested after 32 weeks of incubation. Collectively, these results indicate that PFOS and its alternatives such as short chain perfluoroalkyl sulfonates and carboxylates and their polyfluorinated homologues are highly resistant to microbial degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Ochoa-Herrera
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721-0011, USA. and Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Colegio de Ciencias e Ingeniería, El Politécnico, Diego de Robles y Vía Interoceánica, 17-1200-841, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721-0011, USA.
| | - Antonia Luna-Velasco
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721-0011, USA. and Centro de Investigación en Materiales Avanzados (CIMAV), Ave. Miguel de Cervantes 120, Industrial Chihuahua, 31109 Chihuahua, Mexico
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721-0011, USA.
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Olivares CI, Sierra-Alvarez R, Alvarez-Nieto C, Abrell L, Chorover J, Field JA. Microbial toxicity and characterization of DNAN (bio)transformation product mixtures. Chemosphere 2016; 154:499-506. [PMID: 27085064 PMCID: PMC5603335 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2016] [Revised: 03/28/2016] [Accepted: 04/03/2016] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
2,4-Dinitroanisole (DNAN) is an emerging insensitive munitions compound. It undergoes rapid (bio)transformation in soils and anaerobic sludge. The primary transformation pathway catalyzed by a combination of biotic and abiotic factors is nitrogroup reduction followed by coupling of reactive intermediates to form azo-dimers. Additional pathways include N-acetylation and O-demethoxylation. Toxicity due to (bio)transformation products of DNAN has received little attention. In this study, the toxicity of DNAN (bio)transformation monomer products and azo-dimer and trimer surrogates to acetoclastic methanogens and the marine bioluminescent bacterium, Allivibrio fischeri, were evaluated. Methanogens were severely inhibited by 3-nitro-4-methoxyaniline (MENA), with a 50%-inhibiting concentration (IC50) of 25 μM, which is more toxic than DNAN with the same assay, but posed a lower toxicity to Allivibrio fischeri (IC50 = 219 μM). On the other hand, N-(5-amino-2-methoxyphenyl) acetamide (Ac-DAAN) was the least inhibitory test-compound for both microbial targets. Azo-dimer and trimer surrogates were very highly toxic to both microbial systems, with a toxicity similar or stronger than that of DNAN. A semi-quantitative LC-QTOF-MS method was employed to determine product mixture profiles at different stages of biotransformation, and compared with the microbial toxicity of the product-mixtures formed. Methanogenic toxicity increased due to putative reactive nitroso-intermediates as DNAN was reduced. However, the inhibition later attenuated as dimers became the predominant products in the mixtures. In contrast, A. fischeri tolerated the initial biotransformation products but were highly inhibited by the predominant azo-dimer products formed at longer incubation times, suggesting these ultimate products are more toxic than DNAN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher I Olivares
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Cristina Alvarez-Nieto
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Leif Abrell
- Department of Soil, Water & Environmental Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Jon Chorover
- Department of Soil, Water & Environmental Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.
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Gonzalez-Estrella J, Gallagher S, Sierra-Alvarez R, Field JA. Iron sulfide attenuates the methanogenic toxicity of elemental copper and zinc oxide nanoparticles and their soluble metal ion analogs. Sci Total Environ 2016; 548-549:380-389. [PMID: 26803736 PMCID: PMC4760871 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2015] [Revised: 12/18/2015] [Accepted: 01/04/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Elemental copper (Cu(0)) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticle (NP) toxicity to methanogens has been attributed to the release of soluble metal ions. Iron sulfide (FeS) partially controls the soluble concentration of heavy metals and their toxicity in aquatic environments. Heavy metals displace the Fe from FeS forming poorly soluble metal sulfides in the FeS matrix. Therefore, FeS may be expected to attenuate the NP toxicity. This work assessed FeS as an attenuator of the methanogenic toxicity of Cu(0) and ZnO NPs and their soluble salt analogs. The toxicity attenuation capacity of fine (25-75μm) and coarse (500 to 1200μm) preparations of FeS (FeS-f and FeS-c respectively) was tested in the presence of highly inhibitory concentrations of CuCl2, ZnCl2 Cu(0) and ZnO NPs. FeS-f attenuated methanogenic toxicity better than FeS-c. The results revealed that 2.5× less FeS-f than FeS-c was required to recover the methanogenic activity to 50% (activity normalized to uninhibited controls). The results also indicated that a molar FeS-f/Cu(0) NP, FeS-f/ZnO NP, FeS-f/ZnCl2, and FeS-f/CuCl2 ratio of 2.14, 2.14, 4.28, and 8.56 respectively, was necessary to recover the methanogenic activity to >75%. Displacement experiments demonstrated that CuCl2 and ZnCl2 partially displaced Fe from FeS. As a whole, the results indicate that not all the sulfide in FeS was readily available to react with the soluble Cu and Zn ions which may explain the need for a large stoichiometric excess of FeS to highly attenuate Cu and Zn toxicity. Overall, this study provides evidence that FeS attenuates the toxicity caused by Cu(0) and ZnO NPs and their soluble ion analogs to methanogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Gonzalez-Estrella
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, United States.
| | - Sara Gallagher
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, United States
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, United States
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, United States
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Olivares CI, Field JA, Simonich M, Tanguay RL, Sierra-Alvarez R. Arsenic (III, V), indium (III), and gallium (III) toxicity to zebrafish embryos using a high-throughput multi-endpoint in vivo developmental and behavioral assay. Chemosphere 2016; 148:361-368. [PMID: 26824274 PMCID: PMC4754138 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.01.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2015] [Revised: 12/28/2015] [Accepted: 01/13/2016] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Gallium arsenide (GaAs), indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) and other III/V materials are finding increasing application in microelectronic components. The rising demand for III/V-based products is leading to increasing generation of effluents containing ionic species of gallium, indium, and arsenic. The ecotoxicological hazard potential of these streams is unknown. While the toxicology of arsenic is comprehensive, much less is known about the effects of In(III) and Ga(III). The embryonic zebrafish was evaluated for mortality, developmental abnormalities, and photomotor response (PMR) behavior changes associated with exposure to As(III), As(V), Ga(III), and In(III). The As(III) lowest observable effect level (LOEL) for mortality was 500 μM at 24 and 120 h post fertilization (hpf). As(V) exposure was associated with significant mortality at 63 μM. The Ga(III)-citrate LOEL was 113 μM at 24 and 120 hpf. There was no association of significant mortality over the tested range of In(III)-citrate (56-900 μM) or sodium citrate (213-3400 μM) exposures. Only As(V) resulted in significant developmental abnormalities with LOEL of 500 μM. Removal of the chorion prior to As(III) and As(V) exposure was associated with increased incidence of mortality and developmental abnormality suggesting that the chorion may normally attenuate mass uptake of these metals by the embryo. Finally, As(III), As(V), and In(III) caused PMR hypoactivity (49-69% of control PMR) at 900-1000 μM. Overall, our results represent the first characterization of multidimensional toxicity effects of III/V ions in zebrafish embryos helping to fill a significant knowledge gap, particularly in Ga(III) and In(III) toxicology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher I Olivares
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Michael Simonich
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, The Sinnhuber Aquatic Research Laboratory and the Environmental Health Sciences Center at Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA
| | - Robert L Tanguay
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, The Sinnhuber Aquatic Research Laboratory and the Environmental Health Sciences Center at Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.
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Olivares CI, Abrell L, Khatiwada R, Chorover J, Sierra-Alvarez R, Field JA. (Bio)transformation of 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN) in soils. J Hazard Mater 2016; 304:214-21. [PMID: 26551225 PMCID: PMC4695256 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2015.10.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2015] [Revised: 10/14/2015] [Accepted: 10/25/2015] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies have begun to assess the environmental fate and toxicity of 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN), an insensitive munition compound of interest to defense agencies. Aerobic and anaerobic DNAN biotransformation in soils was evaluated in this study. Under aerobic conditions, there was little evidence of transformation; most observed removal was attributed to adsorption and subsequent slow chemical reactions. Under anaerobic conditions, DNAN was reductively (bio)transformed and the rate of the transformation was positively correlated with soil organic carbon (OC) up to a threshold of 2.07% OC. H2 addition enhanced the nitroreduction rate compared to endogenous treatments lacking H2. Heat-killed treatments provided rates similar to the endogenous treatment, suggesting that abiotic factors play a role in DNAN reduction. Ten (bio)transformation products were detected by high-resolution mass spectrometry. The proposed transformation pathway involves reduction of DNAN to aromatic amines, with putative reactive nitroso-intermediates coupling with the amines to form azo dimers. Secondary reactions include N-alkyl substitution, O-demethylation (sometimes followed by dehydroxylation), and removal of an N-containing group. Globally, our results suggest that the main reaction DNAN undergoes in anaerobic soils is nitroreduction to 2-methoxy-5-nitroaniline (MENA) and 2,4-diaminoanisole (DAAN), followed by anaerobic coupling reactions yielding azo-dimers. The dimers were subsequently subject to further (bio)transformations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher I Olivares
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.
| | - Leif Abrell
- Department of Soil, Water & Environmental Science, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Raju Khatiwada
- Department of Soil, Water & Environmental Science, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Jon Chorover
- Department of Soil, Water & Environmental Science, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
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Ramos-Ruiz A, Field JA, Wilkening JV, Sierra-Alvarez R. Recovery of Elemental Tellurium Nanoparticles by the Reduction of Tellurium Oxyanions in a Methanogenic Microbial Consortium. Environ Sci Technol 2016; 50:1492-500. [PMID: 26735010 PMCID: PMC4738100 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b04074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
This research focuses on the microbial recovery of elemental tellurium (Te(0)) from aqueous streams containing soluble tellurium oxyanions, tellurate (Te(VI)), and tellurite (Te(IV)). An anaerobic mixed microbial culture occurring in methanogenic granular sludge was able to biocatalyze the reduction of both Te oxyanions to produce Te(0) nanoparticles (NPs) in sulfur-free medium. Te(IV) reduction was seven times faster than that of Te(VI), such that Te(IV) did not accumulate to a great extent during Te(VI) reduction. Endogenous substrates in the granular sludge provided the electron equivalents required to reduce Te oxyanions; however, the reduction rates were modestly increased with an exogenous electron donor such as H2. The effect of four redox mediators (anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate, hydroxocobalamin, riboflavin, and lawsone) was also tested. Riboflavin increased the rate of Te(IV) reduction eleven-fold and also enhanced the fraction Te recovered as extracellular Te(0) NPs from 21% to 64%. Lawsone increased the rate of Te(VI) reduction five-fold, and the fraction of Te recovered as extracellular material increased from 49% to 83%. The redox mediators and electron donors also impacted the morphologies and localization of Te(0) NPs, suggesting that NP production can be tailored for a particular application.
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Li G, Vilcherrez D, Carvajal-Arroyo JM, Sierra-Alvarez R, Field JA. Exogenous nitrate attenuates nitrite toxicity to anaerobic ammonium oxidizing (anammox) bacteria. Chemosphere 2016; 144:2360-2367. [PMID: 26610295 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [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: 08/12/2015] [Revised: 10/30/2015] [Accepted: 11/04/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Anaerobic ammonium oxidizing bacteria (anammox) can be severely inhibited by one of its main substrates, nitrite (NO2(-)). At present, there is limited information on the processes by which anammox bacteria are able to tolerate toxic NO2(-). Intracellular consumption or electrochemically driven (transmembrane proton motive force) NO2(-) export are considered the main mechanisms of NO2(-) detoxification. In this work, we evaluated the potential of exogenous nitrate (NO3(-)) on relieving NO2(-) toxicity, putatively facilitated by NarK, a NO3(-)/NO2(-) transporter encoded in the anammox genome. The relative contribution of NO3(-) to NO2(-) detoxification was found to be pH dependent. Exposure of anammox cells to NO2(-) in absence of their electron donating substrate, ammonium (NH4(+)), causes NO2(-) stress. At pH 6.7 and 7.0, the activity of NO2(-) stressed cells was respectively 0 and 27% of the non-stressed control activity (NO2(-) and NH4(+) fed simultaneously). Exogenous NO3(-) addition caused the recovery to 42% and 80% of the control activity at pH 6.7 and 7.0, respectively. The recovery of the activity of NO2(-) stressed cells improved with increasing NO3(-) concentration, the maximum recovery being achieved at 0.85 mM. The NO3(-) pre-incubation time is less significant at pH 7.0 than at pH 6.7 due to a more severe NO2(-) toxicity at lower pH. Additionally, NO3(-) caused almost complete attenuation of NO2(-) toxicity in cells exposed to the proton gradient disruptor carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone at pH 7.5, providing evidence that the NO3(-) attenuation is independent of the proton motive force. The absence of a measurable NO3(-) consumption (or NO3(-) dependent N2 production) during the batch tests leaves NO3(-) dependent active transport of NO2(-) as the only plausible explanation for the relief of NO2(-) inhibition. We suggest that anammox cells can use a secondary transport system facilitated by exogenous NO3(-) to alleviate NO2(-) toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangbin Li
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, 1133 E. James E. Rogers Way, Tucson, AZ 85721-001, USA.
| | - David Vilcherrez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, 1133 E. James E. Rogers Way, Tucson, AZ 85721-001, USA
| | - Jose Maria Carvajal-Arroyo
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, 1133 E. James E. Rogers Way, Tucson, AZ 85721-001, USA
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, 1133 E. James E. Rogers Way, Tucson, AZ 85721-001, USA
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, 1133 E. James E. Rogers Way, Tucson, AZ 85721-001, USA
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Olivares CI, Wang J, Luna CDS, Field JA, Abrell L, Sierra-Alvarez R. Continuous treatment of the insensitive munitions compound N-methyl-p-nitro aniline (MNA) in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) bioreactor. Chemosphere 2016; 144:1116-22. [PMID: 26454121 PMCID: PMC5605778 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.09.092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2015] [Revised: 08/29/2015] [Accepted: 09/24/2015] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
N-methyl-p-nitroaniline (MNA) is an ingredient of insensitive munitions (IM) compounds that serves as a plasticizer and helps reduce unwanted detonations. As its use becomes widespread, MNA waste streams will be generated, necessitating viable treatment options. We studied MNA biodegradation and its inhibition potential to a representative anaerobic microbial population in wastewater treatment, methanogens. Anaerobic biodegradation and toxicity assays were performed and an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor (UASB) was operated to test continuous degradation of MNA. MNA was transformed almost stoichiometrically to N-methyl-p-phenylenediamine (MPD). MPD was not mineralized; however, it was readily autoxidized and polymerized extensively upon aeration at pH = 9. In the UASB reactor, MNA was fully degraded up to a loading rate of 297.5 μM MNA d(-1). Regarding toxicity, MNA was very inhibitory to acetoclastic methanogens (IC50 = 103 μM) whereas MPD was much less toxic, causing only 13.9% inhibition at the highest concentration tested (1025 μM). The results taken as a whole indicate that anaerobic sludge can transform MNA to MPD continuously, and that the transformation decreases the cytotoxicity of the parent pollutant. MPD can be removed through extensive polymerization. These insights could help define efficient treatment options for waste streams polluted with MNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher I Olivares
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721-0011, USA
| | - Junqin Wang
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721-0011, USA
| | - Carlos D Silva Luna
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721-0011, USA; Departamento de Procesos y Tecnología, División de Ciencias Naturales e Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana - Unidad Cuajimalpa (UAM-C), Vasco de Quiroga 4871, Col. Santa Fe Cuajimalpa, Cuajimalpa de Morelos, C.P. 05300 México, D.F., Mexico
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721-0011, USA
| | - Leif Abrell
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210041, Tucson, AZ 85721-0041, USA; Department of Soil, Water & Environmental Science, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210038, Tucson, AZ 85721-0038, USA
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721-0011, USA.
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Zeng C, Ramos-Ruiz A, Field JA, Sierra-Alvarez R. Response to the comments on "Cadmium telluride leaching behavior: Discussion of Zeng et al. (2015)". J Environ Manage 2015; 164:65-66. [PMID: 26342268 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2015] [Accepted: 08/14/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Chao Zeng
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85704, USA.
| | - Adriana Ramos-Ruiz
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85704, USA
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85704, USA
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85704, USA
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Otero-González L, Field JA, Calderon IAC, Aspinwall CA, Shadman F, Zeng C, Sierra-Alvarez R. Fate of fluorescent core-shell silica nanoparticles during simulated secondary wastewater treatment. Water Res 2015; 77:170-178. [PMID: 25875926 PMCID: PMC4426230 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2015.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2014] [Revised: 03/09/2015] [Accepted: 03/22/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Increasing use of silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) in consumer products and industrial processes leads to SiO2 NP discharge into wastewater. Thus, there is a need to understand the fate of SiO2 NPs during wastewater treatment. However, the detection of SiO2 NPs in environmental systems is hindered by the elevated background levels of natural silicon. In this work, laboratory-synthesized fluorescent core-shell SiO2 NPs were used to study the fate of these NPs during secondary wastewater treatment. Fluorescent measurements provided an easy and fast method for SiO2 NP tracking. A laboratory-scale activated sludge system consisting of an aeration tank and a settler was fed with synthetic wastewater containing ca. 7.5 mg L(-1) of fluorescent SiO2 NPs for 30 days. SiO2 NPs were effectively removed from the wastewater (>96%) during the first 6 days, however the concentration of SiO2 NPs in the effluent gradually increased afterwards and the NP discharge was as high as 65% of the input after 30 days of NP dosing. The poor removal of the SiO2 NPs was related to the high colloidal stability of the NPs in the wastewater and their limited propensity to biosorption. Although some degree of NP adsorption on the biomass was observed using fluorescence microscopy, the affinity of SiO2 NPs for the activated sludge was not enough for a sustained and effective removal of the SiO2 NPs from the wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lila Otero-González
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Isen A C Calderon
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210041, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Craig A Aspinwall
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210041, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Farhang Shadman
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Chao Zeng
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
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Zeng C, Ramos-Ruiz A, Field JA, Sierra-Alvarez R. Cadmium telluride (CdTe) and cadmium selenide (CdSe) leaching behavior and surface chemistry in response to pH and O2. J Environ Manage 2015; 154:78-85. [PMID: 25710599 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.02.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [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: 12/22/2014] [Revised: 02/15/2015] [Accepted: 02/18/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Cadmium telluride (CdTe) and cadmium selenide (CdSe) are increasingly being applied in photovoltaic solar cells and electronic components. A major concern is the public health and ecological risks associated with the potential release of toxic cadmium, tellurium, and/or selenium species. In this study, different tests were applied to investigate the leaching behavior of CdTe and CdSe in solutions simulating landfill leachate. CdTe showed a comparatively high leaching potential. In the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) and Waste Extraction Test (WET), the concentrations of cadmium released from CdTe were about 1500 and 260 times higher than the regulatory limit (1 mg/L). In contrast, CdSe was relatively stable and dissolved selenium in both leaching tests was below the regulatory limit (1 mg/L). Nonetheless, the regulatory limit for cadmium was exceeded by 5- to 6- fold in both tests. Experiments performed under different pH and redox conditions confirmed a marked enhancement in CdTe and CdSe dissolution both at acidic pH and under aerobic conditions. These findings are in agreement with thermodynamic predictions. Taken as a whole, the results indicate that recycling of decommissioned CdTe-containing devices is desirable to prevent the potential environmental release of toxic cadmium and tellurium in municipal landfills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Zeng
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85704, USA.
| | - Adriana Ramos-Ruiz
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85704, USA
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85704, USA
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85704, USA
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Gonzalez-Estrella J, Puyol D, Gallagher S, Sierra-Alvarez R, Field JA. Elemental copper nanoparticle toxicity to different trophic groups involved in anaerobic and anoxic wastewater treatment processes. Sci Total Environ 2015; 512-513:308-315. [PMID: 25634735 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.01.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [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: 10/22/2014] [Revised: 01/14/2015] [Accepted: 01/18/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Elemental copper nanoparticles (Cu(0) NPs) are potentially inhibitory to the different key microbial trophic groups involved in biological wastewater treatment processes. Cu-based NPs are known to be toxic to methanogens at low concentrations. However, very little is known about the toxic effect of Cu(0) NPs on other microbial groups involved in either upper trophic levels of anaerobic digestion or anoxic nitrogen removal processes. This study evaluated the toxicity of Cu(0) NPs to glucose fermentation, syntrophic propionate oxidation and denitrification in shaken batch bioassays with soluble substrates. Batch experiments were also supplemented with CuCl2 to evaluate the inhibitory impact of soluble Cu(II) ions. Syntrophic propionate oxidation and glucose fermentation were the least and most inhibited processes with inhibition constant (Ki) values of 0.202 and 0.047 mM of added Cu(0) NPs, respectively. Further analyses revealed that the Ki values calculated as a function of the free soluble Cu concentration were <0.003 mM for every biological process tested and most of these Ki values were similar in order of magnitude regardless of whether the Cu source was CuCl2 or Cu(0) NPs. The results taken as a whole indicate that Cu(0) NPs are toxic to all the microbial processes studied. Therefore, Cu(0) NPs can potentially be an important inhibitor of anaerobic wastewater treatment processes that rely on these trophic groups. The evidence suggests that the inhibitory impact of Cu(0) NPs was mainly due to the release of toxic Cu(II) ions originating from the corrosion and dissolution of Cu(0) NPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Gonzalez-Estrella
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.
| | - Daniel Puyol
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Sara Gallagher
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Jim A Field
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
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