Removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from oil-contaminated Kuwaiti soil

In the uncontaminated farm soil, more than 80% of the supplemented acenaphthene, fluoranthene, and pyrene (100 mg/100 g soil) decreased in 90 days, while ratio of removal was about 20%, 30%, and 0%, respectively, in the Kuwaiti oil-contaminated soil. Simultaneous addition of naphthalene, phenanthrene, and anthrathene (100 mg of each compound/100 g soil) led the acenaphthene to a decrease of about 20% to 45% but not of fluoranthene and pyrene. Addition of the farm soil to the Kuwaiti soil did not enhance the decrease of these three PAHs.     

Physiological and biochemical responses of rice (Oryza sativa L.) to phenanthrene and pyrene

Phenanthrene (Phe) and pyrene (Pyr) are two typical polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) found in contaminated soil. This study investigated physiological and biochemical responses of rice (Oryza sativa L.) to PAH stress after they were planted in soils contaminated with Phe and Pyr, in the presence or absence of a PAH-degrading bacteria (Acinetobacteria sp.). A number of parameters including biomass and water, chlorophyll and chlorophyll a/b ratio, electrolyte leakage, activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase, and soluble carbohydrate and soluble protein contents were monitored. Results show that rice plants have good resistance and tolerance to lower levels of PAHs stress, while adding high levels of PAHs to soils resulted in adverse effects on rice plants such as a reduction in biomass and damage to photosynthetic function. Water content and SOD activities were the most sensitive indicators of PAH stress among the observed parameters. Inoculation with PAH-degrading bacteria promoted growth and photosynthesis of rice.     

Selecting plants and nitrogen rates to vegetate crude-oil-contaminated soil

Phytoremediation can be effective for remediating contaminated soils in situ and generally requires the addition of nitrogen (N) to increase plant growth. Our research objectives were to evaluate seedling emergence and survival of plant species and to determine the effects of N additions on plant growth in crude-oil-contaminated soil. From a preliminary survival study, three warm-season grasses--pearlmillet (Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R. Br.), sudangrass (Sorghum sudanense [Piper] Stapf [Piper]), and browntop millet (Brachiaria ramosa L.)--and one warm-season legume--jointvetch (Aeschynomene americana L.)--were chosen to determine the influence of the N application rate on plant growth in soil contaminated with weathered crude oil. Nitrogen was added based on total petroleum hydrocarbon-C:added N ratios (TPH-C:TN) ranging from 44:1 to 11:1. Plant species were grown for 7 wk. Root and shoot biomass were determined and root length and surface area were analyzed. Pearlmillet and sudangrass had higher shoot and root biomass when grown at a TPH-C:TN (inorganic) ratio of 11:1 and pearlmillet had higher root length and surface area when grown at 11:1 compared with the other species. By selecting appropriate plant species and determining optimum N application rates, increased plant root growth and an extended rhizosphere influence should lead to enhanced phytoremediation of crude-oil-contaminated soil.     

Screening of plants for phytoremediation of oil-contaminated soil

Several species of ornamental flowering plants were evaluated regarding their phytoremediation ability for the cleanup of oil-contaminated soil in Japanese environmental conditions. Thirty-three species of plants were grown in oil-contaminated soil, and Mimosa, Zinnia, Gazania, and cypress vine were selected for further assessment on the basis of their favorable initial growth. No significant difference was observed in the above-ground and under-ground dry matter weight of Gazania 180 days after sowing between contaminated and non-contaminated plots. However, the other 3 species of plants died by the 180^th day, indicating that Gazania has an especially strong tolerance for oil-contaminated soil. The total petroleum hydrocarbon concentration of the soils in which the 4 species of plants were grown decreased by 45–49% by the 180^th day. Compared to an irrigated plot, the dehydrogenase activity of the contaminated soil also increased significantly, indicating a phytoremediation effect by the 4 tested plants. Mimosa, Zinnia, and cypress vine all died by the 180^th day after seeding, but the roots themselves became a source of nutrients for the soil microorganisms, which led to a phytoremediation effect by increase in the oil degradation activity. It has been indicated that Gazania is most appropriate for phytoremediation of oil-contaminated soil.     

Effect of Medicago sativa L. and compost on organic and inorganic pollutant removal from a mixed contaminated soil and risk assessment using ecotoxicological tests

Several Gentle Remediation Options (GRO), e.g., plant-based options (phytoremediation), singly and combined with soil amendments, can be simultaneously efficient for degrading organic pollutants and either stabilizing or extracting trace elements (TEs). Here, a 5-month greenhouse trial was performed to test the efficiency of Medicago sativa L., singly and combined with a compost addition (30% w/w), to treat soils contaminated by petroleum hydrocarbons (PHC), Co and Pb collected at an auto scrap yard. After 5 months, total soil Pb significantly decreased in the compost-amended soil planted with M. sativa, but not total soil Co. Compost incorporation into the soil promoted PHC degradation, M. sativa growth and survival, and shoot Pb concentrations [3.8 mg kg^?1 dry weight (DW)]. Residual risk assessment after the phytoremediation trial showed a positive effect of compost amendment on plant growth and earthworm development. The O₂ uptake by soil microorganisms was lower in the compost-amended soil, suggesting a decrease in microbial activity. This study underlined the benefits of the phytoremediation option based on M. sativa cultivation and compost amendment for remediating PHC- and Pb-contaminated soils.     

Influence of organic and inorganic soil amendments on plant growth in crude oil-contaminated soil

Phytoremediation can be a viable alternative to traditional, more costly remediation techniques. Three greenhouse studies were conducted to evaluate plant growth with different soil amendments in crude oil-contaminated soil. Growth of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L., cultivar: Riley), bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L., cultivar: Common), crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis, cultivar: Large), fescue (Lolium arundinaceum Schreb., cultivar: Kentucky 31), and ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam., cultivar: Marshall) was determined in crude oil-contaminated soil amended with either inorganic fertilizer, hardwood sawdust, papermill sludge, broiler litter or unamended (control). In the first study, the addition of broiler litter reduced seed germination for ryegrass, fescue, and alfalfa. In the second study, bermudagrass grown in broiler litter-amended soil produced the most shoot biomass, bermudagrass produced the most root biomass, and crabgrass and bermudagrass produced the most root length. In the third study, soil amended with broiler litter resulted in the greatest reduction in gravimetric total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) levels across the six plant treatments following the 14-wk study. Ryegrass produced more root biomass than any other species when grown in inorganic fertilizer- or hardwood sawdust + inorganic fertilizer-amended soil. The studies demonstrated that soil amendments and plant species selection were important considerations for phytoremediation of crude oil-contaminated soil.     

Bioelectrochemical stimulation of petroleum hydrocarbon degradation in saline soil using U-tube microbial fuel cells

Bioremediation is a cost-effective and eco-friendly approach to decontaminate soils polluted by petroleum hydrocarbons. However, this technique usually requires a long time due to the slow degradation rate by bacteria. By applying U-tube microbial fuel cells (MFCs) designed here, the degradation rate of petroleum hydrocarbons close to the anode (<1 cm) was enhanced by 120% from 6.9 ± 2.5% to 15.2 ± 0.6% with simultaneous 125 ± 7 C of charge output (0.85 ± 0.05 mW/m(2) , 1 kΩ) in the tested period (25 days). Hydrocarbon fingerprint analysis showed that the degradation rate of both alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was accelerated. The decrease of initial water content from 33% to 28% and 23% resulted in a decrease on charge output and hydrocarbon degradation rate, which could be attributed to the increase of internal resistance. A salt accumulation was observed in each reactor due to the evaporation of water from the air-cathode, possibly inhibited the activity of exoelectrogenic bacteria (EB) and resulted in the elimination of the current at the end of the tested period. The number of hydrocarbon degradation bacteria (HDB) in soil close to the anode increased by nearly two orders of magnitude in the MFC assisted system (373 ± 56 × 10(3) CFU/g-soil) than that in the disconnected control (8 ± 2 × 10(3) CFU/g-soil), providing a solid evidence for in situ biostimulation of HDB growth by colonization of EB in the same system.     

秦岭典型林分夏秋两季根际与非根际土壤微生物群落结构

本试验主要以秦岭山脉锐齿栎(Quercus aliena var.acutidentata)、油松(Pinus tabuliformis)、华山松(Pinus armandii)、云杉(Picea asperata)4种典型林分为对象,利用BIOLOG微孔板法研究4种林分夏、秋两季根际与非根际土壤微生物群落代谢多样性。研究表明:(1)夏、秋季土壤根际与非根际的平均颜色变化率(AWCD)值截然不同,除秋季云杉外,其余处理均表现为非根际根际,且AWCD明显受到季节的影响。(2)夏秋两季4种林分根际与非根际土壤微生物功能多样性之间差异显著,其中锐齿栎林夏秋两季均表现为根际小于非根际,而其它3种针叶林则是夏季根际小于非根际,秋季根际大于非根际;锐齿栎林根际与非根际均为秋季低于夏季,其他3种针叶林则是非根际土秋季低于夏季,而根际土秋季高于夏季。(3)主成分分析显示各土壤微生物功能多样性具有显著差异,且4种林分夏秋两季根际与非根际主成分综合得分也有所不同,4种林分非根际土综合得分锐齿栎最高,其次是华山松和云杉,油松最低;根际土夏秋规律不同,夏季华山松和油松较高,云杉最低,秋季油松和云杉较高,锐齿栎最低,且综合得分与多样性指数达到显著或极显著的正相关。(4)冗余分析表明土壤理化性质的综合作用对土壤微生物群落功能多样性有显著影响。     

Efficiency of defined strains and of soil consortia in the biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) mixtures

The microbiological characteristics of the bacterialdegradation of mixtures of five polycyclic aromatichydrocarbons (PAH), phenanthrene, fluorene,anthracene, fluoranthene and pyrene, wereinvestigated. Three pure bacterial strains using oneor several of these PAH as carbon sources wereselected. The interactions between PAH during thedegradation of PAH pairs by each of these strains werestudied and their effects on the kinetics and thebalance of degradation were characterised. Competitionbetween PAH and degradation by cometabolism werefrequently observed. Mixed cultures of two or threestrains, although possessing the global capacity tomineralise the set of five PAH, achieved limiteddegradation of the mixture. In contrast, a consortiumfrom a PAH-contaminated soil readily mineralised thefive-PAH mixture. The results suggested that soilconsortia possessed a wider variety of strains capableto compensate for the competitive inhibition betweenPAH as well as specialised strains that mineralisedpotentially inhibitory PAH metabolites produced bycometabolism.     

The use of hydrocarbon analyses for environmental assessment and remediation

Battelle Ocean Sciences has developed an analytical approach to identify and’ quantify petroleum products, coal products, and individual hydrocarbon components at trace levels in complex environmental matrices. The hydrocarbon analysis strategy uses capillary gas chromatography/flame ionization detection for alkane and total oil analysis, combined with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry for polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon analysis. The method provides environmentally realistic analyte detection limits (parts per trillion in water, parts per billion in sediments) and an analyte list that is designed specifically for petroleum and coal‐based products. Results are compared to a detailed computerized library of total, water‐soluble, and degraded hydrocarbon products. The systematic data interpretation strategy maximizes the accuracy of petroleum and coal product identification in environmental matrices and represents a vast improvement over standard EPA methodology.     

Probabilistic cancer risk of human intake of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-contaminated soil and dust via hand-to-mouth transfer

Probabilistic risk models were developed for evaluating the health risk due to ingesting polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-contaminated outdoor soil and indoor dust particles through hand-to-mouth activities. The cancer risk and its influencing factors among residents were then assessed and compared by applying the Monte Carlo method to identify the most significant harmful scenarios and factors. The results showed that toddlers, children, and teens were at the highest risk, followed by infants, adults, and seniors. For children, the probability that the risk surpassed 10^?6 was approximately 15%, compared with 5% for toddlers and teens. Indoor dust posed a more serious threat than outdoor soil, while indoor risk was mainly due to contaminated particles adhered to hard surfaces. The most influential variables for risk were the frequency of hand-to-mouth events, the potency equivalency factor relative to the Benzo (a) pyrene of PAHs for indoor dust, the dust surface load on hard and soft horizontal surfaces, and the saliva extraction factor. It indicates that implementing measures to manage and prevent health risks, especially for toddlers, children, and teens, is essential. It is useful for local residents to implement measures aimed at managing health risk and for local government to propose and implement pollution control policies.     

Influence of catclaw Mimosa monancistra on the dissipation of soil PAHs

Phytoremediation is a cost-effective biotechnology for decontamination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)-polluted soils. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to determine the growth of Mimosa monancistra, a N2-fixing leguminous plants, and its capacity to remove phenanthrene, anthracene, and benzo(a)pyrene (BaP)from soil. The PAHs decreased shoot and root dry biomass of M. monancistra 2.7- and 3.9-fold, respectively, compared to uncontaminated soil and inhibited nodule formation. The removal of phenanthrene and anthracene was similar in vegetated and unvegetated soil, but the dissipation of BaP was significantly faster in vegetated soil as compared to unvegetated soil after 14, 56, 70, and 90 d. After 90 d, dissipation of BaP was 96% in vegetated soil and 87% in unvegetated soil. Nitrification and ammonification were not affected by the addition of PAHs as concentrations of NH4+, NO2-, and NO3- were similar in contaminated and uncontaminated vegetated soil. Growth of M. monancistra was inhibited by contamination with hydrocarbons, but removal of BaP was accelerated in the rhizosphere.     

Phytoremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil: part I. Dissipation of target contaminants

Phytoremediation has been demonstrated to be a viable cleanup alternative for soils contaminated with petroleum products. This study evaluated the application of phytoremediation to soil from a manufactured gas plant (MGP) site with high concentrations of recalcitrant, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Two greenhouse studies investigated the potential dissipation and plant translocation of PAHs by fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the first experiment and zucchini (Curcubita pepo Raven) in the second. The MGP soil was highly hydrophobic and initially inhibited plant growth. Two unplanted controls were established with and without fertilization. In the first experiment, concentrations of PAHs decreased significantly in all treatments after 12 mo. Plant biomass and microbial numbers were statistically equivalent among plant species. PAH concentrations in plant biomass were negligible for fescue and switchgrass. In the second experiment, zucchini enhanced the dissipation of several PAHs after 90 d of treatment when compared to the unvegetated soil. Plant tissue concentrations of PAHs were not elevated in the zucchini roots and shoots, and PAHs were not detectable in the fruit.     

Mycorrhizal colonization and microbial community structure in the rhizosphere of annual ryegrass grown in pyrene‐amended soils

In an 182‐d lightroom experiment, annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) was grown in two soils under conditions of high and low fertility to examine the effect of pyrene (500 mg kg^‐1) on plant shoot biomass, mycorrhizal colonization, and soil microbial community structure. Treatments were destructively sampled every 14 d. Plant shoot biomass remained relatively unaffected by pyrene in either soil. Mycorrhizal colonization was only briefly affected by pyrene in one soil, but was unaffected in the other. Changes in soil microbial community structure were measured with whole soil fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) profiles. Differences in soil microbial community structure were observed between planted and nonplanted treatments at both fertility levels, but these differences were unrelated to the presence of pyrene. The bulk soil was associated primarily with fatty acid biomarkers for Gram‐positive bacteria, while the rhizosphere was associated primarily with the fatty acid biomarkers associated with protozoa. Differences in microbial community structure were observed between the two soils. Methylene chloride‐extractable pyrene decreased in nonplanted and planted treatments of one soil, but decreased only in nonplanted treatments of the other soil. These results suggest the potential for phytoremediation to differ among soils.     

Phenanthrene biodegradation and the interaction of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas putida</Emphasis> BS3701 and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Burkholderia</Emphasis> sp. BS3702 in plant rhizosphere

The interaction between the strains degrading polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, Pseudomonas putida BS3701 and Burkholderia sp. BS3702, was studied in the course of phenanthrene degradation in plant rhizosphere. Strain BS3702 was shown to accumulate 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (which is toxic for plants); it was then utilized by strain BS3701, which thereby increased the resistance of plants to the pollutant and to the toxic intermediate. With this type of interaction (cooperation), the efficiency of phenanthrene degradation was noted to decrease.     

Phytoremediation of polycyclic hydrocarbon contaminated soil: part II. Impact on ecotoxicity

Several biological assays were used to evaluate the toxic effects of contaminants in soil after phytoremediation. During the treatment process, significant decreases in overall toxicity were observed. Specifically, earthworm survivability and lettuce germination increased over the study period. Microbial respiration improved, but only in planted treatments. Toxicity and total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations showed some correlation, but the relationships generally were not significant. Soil moisture was less of a predictor for biological responses. The presence of plants did not provide a clear advantage for improving toxicity compared to unplanted treatments.     

Evaluation of Amycolaptosis sp. Ver12 as a potential degrader of benzo(b)fluoranthene

Benzo(b)fluoranthene (BbF) is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) with five fused benzene rings; it is a highly recalcitrant compound and a priority environmental pollutant due to its detrimental effects on human health and the survival of wild animals. Biodegradation of BbF by microorganisms is an attractive alternative, and few studies have been focused on this issue. In this work, bacteria with the ability to degrade BbF were isolated and selected. The capability of the isolates to tolerate concentrations of 50 and 75 mg l⁻¹ of BbF in liquid medium was evaluated. The selected isolates were identified by the 16S rRNA gene sequencing as belonging to Bacillus, Gordonia, Pseudomonas, Rhodococcus, Ochrobactrum, and Amycolatopsis. All isolates were tolerant and grew at the BbF concentrations tested, some isolates were more competitive than others, and the most prominent was Amycolatopsis sp. Ver12, which removed 47% of BbF, furthermore, with the addition of yeast extract, removed 59% of the compound. In summary, the report shows that Amycolatopsis sp. Ver12 can degrade BbF efficiently and could be considered for bioremediation of BbF-contaminated environments.     

Genotoxicity studies with mineral oils; effects of oils on the microbial mutagenicity of precursor mutagens and genotoxic metabolites

In vitro genotoxicity assays are extensively used to predict carcinogenic activity in vivo. The standard microbial mutagenicity assays however often fail to yield positive results with mineral oils which are carcinogenic to mice in long-term skin-cancer studies. A comprehensive programme of studies has therefore investigated the basis of this apparently anomalous behaviour. This investigation has addressed the possible effects of oils on the bioactivation of precursor mutagens and the disposition of mutagenic metabolites by studying the microbial mutagenicity of selected precursor mutagens (benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[a]anthracene, 2-aminoanthracene and 2-naphthylamine) and intrinsically reactive mutagens [+/- )-benzo[a]pyrene-4,5-oxide and (+/-)-7 beta,8 alpha-dihydroxy-9 alpha,10 alpha-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene) in the presence and absence of mineral oils. Notably the mutagenicity associated with the deliberate additions of these mutagens or precursor mutagens to oils was readily detected by the microbial assays. The mutagenicity of only one of the precursor mutagens, benzo[a]pyrene, was significantly reduced by the oils, and then only in the standard plate-incorporation assay. Interestingly the degree of suppression appeared to be related to the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon content of the oils. In the case of 2-aminoanthracene large enhancements in its mutagenicity were observed in the presence of oils. These latter findings appear to be due to effects of oils on the bioactivation of precursor mutagens rather than on the disposition of their bioactivation products. The mutagenicity of intrinsically reactive mutagens, of a type generated by bioactivation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, was not significantly reduced in the presence of mineral oils. This indicates that it is unlikely that components in oils trap or facilitate the deactivation of ultimate mutagens whether these pre-exist in the oil or are formed from precursors by bioactivation in the in vitro test system. Viewed overall these results suggest that mineral oils judged to be carcinogenic on the basis of in vivo studies in mouse skin may possess only very weak genotoxic potential. While this potential is likely to be a prerequisite for carcinogenic action, the current results cause attention to be focussed on other factors, e.g. promotion, as potentially important determinants of the carcinogenic potencies of mineral oils in mouse skin.     

Review Degradation of microbial polyesters

Microbial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), one of the largest groups of thermoplastic polyesters are receiving much attention as biodegradable substitutes for non-degradable plastics. Poly(D-3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is the most ubiquitous and most intensively studied PHA. Microorganisms degrading these polyesters are widely distributed in various environments. Although various PHB-degrading microorganisms and PHB depolymerases have been studied and characterized, there are still many groups of microorganisms and enzymes with varying properties awaiting various applications. Distributions of PHB-degrading microorganisms, factors affecting the biodegradability of PHB, and microbial and enzymatic degradation of PHB are discussed in this review. We also propose an application of a new isolated, thermophilic PHB-degrading microorganism, Streptomyces strain MG, for producing pure monomers of PHA and useful chemicals, including D-3-hydroxycarboxylic acids such as D-3-hydroxybutyric acid, by enzymatic degradation of PHB.