Microbial community analyses of three distinct, liquid cultures that degrade methyl tert-butyl ether using anaerobic metabolism

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) is a prevalent groundwater contaminant. In this study, three distinct MTBE-degrading, anaerobic cultures were derived from MTBE-contaminated aquifer material: cultures NW1, NW2 and NW3. The electron acceptors used are anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AQDS; NW1), sulfate (NW2) and fumarate (NW3), respectively. About 1–2 mM MTBE is consistently degraded within 20–30 days in each culture. The 16S rDNA-based amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) was used to analyze the microbial community in each culture. Results indicate novel microorganisms (i.e. no closely related known genera or species) catalyze anaerobic MTBE biodegradation, and microbial diversity varied with different electron acceptors. Tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) accumulated to nearly stoichiometric levels, and these cultures will be critical to understanding the factors that influence TBA accumulation versus degradation. The cultures presented here are the first stable anaerobic MTBE-degrading cultures that have been characterized with respect to taxonomy.