Microbial Diversity and Bioremediation of a Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Aquifer (Vega Baja, Puerto Rico)

Enid M. Rodríguez-Martínez, Ernie X. Pérez, Christopher W. Schadt, Jizhong Zhou and Arturo A. Massol-Deyá
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Enid M. Rodríguez-Martínez: Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, P.O. Box 9012, Mayagüez, PR 00681, Puerto Rico
Ernie X. Pérez: Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, P.O. Box 9012, Mayagüez, PR 00681, Puerto Rico
Christopher W. Schadt: Institute for Environmental Genomics and Department of Botany and Microbiology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA
Jizhong Zhou: Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, USA
Arturo A. Massol-Deyá: Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, P.O. Box 9012, Mayagüez, PR 00681, Puerto Rico

IJERPH, 2006, vol. 3, issue 3, 1-9

Abstract: Hydrocarbon contamination of groundwater resources has become a major environmental and human health concern in many parts of the world. Our objectives were to employ both culture and culture-independent techniques to characterize the dynamics of microbial community structure within a fluidized bed reactor used to bioremediate a diesel-contaminated groundwater in a tropical environment. Under normal operating conditions, 97 to 99% of total hydrocarbons were removed with only 14 min hydraulic retention time. Over 25 different cultures were isolated from the treatment unit (96% which utilized diesel constituents as sole carbon source). Approximately 20% of the isolates were also capable of complete denitrification to nitrogen gas. Sequence analysis of 16S rDNA demonstrated ample diversity with most belonging to the ?, ? and ? subdivision of the Proteobacteria, Bacilli, and Actinobacteria groups. Moreover, the genetic constitution of the microbial community was examined at multiple time points with a Functional Gene Array (FGA) containing over 12,000 probes for genes involved in organic degradation and major biogeochemical cycles. Total community DNA was extracted and amplified using an isothermal ?29 polymerase-based technique, labeled with Cy5 dye, and hybridized to the arrays in 50% formimide overnight at 50°C. Cluster analysis revealed comparable profiles over the course of treatment suggesting the early selection of a very stable microbial community. A total of 270 genes for organic contaminant degradation (including naphthalene, toluene [aerobic and anaerobic], octane, biphenyl, pyrene, xylene, phenanthrene, and benzene); and 333 genes involved in metabolic activities (nitrite and nitrous oxide reductases [ nir S, nir K, and nos Z], dissimilatory sulfite reductases [dsr AB ], potential metal reducing C-type cytochromes, and methane monooxygenase [ pmo A]) were repeatedly detected. Genes for degradation of MTBE, nitroaromatics and chlorinated compounds were also present, indicating a broad catabolic potential of the treatment unit. FGA’s demonstrated the early establishment of a diverse community with concurrent aerobic and anaerobic processes contributing to the bioremediation process.

Keywords: Bioremediation; functional gene microarray; biofilm; tropical environments (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2006
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