Methanotrophic bacteria and facilitated transport of pollutants in aquifer material
- Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States)
In-situ stimulation of methanotrophic bacteria has been considered for aquifer remediation. Experimental results indicate that both colloidal suspensions containing methanotrophic cells and the soluble extracellular polymers produced by methanotrophic cells have the potential to enhance the transport and removal of other environmental contaminants such as polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons and transition metals in aquifer material. Three methanotrophic bacteria were used in the experiments: Methylomonas albus BG8, Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b, and Methylocystis parvus OBBP. The distribution coefficients for Cd with extraceullular polymers were of the same order as that obtained with the aquifer sand, indicating polymers from the methanotrophic bacteria could act to increase the transport of Cd in a porous medium. Polymer from BG8 significantly reduced the apparent distribution coefficient for Cd with an aquifer sand. [[sup 14]C]phenanthrene also sorbed to extracellular polymer and to washed, suspended methanotrophic cells. The exopolymer of BG8 and OBBP significantly reduced the apparent distribution coefficient (K[sub d]) for phenanthrene with aquifer sand. The distribution coefficients for phenanthrene with the methanotrophic cells were an order of magnitude greater than those previously reported for other heterotrophic bacteria. Cells of the methanotrophs also significantly reduced the apparent K[sub d] for phenanthrene with an aquifer sand. The three strains of methanotrophs displayed mobility in a column of packed sand, and strain OBBP reduced the retardation coefficient of phenanthrene with an aquifer sand by 27%. These data indicate that both extracellular polymer and mobile cells of methanotrophic bacteria display a capacity to facilitate the mobility of pollutant metals and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in aquifer material. 48 refs., 3 figs., 4 tabs.
- OSTI ID:
- 6875397
- Journal Information:
- Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (United States), Journal Name: Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (United States) Vol. 60:10; ISSN AEMIDF; ISSN 0099-2240
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
540220* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AQUIFERS
BACTERIA
BIODEGRADATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
CONTAMINATION
DECOMPOSITION
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
MASS TRANSFER
METALS
METHANOTROPHIC BACTERIA
MICROORGANISMS
MOBILITY
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTANTS
SORPTION