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PubMed2006

Toxicity and biodegradability of sulfonamides and products of their photocatalytic degradation in aqueous solutions.

The photocatalytic degradation of sulfacetamide, sulfathiazole, sulfamethoxazole and sulfadiazine in water solutions during their illumination of UV radiation (lambda(max) 366 nm) with TiO2 catalyst was examined. The growth-inhibition effect of sulfonamides and intermediate products theirs photodegradation was investigated in aqueous solution with the green alga Chlorella vulgaris. The biodegradability of the investigated compounds was determined in the illuminated solutions and is expressed as Biochemical Oxygen Demand. It was found that all of the investigated sulfonamides in the initial solutions were resistant to biodegradation and were toxic relative to C. vulgaris. The toxicity (EC50 values) relative to C. vulgaris increased in the following order sulfacetamide, sulfathiazole, sulfamethoxazole, sulfadiazine. All of the investigated sulfonamides undergo photocatalytic degradation. The toxicity of intermediate products of the sulfonamides degradation was significantly lower than the toxicity of sulfonamides in the initial solutions and was dependent on illumination time and degradation rate. The intermediate products of photocatalysis in contrast to the initial sulfonamides, might be mineralized using biological methods.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗

PubMed2006

Solubilization, solution equilibria, and biodegradation of PAH's under thermophilic conditions.

Biodegradation rates of PAHs are typically low at mesophilic conditions and it is believed that the kinetics of degradation is controlled by PAH solubility and mass transfer rates. Solubility tests were performed on phenanthrene, fluorene and fluoranthene at 20 degrees C, 40 degrees C and 60 degrees C and, as expected, a significant increase in the equilibrium solubility concentration and of the rate of dissolution of these polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was observed with increasing temperature. A first-order model was used to describe the PAH dissolution kinetics and the thermodynamic property changes associated with the dissolution process (enthalpy, entropy and Gibb's free energy of solution) were evaluated. Further, other relevant thermodynamic properties for these PAHs, including the activity coefficients at infinite dilution, Henry's law constants and octanol-water partition coefficients, were calculated in the temperature range 20-60 degrees C. In parallel with the dissolution studies, three thermophilic Geobacilli were isolated from compost that grew on phenanthrene at 60 degrees C and degraded the PAH more rapidly than other reported mesophiles. Our results show that while solubilization rates of PAHs are significantly enhanced at elevated temperatures, the biodegradation of PAHs under thermophilic conditions is likely mass transfer limited due to enhanced degradation rates.

Bacillaceae↗

PubMed2006

Combined effect of adsorption and biodegradation of biological activated carbon on H2S biotrickling filtration.

In order to evaluate the combined effect of adsorption and biodegradation of H(2)S on activated carbon surface in biotrickling filtration, four laboratory-scale biofiltration columns were operated simultaneously for 120h to investigate the mechanisms involved in treating synthetic H(2)S streams using biological activated carbon (BAC). The first three columns (A, B, C) contained a mixture of activated carbon and glass beads, with the carbons (BAC or virgin activated carbon (VAC)) and conditions (with or without liquid medium recirculation) differentiated. The last column (D) used 100% glass beads with liquid medium recirculation. Air streams containing 45ppmv H(2)S were passed through the columns at 4s of gas retention time (GRT) and liquid flow rate was set at 0.71mlmin(-1). Column D got its breakthrough in 3min of operation, indicating a negligible contribution of glass beads to the adsorption of H(2)S. The removal efficiency (RE) of Columns B and C using VAC dropped quickly to 30% within the first 8h, and afterwards continued to drop further but slowly. Column A using BAC stayed at 25% of RE throughout the operation time. A thorough investigation of the H(2)S oxidation products, i.e., various S species in both aqueous (recirculation media) and solid phases (BAC and VAC), was conducted using ICP-OES, IC, XRF, and CHNS elemental analyzer. BAC demonstrated a better performance than columns with adsorption only. Water film was found to enhance H(2)S removal. The percentage of sulphate in the total sulphur of the BAC system improved to twice of that of VAC system, indicating sulphate is the main product of H(2)S biofiltration. The observed pH drop in BAC system double confirmed that the presence of biodegradation in the biofilm over carbon surface did profound effect on the oxidation of H(2)S, compare to the systems with adsorption only.

Adsorption↗

PubMed2006

Toxicity and biodegradability assessment of raw and ozonated procaine penicillin G formulation effluent.

The effect of O3 (applied dose = 1440 mg h(-1); pH 7 and pH 12) and H2O2/O3 (applied dose = 1440 mg h(-1); pH 7; 10 mM H2O2) pretreatment of procaine penicillin G (PPG) formulation effluent on its biodegradability and acute toxicity was investigated. For that purpose ISO 8192 activated sludge inhibition and Daphnia magna acute toxicity tests were conducted. BOD5 measurements that were carried out to preevaluate the biocompatibility of untreated, ozonated, and perozonated PPG effluent have shown that BOD5 alone was not a very correct or useful tool to predict the actual biodegradability of PPG effluent. No significant correlation existed between the BOD5 and the toxicity test results. Acute toxicity studies carried out with D. magna and synthetic municipal sewage sludge have demonstrated the inhibitory effect of H2O2/O3 oxidation. COD removal of pharmaceutical wastewater containing PPG effluent with acclimated sewage sludge decreased from 79% to 50% after H2O2/O3 pretreatment.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Naphthalene biodegradation kinetics in an aerobic slurry-phase bioreactor.

The research was focused on the slurry-phase biodegradation of naphthalene in soil. Among ex situ techniques, the slurry phase offers the advantage of increased availability of contaminants to bacteria. From naphthalene contaminated soil, a Pseudomonas putida M8 strain capable to degrade naphthalene was selected. Experiments were performed in a stirred and oxygenated reactor. In this study, the influence of air flow rate and agitation rate on volatilisation and biodegradation of naphthalene was investigated. The hydrocarbon disappearance, the carbon dioxide production, and the ratio of total heterotrophic and naphthalene-degrading bacteria was monitored. The results obtained confirm that the selected bioremediation technology is successful in the treatment of contaminated soils.

Bacteria, Aerobic↗

PubMed2006

Evaluation of the aerobic biodegradation of trichloroethylene via response surface methodology.

Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to evaluate the effect of additives for enhancing the aerobic biodegradation of trichloroethylene (TCE). The parameters investigated include the initial TCE concentration, addition of extra bacteria, use of toluene as an inducer and hydrogen peroxide as terminal electron acceptor (TEA). Without additive, degradation efficiencies of >or=80% were obtained for TCE concentrations<700 mg/L. According to the second-order polynomial RSM and biodegradation results, the use of toluene to induce enzyme production inhibited degradation at TCE concentrations<300 mg/L. The addition of hydrogen peroxide did improve the overall degradation efficiency but decreased the degradation rate. The RSM model for toluene, extra bacteria and TEA predicted that the best approach to optimize degradation of high TCE concentrations is to ensure adequate population in conjunction with supplemental TEA.

Aerobiosis↗

PubMed2004

Biodegradation of nonylphenol in river sediment.

We investigated the biodegradation of nonylphenol monoethoxylate (NP1EO) and nonylphenol (NP) by aerobic microbes in sediment samples collected at four sites along the Erren River in southern Taiwan. Aerobic degradation rate constants (k1) and half-lives (t1/2) for NP (2 microg g(-1)) ranged from 0.007 to 0.051 day(-1) and 13.6 to 99.0 days, respectively; for NP1EO (2 microg g(-1)) the ranges were 0.006 to 0.010 day(-1) and 69.3 to 115.5 days. Aerobic degradation rates for NP and NP1EO were enhanced by shaking and increased temperature, and delayed by the addition of Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, phthalic acid esters (PAEs), and NaCl, as well as by reduced levels of ammonium, phosphate, and sulfate. Of the microorganism strains isolated from the sediment samples, we found that strain JC1 (identified as Pseudomonas sp.) expressed the best biodegrading ability. Also noted was the presence of 4'-amino-acetophenone, an intermediate product resulting from the aerobic degradation of NP by Pseudomonas sp.

Bacteria, Aerobic↗

PubMed2005

Decomposition in soil microcosms of leaves of the metallophyte Arabidopsis halleri: effect of leaf-associated heavy metals on biodegradation.

More knowledge is needed concerning the disturbance of soil organic matter cycling due to heavy metal pollution. The present study deals with the impact of heavy metal pollution on litter breakdown. Our aim was to assess whether heavy metals initially present in the leaves of the metallophyte Arabidopsis halleri: (i) slow down the rate of C mineralization, in relation to metal toxicity towards microflora, and/or (ii) increase the amount of organic C resistant to biodegradation, in relation to an intrinsic resistance of metallophyte residues to biodegradation. We incubated uncontaminated soil samples with either metal-free or metal-rich plant material. Metal-free material was grown in a greenhouse, and metal-rich material was collected in situ. During the 2-month period of incubation, we measured evolved CO(2)-C and residual plant C in the coarse organic fraction. Our results of CO(2)-C evolution showed a similar mineralization from the microcosms amended with highly metal-rich leaves of A. halleri and the microcosms amended with the metal-free but otherwise similar plant material. Measuring residual plant C in its input size-fraction gave a more precise insight. Our results suggest that only the large pool of easily decomposable C mineralized similarly from metal-free and from metal-rich plant residues. The pool of less decomposable C seemed on the contrary to be preferentially preserved in the case of metal-rich material. These results support the hypothesis of an annual extra-accumulation in situ of such a slowly decomposable fraction of plant residues which could account to some extent for the observed accumulation of metallophyte litter on the surface of highly metal-polluted soils.

Arabidopsis↗

PubMed2005

Electrokinetic enhancement of phenanthrene biodegradation in creosote-polluted clay soil.

Given the difficulties caused by low-permeable soils in bioremediation, a new electrokinetic technology is proposed, based on laboratory results with phenanthrene, to afford bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in clay soils. Microbial activity in a clay soil historically polluted with creosote was promoted using a specially designed electrokinetic cell with a permanent anode-to-cathode flow and controlled pH. The rates of phenanthrene losses during treatment were tenfold higher in soil treated with an electric field than in the control cells without current or microbial activity. Results from experiments with Tenax-assisted desorption and mineralization of 14C-labeled phenanthrene indicated that phenanthrene biodegradation was limited by mass-transfer of the chemical. We suggest that the enhancement effect of the applied electric field on phenanthrene biodegradation resulted from mobilization of the PAH and nutrients dissolved in the soil fluids.

Adsorption↗

PubMed2006

Microbial activity in an acid resin deposit: biodegradation potential and ecotoxicology in an extremely acidic hydrocarbon contamination.

Acid resins are residues produced in a recycling process for used oils that was in use in the forties and fifties of the last century. The resin-like material is highly contaminated with mineral oil hydrocarbons, extremely acidic and co-contaminated with substituted and aromatic hydrocarbons, and heavy metals. To determine the potential for microbial biodegradation the acid resin deposit and its surroundings were screened for microbial activity by soil respiration measurements. No microbial activity was found in the core deposit. However, biodegradation of hydrocarbons was possible in zones with a lower degree of contamination surrounding the deposit. An extreme acidophilic microbial community was detected close to the core deposit. With a simple ecotoxicological approach it could be shown that the pure acid resin that formed the major part of the core deposit, was toxic to the indigenous microflora due to its extremely low pH of 0-1.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗

PubMed2006

Biodegradation studies of selected priority acidic pesticides and diclofenac in different bioreactors.

The biodegradation of selected priority acidic pesticides MCPP, MCPA, 2,4-D, 2,4-DP and bentazone and the acidic pharmaceutical diclofenac was investigated using a membrane bioreactor (MBR) and a fixed-bed bioreactor (FBBR). A pilot plant MBR was fed with raw water spiked with the selected compounds. The experiment was repeated every week during four weeks to enhance the adaptation of microorganisms. In order to further study the biodegradability of these compounds, degradation studies in a FBBR were carried out. All the samples were analysed by solid phase extraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPE-GC-MS). The results indicate that in the MBR compounds except for bentazone were eliminated within the first day of the experiment at rates ranging from 44% to 85%. Comparing these results with the degradation rates in the FBBR showed that in the latter only MCPP, MCPA 2,4-D and 2,4-DP were degraded after a much longer adaptation phase of microorganisms.

Bacteria↗

PubMed2004

Indocyanine green-loaded biodegradable nanoparticles: preparation, physicochemical characterization and in vitro release.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study is to develop indocyanine green (ICG)-loaded biodegradable nanoparticles by using biodegradable polymer, poly(DL-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA). METHOD: PLGA nanoparticles entrapping ICG were prepared by a modified spontaneous emulsification solvent diffusion method. To optimize the nanoparticle formulation, the influence of formulation parameters such as types of ICG, amount of ICG and the polymer were investigated. The ICG entrapment in nanoparticles, nanoparticle size and zeta potential were determined. The surface characterization was performed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and the release of ICG from nanoparticles was determined. RESULTS: All PLGA nanoparticle formulations were found to have the mean diameter within the range of 300-410 nm with polydispersity index (PI) within the range of 0.01-0.06. Indocyanine green showed more efficient entrapment as compared to indocyanine green sodium iodide salt. All indocyanine green-loaded nanoparticle formulations were found to have almost similar ICG content of nanoparticles and showed increase in ICG entrapment with increase in the amount of polymer. The ICG entrapment reached 74% when ICG: PLGA weight ratio in the formulation reached 1:800. AFM images indicated that the nanoparticles were almost spherical in shape and had numerous pores on their surfaces. The release pattern consisted of two phases, with initial exponential phase releasing about 78% of ICG (within 8 h) followed by a slow phase releasing about 2% of ICG (within next 16 h). CONCLUSIONS: ICG-loaded PLGA nanoparticles were prepared and the formulation was optimized. The increase in amount of polymer in formulation leads to higher ICG entrapment. Nanoparticles formed were spherical and had porous surfaces and exhibited the characteristic release pattern of a monolithic matrix based system.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗

PubMed2006

Preparation of uniform biodegradable microparticles using laser ablation.

In an attempt to prepare uniformly sized biodegradable microparticles for controllable drug eluting and targeting characteristics, a novel technique by employing ultrashort pulse (USP) laser has been developed. This method involves pumping a drug-polymer solution through a small orifice creating a liquid stream. A USP laser constantly fires at the stream to cut it into discrete droplets and consequently solid particles can be obtained with monodisperse size distribution. Through mathematical modeling, volumetric flow rate, orifice size, laser spot size, and laser frequency were found as sole factors determining the size profile of the resulting microparticles. By choosing appropriate set of variables, monosized biodegradable microparticles with wide range of particle size may be prepared.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2005

Microbial adaptation to biodegradation of tert-butyl alcohol in a sequencing batch reactor.

This study demonstrates the utility of the sequencing batch reactor (SBR) to adapt microorganisms towards biological removal of tert-butyl alcohol (TBA). The reactor was inoculated with activated sludge and fed with TBA as the sole carbon source. Start-of-cycle TBA concentrations were initially set at 100 mgL(-1) with a cycle time of 24 h and a volumetric exchange ratio of 50% to maintain a TBA loading rate of not more than 100 mgL(-1)d(-1). Step increases in TBA loading rates up to 600 mgL(-1)d(-1) were achieved by first raising the start-of-cycle TBA concentration to 150 mgL(-1) on day 90 and subsequently by reducing the cycle time from 24 to 12, 8 and 6h on days 100, 121 and 199, respectively. This acclimation strategy favored the retention of increasingly higher densities of well-adapted microbial populations in the reactor. The increases in TBA loading produced better settling biomass and higher biomass concentrations with higher specific TBA biodegradation rates. Effluent TBA concentrations were consistently below the detection limit of 25 microgL(-1). The use of progressively shorter cycle times created selection pressures that fostered the self-immobilization of the reactor microorganisms into aerobic granules which first appeared on day 125. Specific TBA biodegradation rates in the granules followed the Haldane model for substrate inhibition, and peaked at 13.8 mgTBAgVSS(-1)h(-1) at a TBA concentration of 300 mgL(-1). Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA genes from granules sampled between days 220 and 247 confirmed the existence of a highly stable microbial community with members belonging to the alpha, beta and delta subdivisions of Proteobacteria and the Cytophaga-Flavobacteria-Bacteroides (CFB) group.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed2006

Biodegradation kinetics of 2,4-dichlorophenol by acclimated mixed cultures.

The biodegradation kinetics of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) by culture (Culture M) acclimated to mixture of 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) and 2,4-DCP and the culture (Culture 4) acclimated to 4-CP only were investigated in aerobic batch reactors. Also, pure strains isolated from mixed cultures were searched for their ability towards the biodegradation of 2,4-DCP. Culture 4 was able to completely degrade 2,4-DCP up to 80 mg/L within 30 h and removal efficiency dropped to 21% upon increasing initial concentration to 108.8 mg/L. When the Culture M was used, complete degradation of 2,4-DCP in the range of 12.5-104.4 mg/L was attained. A linear relationship between time required for complete degradation and initial 2,4-DCP concentrations was observed for both mixed cultures. It was observed that the Haldane equation can be used to predict specific degradation rate (SDR) (R(2)>0.99) as a function of initial 2,4-DCP concentrations and it adequately describes 2,4-DCP concentration profiles. Both of the mixed cultures settled well, which is important to maintain good removal efficiency for longer periods of time for real full-scale applications. Although the pure strains isolated from mixed cultures were found to have higher SDR of 2,4-DCP compared to mixed cultures, they did not settle well under quiescent conditions.

Bacteria↗

PubMed2004

Modeling depth-variant and domain-specific sorption and biodegradation in dual-permeability media.

A dual-permeability model (S_1D_DUAL) was developed to simulate the transport of land-applied pesticides in macroporous media. In this model, one flow domain was represented by the bulk matrix and the other by the preferential flow domain (PFD) where water and chemicals move at faster rates. The model assumed the validity of Darcian flow and the advective-dispersive solute transport in each of the two domains with inter-domain transfer of water and solutes due to pressure and concentration gradients. It was conceptualized that sorption and biodegradation rates vary with soil depth as well as in each of the two flow domains. In addition to equilibrium sorption, kinetic sorption was simulated in the PFD. Simulations were conducted to evaluate the combined effects of preferential flow, depth- and domain-variant sorption, and degradation on leaching of two pesticides: one with strong sorption potential (trifluralin) and the other with weak sorption potential (atrazine). Simulation results for a test case showed that water flux in the PFD was three times more than in the matrix for selected storm events. When equilibrium sorption was considered, the simulated profile of trifluralin in each domain was similar; however, the atrazine profile was deeper in the PFD than in the bulk matrix under episodic storm events. With an assumption of negligible sorption in the PFD, both the atrazine and the trifluralin profiles moved twice deeper into the PFD. The simulated concentrations of the chemicals were several orders higher in the PFD than in the matrix, even at deeper depths. The volume fraction of the macropores and the sorption and biodegradation properties of the chemicals could also affect the amount of pesticides leaving the root zone. For an intense storm event, slow sorption reaction rates in the PFD produced higher breakthrough concentrations of atrazine at the bottom of the simulated soil profile, thus posing the risk for breakthrough of chemicals from the root zone.

Adsorption↗

PubMed2005

Hydrochemical and isotopic effects associated with petroleum fuel biodegradation pathways in a chalk aquifer.

Hydrochemical data, compound specific carbon isotope analysis and isotopic enrichment trends in dissolved hydrocarbons and residual electron acceptors have been used to deduce BTEX and MTBE degradation pathways in a fractured chalk aquifer. BTEX compounds are mineralised sequentially within specific redox environments, with changes in electron acceptor utilisation being defined by the exhaustion of specific BTEX components. A zone of oxygen and nitrate exhaustion extends approximately 100 m downstream from the plume source, with residual sulphate, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene. Within this zone complete removal of the TEX components occurs by bacterial sulphate reduction, with sulphur and oxygen isotopic enrichment of residual sulphate (epsilon(s) = -14.4 per thousand to -16.0 per thousand). Towards the plume margins and at greater distance along the plume flow path nitrate concentrations increase with delta15N values of up to +40 per thousand indicating extensive denitrification. Benzene and MTBE persist into the denitrification zone, with carbon isotope enrichment of benzene indicating biodegradation along the flow path. A Rayleigh kinetic isotope enrichment model for 13C-enrichment of residual benzene gives an apparent epsilon value of -0.66 per thousand. MTBE shows no significant isotopic enrichment (delta13C = -29.3 per thousand to -30.7 per thousand) and is isotopically similar to a refinery sample (delta13C = -30.1 per thousand). No significant isotopic variation in dissolved MTBE implies that either the magnitude of any biodegradation-induced isotopic fractionation is small, or that relatively little degradation has taken place in the presence of BTEX hydrocarbons. It is possible, however, that MTBE degradation occurs under aerobic conditions in the absence of BTEX since no groundwater samples were taken with co-existing MTBE and oxygen. Low benzene delta13C values are correlated with high sulphate delta34S, indicating that little benzene degradation has occurred in the sulphate reduction zone. Benzene degradation may be associated with denitrification since increased benzene delta13C is associated with increased delta15N in residual nitrate. Re-supply of electron acceptors by diffusion from the matrix into fractures and dispersive mixing is an important constraint on degradation rates and natural attenuation capacity in this dual-porosity aquifer.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗

PubMed2005

Biodegradable polymersomes as a basis for artificial cells: encapsulation, release and targeting.

The encapsulation of biofunctional compounds, release properties and targetability of polymersomes of amphiphilic block-copolymers based on poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and biodegradable polyesters or polycarbonate are described. Carboxyfluorescein (CF), as a model for hydrophilic biofunctional compounds, could be readily incorporated in the polymersomes by adding the compound to the aqueous phase during polymersome preparation. The release of encapsulated material from the polymersomes can be adjusted by changing the copolymer composition, especially the molecular weight and type of hydrophobic block of the copolymer. The presence of plasma proteins other than albumin suppressed the release of CF. CF release in PBS both at room temperature and at 60 degrees C followed first order kinetics, confirming that the CF containing polymersome system is a membrane controlled reservoir system. These biodegradable polymersomes have the potential to be targeted to specific sites in the body as shown by the specific interaction of anti-human serum albumin immobilized polymersomes with a human serum albumin coated sensor surface.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗