Article
Environmental Sciences
Daniele Ghezzi, Maria Filippini, Martina Cappelletti, Andrea Firrincieli, Davide Zannoni, Alessandro Gargini, Stefano Fedi
Summary: The study conducted on highly contaminated chlorinated aliphatic organics in the subsoil of Ferrara, Italy revealed the importance of microbial degradation as a key mechanism for the dechlorination process. Through analysis of microbial communities using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metabolic gene analysis, a complex network of metabolic interactions was hypothesized to support effective reductive dechlorination. This study provides insights into the diversity of microbial communities and potential dechlorinators in contaminated aquifer systems, shedding light on the microbial processes involved in bioremediation efforts.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Marco Zeppilli, Bruna Matturro, Edoardo Dell 'Armi, Lorenzo Cristiani, Marco Petrangeli Papini, Simona Rossetti, Mauro Majone
Summary: A bioelectrochemical process combining two membrane-less reactors equipped with graphite granules counter electrode was developed for perchloroethylene removal. The reductive reactor completely reduced PCE into VC and Eth, which were efficiently removed by the oxidative reactor. Different redox niches in each compartment allowed the co-existence of both reducing and oxidative reactions, enhancing the overall efficiency of PCE removal.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Rifeng Wu, Rui Shen, Zhiwei Liang, Shengzhi Zheng, Yong Yang, Qihong Lu, Lorenz Adrian, Shanquan Wang
Summary: Strategies based on ecological principles can enhance the colonization of OHRB in niches, thereby improving the bioremediation efficiency of chloroethene-contaminated sites.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marie Czinnerova, Vojtech Stejskal, Kristyna Markova, Jaroslav Nosek, Jakub Riha, Alena Sevcu
Summary: This study summarizes the outcomes of the long-term in-situ application of glycerol for the enhanced reductive dechlorination of chlorinated ethenes (CEs). Glycerol injection resulted in an increase in the abundance of fermentative Firmicutes, leading to the change of groundwater conditions suitable for the growth of organohalide-respiring bacteria (OHRB). The concentrations of pollutants decreased and the final degradation products were ethene and ethane.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Edoardo Dell'Armi, Marco Zeppilli, Bruna Matturro, Simona Rossetti, Marco Petrangeli Papini, Mauro Majone
Summary: The study introduces a sequential bioelectrochemical process composed of two membrane-less microbial electrolysis cells operated with synthetic groundwater, leading to a temporary reduction in PCE removal efficiency due to the establishment of sulphate and nitrate reduction processes.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Neda Amanat, Bruna Matturro, Marianna Villano, Laura Lorini, Marta Maria Rossi, Marco Zeppilli, Simona Rossetti, Marco Petrangeli Papini
Summary: This study investigated the effects of different types of PHA on the BRD process of TCE. Promising results were obtained with non-extracted MMC-PHA, which showed potential economic and environmental advantages in groundwater remediation.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xinkai Li, Qiang Xu, Youjun Cheng, Chunlei Chen, Chaofeng Shen, Chunfang Zhang, Daoqiong Zheng, Dongdong Zhang
Summary: This study investigated the effect of different types of microplastics on the degradation of commercial polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) by microbes and found that microplastic exposure inhibited microbial PCB degradation. The microbial community compositions were not significantly different between microplastic biofilms and suspension culture, but the presence of microplastics attenuated microbial synergistic interactions. These findings are important for understanding microbial degradation behavior and guiding in situ PCB bioremediation.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Srivatsan Mohana Rangan, Shefali Rao, Aide Robles, Aatikah Mouti, Laurie LaPat-Polasko, Gregory Lowry, Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown, Anca G. Delgado
Summary: This study investigates the efficacy of coupling Fe0 with H2-utilizing organohalide-respiring bacteria (D. mccartyi) for the remediation of chlorinated solvents. By decoupling the application of Fe0 from organic substrates and D. mccartyi-containing cultures, the study demonstrates that reduced groundwater from Fe0 can support microbial reductive dechlorination and achieve high conversion rates of trichloroethene to ethene. The findings suggest that separating the application of Fe0 and biostimulation/bioaugmentation in space and time can enhance microbial trichloroethene reductive dechlorination, particularly in oxic conditions.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Megan Meinel, James Wang, Evan Cox, Phil Dennis, Cesar Torres, Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown
Summary: The influence of electrokinetic-enhanced bioremediation (EK-BIO) on subsurface microbial communities was investigated at a field-scale demonstration site, showing similar trends to laboratory studies with decreased alpha diversity and temporally differing beta diversity based on treatment phase. Enrichments in specific taxa were linked to the bioaugmentation culture and electron donor.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zheng-Tao Li, Si-Ying Yang, He -Ping Zhao
Summary: Inorganic arsenic and organochlorines often coexist in anoxic groundwater environments, posing challenges for bioremediation. This study investigated the dechlorination performance of a microbial consortium under different concentrations of arsenate or arsenite and found that the impact of arsenic on dechlorination differed between the two scenarios. The study also revealed that the vinyl chloride-to-ethene step was more susceptible to arsenic exposure and fermentative bacteria showed high potential for arsenic resistance. The findings provide insights for modifying bioremediation strategies at co-contaminated sites.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Liru Fan, Hong Yao, Shihai Deng, Fangxu Jia, Weiwei Cai, Zhifeng Hu, Jianhua Guo, Huan Li
Summary: The SF-A/OA/O process has demonstrated superior performance in full-scale coking wastewater treatment compared to the A/O/O process, showing efficient removal of COD, NH4+-N, TN, phenols, and cyanide. The abundance and structure of the microbial community may be key factors contributing to the strong stability of the SF-A/OA/O system.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jaroslav Semerad, Ondrej Lhotsky, Alena Filipova, Ondrej Urban, Katerina Sirova, Jana Bohackova, Michael Komarek, Tomas Cajthaml
Summary: In this study, a sequence of anoxic/oxic chemico-biological treatments was used to successfully degrade HCHs in extremely contaminated soil. The best results were achieved with mZVI/nZVI, grass cuttings, and oxygen-releasing compounds, with 80% removal of HCHs achieved in 129 days and 98% degradation achieved after 1106 days. Switching between aerobic and anaerobic phases, along with the addition of grass, created suitable conditions for the biodegradation of HCHs and monochlorobenzene/benzene by microbes.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Marta M. Rossi, Sara Alfano, Neda Amanat, Fabiano Andreini, Laura Lorini, Andrea Martinelli, Marco Petrangeli Papini
Summary: In this study, polyhydroxy butyrate (PHB) and biochar from pine wood (PWB) were used in a mini-pilot scale biological reactor for trichloroethylene (TCE) removal. PHB acted as an electron donor source, while PWB served as a support and adsorption material for Dehalococcoides. The results showed that the coupled adsorption and biodegradation process effectively removed chlorinated compounds.
BIOENGINEERING-BASEL
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shahrzad Saffari Ghandehari, Jessica Boyer, Dana Ronin, James R. White, Cathleen J. Hapeman, Dana Jackson, Devrim Kaya, Alba Torrents, Birthe V. Kjellerup
Summary: Many groundwater aquifers worldwide are polluted with trichloroethene (TCE), which poses risks to human and ecosystem health. Permeable Reactive Barriers (PRB) are commonly used for TCE-contaminated groundwater remediation, and biosolids from wastewater treatment plants can serve as a beneficial PRB filling material. Bench scale experiments found that although biosolids led to increased methanogenesis, TCE reductive dechlorination was not impaired. Moreover, biosolids enhanced the abundance of dechlorination microorganisms and methanogens, which contributed to maintaining an efficient dechlorinating microbial community.
Article
Microbiology
Cassandre Sara Lazar, Valerie F. Schwab, Nico Ueberschaar, Georg Pohnert, Susan Trumbore, Kirsten Kuesel
Summary: Microbial communities in groundwater ecosystems play a crucial role. This study combines various techniques to investigate heterotrophic bacteria in different physico-chemical conditions of groundwater. The results show that heterotrophic activities dominate all sites and suggest local adaptations of bacterial populations in different oxygen conditions. Dual labeling experiments also reveal a complex interaction network in groundwater habitats.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Pavlo Bohutskyi, Steven Chow, Ben Ketter, Michael J. Betenbaugh, Edward J. Bouwer
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Michelle M. Lorah, Charles Walker, Duane Graves
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Pavlo Bohutskyi, Steven Chow, Ben Ketter, Coral Fung Shek, Dean Yacar, Yuting Tang, Mark Zivojnovich, Michael J. Betenbaugh, Edward J. Bouwer
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2016)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Emily N. Schiffmacher, Jennifer G. Becker, Michelle M. Lorah, Mary A. Voytek
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Pavlo Bohutskyi, Debora Cynamon Kligerman, Natalie Byers, Laila Khaled Nasr, Celine Cua, Steven Chow, Chunyang Su, Yuting Tang, Michael J. Betenbaugh, Edward J. Bouwer
ALGAL RESEARCH-BIOMASS BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS
(2016)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Pavlo Bohutskyi, Duc Phan, Anatoliy M. Kopachevsky, Steven Chow, Edward J. Bouwer, Michael J. Betenbaugh
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2018)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Allen M. Shapiro, Daniel J. Goode, Thomas E. Imbrigiotta, Michelle M. Lorah, Claire R. Tiedeman
JOURNAL OF CONTAMINANT HYDROLOGY
(2019)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Steven J. Chow, Nadezda Ojeda, Joseph G. Jacangelo, Kellogg J. Schwab
Summary: This study investigated the occurrence of PFAS in 101 bottled water products in the US and found that PFAS were detected in 39 products, primarily consisting of perfluorocarboxylic acids and perfluorosulfonic acids. The study also found that ultra-short-chain PFPrA was detected for the first time in bottled water, with spring water products containing higher levels of PFAS compared to purified water products.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Michelle M. Lorah, Eric Vogler, Fredrick E. Gebhardt, Duane Graves, Jennifer Fedorowski Grabowski
Summary: The potential neurotoxic and carcinogenic effects of RDX on human health require groundwater remediation strategies. This study investigates the feasibility of bioremediation by biostimulation and bioaugmentation to achieve anaerobic degradation of RDX, perchlorate, and nitrate. The results show that bioaugmentation is effective in degrading RDX, nitrate, and perchlorate, while biostimulation alone is less efficient.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Henry C. Croll, Steven Chow, Nadezda Ojeda, Kellogg Schwab, Carsten Prasse, Ryan Capelle, Jamie Klamerus, Joan Oppenheimer, Joseph G. Jacangelo
Summary: In this study, three common descriptive models were adapted to fit competitive PFAS breakthrough curves from a GAC pilot study, successfully accounting for desorption of PFAS compounds and accurately describing increased exposure risks due to elevated effluent levels during desorption. The novel adaptation of the models did not significantly increase the complexity of implementing the models, providing a more accurate description of PFAS behavior in GAC media.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Steven J. Chow, Henry C. Croll, Nadezda Ojeda, Jamie Klamerus, Ryan Capelle, Joan Oppenheimer, Joseph G. Jacangelo, Kellogg J. Schwab, Carsten Prasse
Summary: This pilot-scale study compared the adsorption behaviors of PFAS in granular activated carbon (GAC) and two strong-base gel anion exchange resin (AER) columns. The results showed that AER performed better than GAC in terms of PFAS removal, especially for longer-chain PFAS. The study also highlighted the importance of considering operational complexities and the impacts of unregulated co-contaminants in the design of robust PFAS treatment systems.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Henry C. Croll, Michael J. Adelman, Steven J. Chow, Kellogg J. Schwab, Ryan Capelle, Joan Oppenheimer, Joseph G. Jacangelo
Summary: The consistency of fundamental constants and the accuracy of using them to predict breakthrough under different EBCTs were evaluated in this study using the Clark and Bohart-Adams models. The results showed good agreement and low error for the bed capacity and Freundlich constants across different EBCTs, while the kinetic constant had higher error but still provided reasonable estimates.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Jennifer C. Underwood, Denise M. Akob, Michelle Mi Lorah, Thomas E. Imbrigiotta, Ronald W. Harvey, Claire R. Tiedeman
Summary: Bioaugmentation is a promising strategy for enhancing trichloroethylene degradation in fractured rock, but slow or incomplete biodegradation can lead to stalling. This study examined the response of groundwater microbial populations to a bioaugmentation test and highlights the importance of studying microbial communities in situ.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY
(2022)