Soil biotransformation of thiodiglycol, the hydrolysis product of mustard gas: understanding the factors governing remediation of mustard gas contaminated soil.

Thiodiglycol (TDG) is both the precursor for chemical synthesis of mustard gas and the product of mustard gas hydrolysis. TDG can also react with intermediates of mustard gas degradation to form more toxic and/or persistent aggregates, or reverse the pathway of mustard gas degradation. The persistence of TDG have been observed in soils and in the groundwater at sites contaminated by mustard gas 60 years ago. The biotransformation of TDG has been demonstrated in three soils not previously exposed to the chemical. TDG biotransformation occurred via the oxidative pathway with an optimum rate at pH 8.25. In contrast with bacteria isolated from historically contaminated soil, which could degrade TDG individually, a consortium of three bacterial strains isolated from the soil never contaminated by mustard gas was able to grow on TDG in minimal medium and in hydrolysate derived from an historical mustard gas bomb. Exposure to TDG had little impacts on the soil microbial physiology or on community structure. Therefore, the persistency of TDG in soils historically contaminated by mustard gas might be attributed to the toxicity of mustard gas to microorganisms and the impact to soil chemistry during the hydrolysis. TDG biodegradation may form part of a remediation strategy for mustard gas contaminated sites, and may be enhanced by pH adjustment and aeration.

Inhibition of biological TCE and sulphate reduction in the presence of iron nanoparticles.

Iron (Fe) nanoparticles are increasingly being employed for the remediation of Chlorinated Aliphatic Hydrocarbon (CAH) contaminated sites. However, these particles have recently been reported to be cytotoxic to bacterial cells, and may therefore have a negative impact on exposed microbial communities. The overall objective of this study was to investigate the impact of Fe nanoparticles on the biodegradation of CAHs by an indigenous dechlorinating bacterial community. Also, to determine the most appropriate combination and/or application of bimetallic (Ni/Fe) nanoparticles and dechlorinating bacteria for the remediation of CAH contaminated sites. Addition of Fe nanoparticles to groundwater collected from a CAH contaminated site in Derby, UK, led to a decrease in the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) and an increase in pH. The biological degradation rate of TCE was observed to progressively decrease in the presence of increasing Fe nanoparticle concentrations; which ranged from 0.01 to 0.1 gL(-1), and cease completely at concentrations of 0.3 gL(-1) or above. Concentrations greater than 0.3 gL(-1) led to a decline in viable bacterial counts and the inhibition of biological sulphate reduction. The most appropriate means of combining bimetallic (Ni/Fe) nanoparticles and indigenous dechlorinating bacteria was to employ a two step process: initially stimulating the biodegradation of TCE using acetate, followed by the addition of bimetallic nanoparticles to degrade the remaining cis-1,2-DCE and VC.

Optimization of nano-scale nickel/iron particles for the reduction of high concentration chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbon solutions.

The use of nano-scale particles as a means of environmental remediation still provides a comparatively novel approach for the treatment of contaminated waters. The current study compares the reactivity of micro-scale Fe, nano-scale Fe and nano-scale Ni/Fe (nickel/iron) particles specifically for dechlorination of solutions containing 350 mg L(-1) of TCE (concentration measured at a contaminated site in Derbyshire, UK). The results indicated that employing 1 g L(-1) of reactive material for dechlorination in the monometallic form (both micro- and nano-scale) exhibited very little reduction capability compared with the bimetallic Ni/Fe nano-scale particles, containing 28.9% Ni (in molar), which achieved complete dechlorination of the TCE in solution within 576 h. Experiments were also performed to determine the optimum bimetallic composition of the Ni/Fe particles for TCE reduction. This revealed that 3.2% Ni was the optimum Ni/Fe molar ratio for both maximum dehalogenation performance and minimum release of Ni into solution. Using particles of the most effective bimetallic composition, experiments were carried out to determine the concentration required for optimal TCE reduction. Over the range of nano-scale particle concentrations tested (0.1-9 g L(-1)), reduction rates of TCE increased with greater TCE:nano-scale particle ratios. However, a concentration range of 1-3 g L(-1) was selected as the most appropriate for site remediation, since more concentrated solutions demonstrated only small increases in rates of reaction. Finally, in order to test the long term performance and reactivity of the 3.2% Ni/Fe bimetallic nano-scale particles, weekly spikes of 350 mg L(-1) TCE were injected into a 3 g L(-1) nano-scale particle batch reactor. Results showed that the bimetallic nano-scale particles had the ability to reduce 1750 mg L(-1) TCE and remained active for at least 13 weeks.

Meeting report: risk assessment of tamiflu use under pandemic conditions.

On 3 October 2007, 40 participants with diverse expertise attended the workshop Tamiflu and the Environment: Implications of Use under Pandemic Conditions to assess the potential human health impact and environmental hazards associated with use of Tamiflu during an influenza pandemic. Based on the identification and risk-ranking of knowledge gaps, the consensus was that oseltamivir ethylester-phosphate (OE-P) and oseltamivir carboxylate (OC) were unlikely to pose an ecotoxicologic hazard to freshwater organisms. OC in river water might hasten the generation of OC-resistance in wildfowl, but this possibility seems less likely than the potential disruption that could be posed by OC and other pharmaceuticals to the operation of sewage treatment plants. The work-group members agreed on the following research priorities: a) available data on the ecotoxicology of OE-P and OC should be published; b) risk should be assessed for OC-contaminated river water generating OC-resistant viruses in wildfowl; c) sewage treatment plant functioning due to microbial inhibition by neuraminidase inhibitors and other antimicrobials used during a pandemic should be investigated; and d) realistic worst-case exposure scenarios should be developed. Additional modeling would be useful to identify localized areas within river catchments that might be prone to high pharmaceutical concentrations in sewage treatment plant effluent. Ongoing seasonal use of Tamiflu in Japan offers opportunities for researchers to assess how much OC enters and persists in the aquatic environment.

The effect of whole cell immobilisation on the biotransformation of benzonitrile and the use of direct electric current for enhanced product removal.

The nitrilase of Rhodococcus rhodochrous performs a one-step biotransformation of nitriles to their corresponding carboxylic acids. Application of a direct electric current moves the charged carboxylic acid towards an anode, across an anion exchange membrane, into a separate compartment. Cells encapsulated within alginate beads (2.9 mm diameter) for protection against the current biotransformed benzonitrile to benzoic acid with a 26% reduction in the biotransformation rate, from 0.054 mmol/min/g dcw with free cells to 0.040 mmol/min/g dcw with immobilised cells. When the electric current was applied, the biotransformation rate increased to 0.047 mmol/min/g dcw and product recovery increased from 19% to 79%.

Enhanced biotransformations and product recovery in a membrane bioreactor through application of a direct electric current.

The simultaneous enhancement of biotransformation coupled to product recovery, purification and concentration is presented. The nitrilase of Rhodococcus rhodochrous LL100-21 catalyses the single-step hydrolytic biotransformation of benzonitrile to benzoic acid and ammonia. When a direct electric current is applied across a bioreactor containing the bacterium and benzonitrile, the charged product (benzoic acid) can be removed in situ across an anion exchange membrane and recovered in a separate compartment. Over the course of a 24-hour biotransformation, benzonitrile was converted to benzoic acid which was completely removed from the bioreactor chamber and concentrated 3-fold in a separate chamber. The rate of production of benzoic acid increased by 42% when the current was applied (0.044 mmol/min/g dry cell weight in the presence of current as compared to 0.03 mmol/min/g dry cell weight in its absence). The enhanced reaction rate was achieved irrespective of product separation and therefore appears to be a direct effect upon the bacterial cells. This process has potential for enhanced productivity from biotransformations through a simultaneous increase in metabolic activity and in situ product recovery.