Aerobic Bioaugmentation to Decrease Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Emissions from Contaminated Sediments to Air

Christian M Bako; Andres Martinez; Jessica M Ewald; Jason B X Hua; David J Ramotowski; Qin Dong; Jerald L Schnoor; Timothy E Mattes

doi:10.1021/acs.est.2c01043

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Aerobic Bioaugmentation to Decrease Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Emissions from Contaminated Sediments to Air

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Aerobic Bioaugmentation to Decrease Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Emissions from Contaminated Sediments to Air

Christian M Bako, Andres Martinez, Jessica M Ewald, Jason B X Hua, David J Ramotowski, Qin Dong, Jerald L Schnoor and Timothy E Mattes

Environmental science & technology, Vol.56(20), pp.14338-14349

10/18/2022

DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c01043

PMCID: PMC9583607

PMID: 36178372

Appears in UI Libraries Support Open Access

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https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.2c01043View

Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open Access

Abstract

We conducted experiments to determine whether bioaugmentation with aerobic, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-degrading microorganisms can mitigate polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) emissions from contaminated sediment to air. Paraburkholderia xenovorans strain LB400 was added to bioreactors containing PCB-contaminated site sediment. PCB mass in both the headspace and aqueous bioreactor compartments was measured using passive samplers over 35 days. Time-series measurements of all 209 PCB congeners revealed a 57% decrease in total PCB mass accumulated in the vapor phase of bioaugmented treatments relative to non-bioaugmented controls, on average. A comparative congener-specific analysis revealed preferential biodegradation of lower-chlorinated PCBs (LC-PCBs) by LB400. Release of the most abundant congener (PCB 4 [2,2′-dichlorobiphenyl]) decreased by over 90%. Simulations with a PCB reactive transport model closely aligned with experimental observations. We also evaluated the effect of the phytogenic biosurfactant, saponin, on PCB bioavailability and biodegradation by LB400. Time-series qPCR measurements of biphenyl dioxygenase (bphA) genes showed that saponin better maintained bphA abundance, compared to the saponin-free treatment. These findings indicate that an active population of bioaugmented, aerobic PCB-degrading microorganisms can effectively lower PCB emissions and may therefore contribute to minimizing PCB inhalation exposure in communities surrounding PCB-contaminated sites.

Bioavailability

Biodegradation

Bioremediation

ISRP Project 5 2020-2025

polychlorinated biphenyls

contaminant fate and transport

Paraburkholderia xenovorans LB400

passive sampling

biosurfactants

UIOWA OA Agreement

Details

Title: Subtitle: Aerobic Bioaugmentation to Decrease Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Emissions from Contaminated Sediments to Air
Creators: Christian M Bako - University of Iowa
Andres Martinez - University of Iowa
Jessica M Ewald - University of Iowa
Jason B X Hua
David J Ramotowski - University of Iowa
Qin Dong - University of Iowa
Jerald L Schnoor - University of Iowa
Timothy E Mattes - University of Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Environmental science & technology, Vol.56(20), pp.14338-14349
DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c01043
PMID: 36178372
PMCID: PMC9583607
NLM abbreviation: Environ Sci Technol
eISSN: 1520-5851
Publisher: American Chemical Society
Grant note: DOI: 10.13039/100000066, name: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, award: P42ES013661
Language: English
Electronic publication date: 09/30/2022
Date published: 10/18/2022
Academic Unit: Civil and Environmental Engineering; Occupational and Environmental Health; IIHR--Hydroscience and Engineering; Iowa Superfund Research Program
Record Identifier: 9984302216702771

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