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Enhanced biotransformation of TCE using plant terpenoids in contaminated groundwater
Article first published online: 18 SEP 2009
DOI: 10.1111/j.1472-765X.2009.02738.x
© 2009 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2009 The Society for Applied Microbiology
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How to Cite
Brown, J.R.-M., Thompson, I.P., Paton, G.I. and Singer, A.C. (2009), Enhanced biotransformation of TCE using plant terpenoids in contaminated groundwater. Letters in Applied Microbiology, 49: 769–774. doi: 10.1111/j.1472-765X.2009.02738.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 10 NOV 2009
- Article first published online: 18 SEP 2009
- 2009/1000: received 5 June 2009, revised and accepted 9 September 2009
- Abstract
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Keywords:
- biostimulation;
- carvone;
- cumene;
- groundwater;
- plant terpenes;
- secondary plant metabolites;
- TCE
Abstract
Aims: To examine plant terpenoids as inducers of TCE (trichloroethylene) biotransformation by an indigenous microbial community originating from a plume of TCE-contaminated groundwater.
Methods and Results: One-litre microcosms of groundwater were spiked with 100 μmol 1−1 of TCE and amended weekly for 16 weeks with 20 μl 1−1 of the following plant monoterpenes: linalool, pulegone, R-(+) carvone, S-(−) carvone, farnesol, cumene. Yeast extract-amended and unamended control treatments were also prepared. The addition of R-carvone and S-carvone, linalool and cumene resulted in the biotransformation of upwards of 88% of the TCE, significantly more than the unamendment control (61%). The aforementioned group of terpenes also significantly (P < 0·05) allowed more TCE to be degraded than the remaining two terpenes (farnesol and pulegone), and the yeast extract treatment which biotransformed 74–75% of the TCE. The microbial community profile was monitored by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and demonstrated much greater similarities between the microbial communities in terpene-amended treatments than in the yeast extract or unamended controls.
Conclusions: TCE biotransformation can be significantly enhanced through the addition of selected plant terpenoids.
Significance and Impact of the Study: Plant terpenoid and nutrient supplementation to groundwater might provide an environmentally benign means of enhancing the rate of in situ TCE bioremediation.