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Microbially catalyzed nitrate-dependent oxidation of biogenic solid-phase Fe(II) compounds.

The potential for microbially catalyzed NO3(-)-dependent oxidation of solid-phase Fe(II) compounds was examined using a previously described autotrophic, denitrifying, Fe(II)-oxidizing enrichment culture. The following solid-phase Fe(II)-bearing minerals were considered: microbially reduced synthetic goethite, two different end products of microbially hydrous ferric oxide (HFO) reduction (biogenic Fe3O4 and biogenic FeCO3), chemically precipitated FeCO3, and two microbially reduced iron(III) oxide-rich subsoils. The microbially reduced goethite, subsoils, and chemically precipitated FeCO3 were subject to rapid NO3(-)-dependent Fe(II) oxidation. Significant oxidation of biogenic Fe3O4 was observed. Very little biogenic FeCO3 was oxidized. No reduction of NO3- or oxidation of Fe(II) occurred in pasteurized cultures. The molar ratio of NO3- reduced to Fe(II) oxidized in cultures containing chemically precipitated FeCO3, and one of the microbially reduced subsoils approximated the theoretical stoichiometry of 0.2:1. However, molar ratios obtained for oxidation of microbially reduced goethite, the other subsoil, and the HFO reduction end products did not agree with this theoretical value. These discrepancies may be related to heterotrophic NO3- reduction coupled to oxidation of dead Fe(III)-reducing bacterial biomass. Our findings demonstrate that microbally catalyzed NO3(-)-dependent Fe(II) oxidation has the potential to significantly accelerate the oxidation of solid-phase Fe(II) compounds by oxidized N species. This process could have an important influence on the migration of contaminant metals and radionuclides in subsurface environments.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗

[Manganese in the water supply of the town of Beaucaire: origins and solutions].

Changes in domestic water supply appearance and quality linked with increasing manganese amount and iron at a lesser degree, having been found by the inhabitants of Beaucaire (Rhône Valley), a study was made by chemists, hydrogeologists and biologists to detect the origin. The problem is not specific to this town and can frequently be found in the Saône and Rhône valleys. The results show that we have to deal with an aquifer with semi-captive groundwater whose supply is double: the Rhône and calcareous mountain masses. The low-oxygen waters are enriched, by dissolution from gravel, with manganese and iron which are preferentially fixed on porous and cracked surface elements. The conditions for manganese liberation are connected with the presence of organic matters, bacteria (capable to reduce the manganic compounds) and anaerobiosis. The supply does not seem to be the only cause in the low-oxygen contents; the action of heterotrophic microorganism using organic matter and consuming oxygen, at the groundwater periphery, must be taken into account. Thus the central part of the groundwater system is a reducing environment which allows the modification of the bacterial metabolism towards a ferric and manganic compounds reduction process. The result is the transformation of insoluble manganic and ferric compounds into manganous and ferrous compounds which are liberated into the groundwater.

France↗

Efficiency of energy conversion by aerobic glucose metabolism in Aphancapsa 6714.

Efficiency of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) formation from glucose oxidation in Aphanocapsa 6714 was estimated by quantitative measurement of phosphorylated intermediary metabolites and glycogen (polyglucose) formed from (14)C-glucose. P/2e ratios based on oxygen uptake ranged from 2.62 to 3.08, whereas those based on (14)CO(2) evolution ranged from 1.66 to 1.72. The synthesis of glycogen, which is the dominant energy-consuming process in resting cells exposed to exogenous glucose, was almost totally inhibited under anaerobic conditions, and the cellular concentration of ATP decreased steadily. Thus, both net synthesis of ATP and the steady-state concentration of ATP are obligatorily linked to respiration in this heterotrophic unicellular blue-green alga.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Experience and extensions to the ASM2 family of models.

The development of ASM2 has created a complex model for biological phosphorus removal. Most of the published work on calibrating this model has focused on the design of experiments to maximise information with which to calibrate the model, or the use of hourly data collected around and within an aeration tank. But many sewage works do not collect such data, nor have such instrumentation. The application of ASM2 with sparse data collected at a low frequency, and mostly only input-output, is considered in this paper, based on data collected at a Swedish sewage works. This paper shows that ASM2 can be calibrated with such measurements. This paper also looks at a modification to ASM2d to better handle heterotrophic usage of volatile fatty acids, and the use of this model to study the effects of large increases in in-sewer storage on sewage treatment works. Concern about the generation of large quantities of VFAs, and their effect on the sewage treatment processes, was unfounded.

Calibration↗

Soil microorganisms as controllers of atmospheric trace gases (H2, CO, CH4, OCS, N2O, and NO).

Production and consumption processes in soils contribute to the global cycles of many trace gases (CH4, CO, OCS, H2, N2O, and NO) that are relevant for atmospheric chemistry and climate. Soil microbial processes contribute substantially to the budgets of atmospheric trace gases. The flux of trace gases between soil and atmosphere is usually the result of simultaneously operating production and consumption processes in soil: The relevant processes are not yet proven with absolute certainty, but the following are likely for trace gas consumption: H2 oxidation by abiontic soil enzymes; CO cooxidation by the ammonium monooxygenase of nitrifying bacteria; CH4 oxidation by unknown methanotrophic bacteria that utilize CH4 for growth; OCS hydrolysis by bacteria containing carbonic anhydrase; N2O reduction to N2 by denitrifying bacteria; NO consumption by either reduction to N2O in denitrifiers or oxidation to nitrate in heterotrophic bacteria. Wetland soils, in contrast to upland soils are generally anoxic and thus support the production of trace gases (H2, CO, CH4, N2O, and NO) by anaerobic bacteria such as fermenters, methanogens, acetogens, sulfate reducers, and denitrifiers. Methane is the dominant gaseous product of anaerobic degradation of organic matter and is released into the atmosphere, whereas the other trace gases are only intermediates, which are mostly cycled within the anoxic habitat. A significant percentage of the produced methane is oxidized by methanotrophic bacteria at anoxic-oxic interfaces such as the soil surface and the root surface of aquatic plants that serve as conduits for O2 transport into and CH4 transport out of the wetland soils. The dominant production processes in upland soils are different from those in wetland soils and include H2 production by biological N2 fixation, CO production by chemical decomposition of soil organic matter, and NO and N2O production by nitrification and denitrification. The processes responsible for CH4 production in upland soils are completely unclear, as are the OCS production processes in general. A problem for future research is the attribution of trace gas metabolic processes not only to functional groups of microorganisms but also to particular taxa. Thus, it is completely unclear how important microbial diversity is for the control of trace gas flux at the ecosystem level. However, different microbial communities may be part of the reason for differences in trace gas metabolism, e.g., effects of nitrogen fertilizers on CH4 uptake by soil; decrease of CH4 production with decreasing temperature; or different rates and modes of NO and N2O production in different soils and under different conditions.

Animal Population Groups↗

Room temperature microspectrofluorimetry as a useful tool for studying the assembly of the PSII chlorophyll-protein complexes in single living cells of etiolated Euglena gracilis Klebs during the greening process.

The assembly kinetics of the PSII chlorophyll-protein complexes was followed during the greening of Euglena gracilis by microspectrofluorimetry in vivo, at room temperature, on single living cells. The study was correlated to micro- and submicroscopic events accompanying the proplastid to chloroplast transformation and with the immunolocalization of the LHCPII. Etiolated cells of Euglena gracilis were grown in darkness in Mego's heterotrophic liquid medium under shaking at 25+/-1 degrees C. At the stationary phase of growth, they were exposed to continuous light (330 micromol m(-2) s(-1)) for 72 h. The analyses were carried out on samples collected at different times of illumination. Microspectrofluorimetric data were recorded in the 620-780 nm range (excitation at 436 nm) and were resolved into Gaussian components corresponding to the reaction centres (RCII) and the inner antennae (CP(43-47)) of the PSII and LHCPII. From the RCII/CP(43-47) and LHCPII/PSII ratios, it was inferred that (1) a disconnection between RCII and CP(43-47) syntheses occurs during the lag phase of chloroplast differentiation, RCII being synthesized before the inner antennae. This results in the accumulation of uncoupled PSII Chl-protein complexes; (2) after lag phase, the RCII and CP(43-47) syntheses are connected one to another; (3) the freshly synthesized LHCPII complexes are immediately assembled with the PSII, suggesting that the outer antennae always maintain the form bound to PSII. Micro- and submicroscopical observations and LHCPII immunolocalization were in agreement. These data suggest that microspectrofluorimetry may constitute a useful non-destructive tool for studying the assembly kinetics of PSII, under fully physiological life conditions.

Animals↗

Three-dimensional biofilm model with individual cells and continuum EPS matrix.

An innovative type of biofilm model is derived by combining an individual description of microbial particles with a continuum representation of the biofilm matrix. This hybrid model retains the advantages of each approach, while providing a more realistic description of the temporal development of biofilm structure in two or three spatial dimensions. The general model derivation takes into account any possible number of soluble components. These are substrates and metabolic products, which diffuse and react in the biofilm within individual microbial cells. The cells grow, divide, and produce extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in a multispecies model setting. The EPS matrix is described by a continuum representation as incompressible viscous fluid, which can expand and retract due to generation and consumption processes. The cells move due to a pushing mechanism between cells in colonies and by an advective mechanism supported by the EPS dynamics. Detachment of both cells and EPS follows a continuum approach, whereas cells attach in discrete events. Two case studies are presented for model illustration. Biofilm consolidation is explained by shrinking due to EPS and cell degradation processes. This mechanism describes formation of a denser layer of cells in the biofilm depth and occurrence of an irregularly shaped biofilm surface under nutrient limiting conditions. Micro-colony formation is investigated by growth of autotrophic microbial colonies in an EPS matrix produced by heterotrophic cells. Size and shape of colonies of ammonia and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) are comparatively studied in a standard biofilm and in biofilms aerated from a membrane side.

Biofilms↗

Dynamics and estimates of growth and loss rates of bacterioplankton in a temperate freshwater system.

The growth rate and losses of bacterioplankton in the epilimnion of an oligo-mesotrophic reservoir were simultaneously estimated using three different methods for each process. Bacterial production was determined by means of the tritiated thymidine incorporation method, the dialysis bag method and the dilution method, while bacterial mortality was assessed with the dilution method, the disappearance of thymidine-labeled natural cells and ingestion of fluorescent bacterial tracers by heterotrophic flagellates. The different methods used to estimate bacterial growth rates yielded similar results. On the other hand, the mortality rates obtained with the dilution method were significantly lower than those obtained with the use of thymidine-labeled natural cells. The bacterial ingestion rate by flagellates accounted on average for 39% of total bacterial mortality estimated by the dilution method, but this value fell to 5% when the total mortality was measured by the thymidine-labeling method. Bacterial abundance and production varied in opposite phase to flagellate abundance and the various bacterial mortality rates. All this points to the critical importance of methodological aspects in the elaboration of quantitative models of matter and energy flows over the time through microbial trophic networks in aquatic systems, and highlights the role of bacterioplankton as a source of carbon for higher trophic levels in the studied system.

Animals↗

Nitrogen and sulfate attenuation in simulated landfill bioreactors.

The characteristics of leachate from landfills vary according to site-specific conditions. Leachates from old landfills are often rich in ammonia nitrogen, posing potential adverse environmental impacts in the case of uncontrolled discharge. At landfills where leachate recirculation is practiced, leachate ammonia concentrations may accumulate to higher levels than during the single pass leaching. Using leachate recirculation with system modifications, separate aerobic and anoxic zones for nitrification and both autotrophic and heterotrophic denitrification can be provided. Results from simulated landfill bioreactors indicated that both nitrogenous and sulfur compounds can be attenuated through autotrophic denitrification, and leachate nitrate concentrations of 750 mg/L reduced to less than 1 mg/L by denitrification to nitrogen gas promoting this very common process in a landfill environment results in the reduction of both leachate ammonia and sulfate concentrations.

Ammonia↗

[Efficiency of alfalfa and reed in the phytoremediation of hydrocarbon polluted soil].

The efficacy of plants as means of decontaminating hydrocarbon-polluted soil has been studied. Ditch reed (Phragmites australis) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa) markedly intensified processes of pollutant destruction, the effect being particularly pronounced in the case of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Comparative analysis of microflora in soils (including those devoid of plants and rhizosphere) demonstrated that, in addition to preventing the pollutant-induced decrease in the amount of heterotrophic microorganisms, the plants stimulated their development, significantly increasing the population of destructors. Effects of plants on major physiological groups of soil microorganisms under conditions of pollution were ambiguous. The rhizosphere consortium of alfalfa was less susceptible to effects of pollutants than that of reed.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗

Wind-driven surficial oxygen transfer and dinitrogen gas emission from treatment lagoons.

Surficial oxygen transfer plays an important role, when analyzing the complex biochemical and physical processes responsible for ammonia and dinitrogen gas emission in animal waste treatment lagoons. This paper analyzes if currently known nitrogen biochemical pathways can explain the enigmatic dinitrogen gas emissions recently observed from the treatment lagoons, based on the amount of wind-driven oxygen that can be transferred through the air-water interface. The stoichiometric amounts of the maximum dinitrogen gas production potential per unit mass of O(2) transferred were calculated according to three most likely biochemical pathways for ammonia removal in the treatment lagoons-classical nitrification-denitrification, partial nitrification-denitrification, and partial nitrification-Anammox. Partial nitrification-Anammox pathway would produce the largest N(2) emission, followed by partial nitrification-denitrification pathway, then by classical nitrification-denitrification pathway. In order to estimate stoichiometric amount (i.e., maximum) of N(2) emission from these pathways, we assumed that heterotrophic respiration was substantially inhibited due to high levels of free ammonia prevalent in treatment lagoons. Most observed N(2) emission data were below the maximum N(2) emission potentials by the classical nitrification-denitrification pathway. However, one value of observed N(2) emission was much higher than that could be produced by even the partial nitrification-Anammox pathway. This finding suggests yet unknown biological processes and/or non-biological nitrogen processes such as chemodenitrification may also be important in these treatment lagoons.

Adsorption↗

Modeling of extracellular polymeric substances and soluble microbial products production in a submerged membrane bioreactor at various SRTs.

Extracelluar polymeric substances (EPSs) and soluble microbial products (SMPs) produced by microbial cultures involved in membrane biofouling have been widely investigated. A mathematical model of EPS and SMP formation and degradation was established based on the activated sludge model no. 1 (ASM1) and was applied to the membrane bioreactor sludge with different sludge retention times (SRTs). The unified theory that the distinct products from the EPS and SMP overlapped each other was integrated into the ASM1. Two components, five processes and eight parameters were newly added to set up the model. To increase the accuracy of model simulation, microbial kinetic parameters were determined by respirometry method and applied to the model instead of microbial kinetic constant offered in ASM1. From the respirometry result, both of heterotroph and autotroph showed different yield value, growth rate and decay rate from activated sludge. There was no significant effect of SRT on SMP production and the experimental results showed good agreement with the predicted values by the model simulation. With the developed unified EPS and SMP model, EPS and SMP production could be simulated so well that it can be applied for the membrane biofouling control.

Bioreactors↗

Can phosphorus limitation inhibit dissolved organic carbon consumption in aquatic microbial food webs? A study of three food web structures in microcosms.

Microcosms with three different food web structures and phosphorus (P) limited growth medium were used to study the interactions between P and organic carbon (C) fractions in pelagic food webs. The cultures were run with low dilution to allow the biological processes to determine the outcome. A double isotope technique was used to follow the C and P compartments. In all systems the primary production was P limited. The measured P:C ratios and the observed accumulation of degradable dissolved organic carbon (DOC) indicated that the growth of heterotrophic bacteria was also P limited. The presence of neither algal grazers nor flagellates feeding on bacteria altered the limitation pattern. A net loss of P from the bacterial fraction was observed after the bloom. Different strategies for nutrient aquisition and growth are proposed as mechanisms enabling simultaneous P limitation of algae and bacteria, and a concomitant accumulation of degradable DOC. The ability of the algae to grow with low P:C ratio keeps the regeneration of P through grazers low enough to cause sustained P limitation of both algae and bacteria. The grazers were important producers of DOC when present. This implies that the usual assumption of carbon limited bacterial growth may lead to wrong conclusions regarding the dynamics of plankton communities and the DOC pool.

Animals↗

Nitrogen and organic matter removal from slaughterhouse wastewater in a lab-scale aerobic fixed-film bioreactor.

This paper presents the behaviour of a laboratory scale Aerobic Fixed-Film Bioreactor (Ae-FFB) with arranged media including its initial start up phase. It examines the viability of the Ae-FFB to remove nitrogen and organic matter from poultry slaughterhouse wastewater. After 12 days of operation while rapid growth of nitrifying bacteria took place, nitrogen and organic loading rates were increased progressively by up to 0.2 kg TKN m(-3) day(-1) and 0.8 kg COD m(-3) day(-1) respectively, reaching nitrogen and organic matter removal efficiencies of up to 92%. Heterotrophic bacteria, mainly placed in the suspended biomass accumulated at the bottom of the reactor, were found to be competing with nitrifying bacteria for oxygen, which limited nitrification efficiency. Despite operating with dissolved oxygen concentrations of around 3.5 mg 1(-1), an important contribution of the denitrification process was observed that removed up to 50% of oxidised nitrogen, depending on the availability of biodegradable organic matter.

Abattoirs↗

Carbon budgets of temperate forest ecosystems.

A summary of carbon-budget data from 30 forest stands is presented together with information on both above- and belowground ecosystem components. Only 10 of the stands had complete biomass data, 21 had complete productivity data and six had heterotrophic, or autotrophic respiration data, or both. The most comprehensive stand-level data have been collected for Pinus spp., Pseudotsuga menziesii, Abies amabilis and Liriodendron tulipifera. Only incomplete carbon budgets are available for most ecosystems studied, because measurements have been limited to one or several ecosystem processes (e.g., decay, productivity, storage). Based on the few complete C-budget studies that have been published, it is concluded that tree species differ in annual turnover of tissues.

Journal Article↗

Wastewater COD characterization: biodegradability of physico-chemical fractions.

Physico-chemical and biological characterization methods were applied to wastewater samples originating from 7 French WWTPs. The settleable fraction (S), unsettleable-coagulable fraction (US-C) and unsettleable-uncoagulable fraction (US-UC) were separated. Special emphasis was put on the determination of hydrolysis kinetics associated with coagulable- and settleable-fractions in order to model their behaviour in activated sludge processes, as both these fractions are influenced by the SRT. The "soluble" fraction (i.e. US-UC) was composed of readily biodegradable COD (2 to 27%), readily hydrolysable COD (37 to 90%) and inerts (2 to 47%). The "colloidal" fraction (i.e. US-C) was composed of heterotrophic biomass (9 to 24%) and readily hydrolysable COD (6 to 82%), with the rest being inerts or very slowly biodegradable COD (0 to 70%). The "particulate" fraction (i.e. settleable) was composed of biomass (14 +/- 6%), readily hydrolysable COD (21 +/- 14%), slowly hydrolysable COD (about 45-50%) and 15 to 20% which can be considered as inert matter (X(I)). "Readily hydrolysable COD" was correctly modeled by a global first-order reaction. First-order constants (KH) were 9 +/- 2 d(-1) for raw-wastewater, 12 +/- 3 d(-1) for primary settled-wastewater and 16 +/- 5 d(-1) for coagulated-wastewater. "Slowly hydrolysable COD" was correctly modeled by a limited surface reaction. Concerning this fraction, the specific hydrolysis rate (kH) ranged from 0.25 to 1.05 d(-1), and the affinity constant (K(X)) ranged from 0.33 to 0.95 gCOD/gCOD based on settleable solids analysis.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗

[Bacteriological study of seawater for recreational use].

A study was conducted at the request of the authorities of the Municipality of Bahía Blanca city, in order to decide whether the sea-water of a swimming pool was suitable for recreational purposes. The characterization of the water was performed through bacteriological indicators and the following groups of bacteria were studied: marine and terrestrial viable aerobic heterotrophic bacteria; total coliforms; Escherichia coli and fluorescent Pseudomonads. Salinity, temperature and pH were registered together with meteorological parameters. In every case, the bacteriological values obtained were lower than those of the most strict international standards used worldwide for bathing waters. In this way, the particular dynamic processing of the water entering the swimming pool from Blanca Bay becomes important, since previous studies conducted on the water of its Principal Channel had yielded high bacteriological values which rendered it unsuitable for bathing. This work shows that in this tidal-flats system, extrapolation of results is not valid. These conditions will remain the same if other factors do not change in the tidal-flats that surround the swimming pool.

Bacteria↗

Modelling of biological processes during aerobic treatment of piggery wastewater aiming at process optimisation.

A dynamic mathematical model was developed for the simulation of the aerobic treatment of piggery wastewater. This model includes the carbon oxidation, the nitrification and the denitrification. According to the experimental results obtained during this study, a modified version of the activated sludge model No. 1 has been developed. The model includes (1) nitrite as intermediate of nitrification and denitrification, (2) the distinction between the anoxic heterotrophic yield and the aerobic heterotrophic yield, respectively equal to 0.53 and 0.6 and (3) the first-order hydrolysis of the slowly biodegradable fraction. The calibration and the validation of the model was performed using experimental data from three experiments with two piggery wastewaters. A set of kinetic and stoichiometric parameters emerged from these tests. Except the kinetic of hydrolysis of the slowly biodegradable organic matter varying from 6 to 25 gCOD(gCODday)(-1), all other parameters were similar for all experiments. The dissolved oxygen concentration was identified as the main variable influencing the nitrite accumulation during nitrification. In the calibrated model, the oxygen half-saturation coefficient of the ammonium oxidisers (0.3g O(2)m(-3)) was lower than for the nitrite oxidisers (1.1 gO(2)m(-3)), leading to nitrite accumulation when the dissolved oxygen concentration was low. Simulations with the proposed model could be very useful for improved design and management of biological treatment of piggery wastewaters, particularly in case of partial nitrification to nitrite directly followed by denitrification.

Aerobiosis↗