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Final Report: Microflora Involved in Phytoremediation of Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons
EPA Grant Number: R827015C005Subproject: this is subproject number 005 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R827015
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: IPEC University of Tulsa (TU)
Center Director: Sublette, Kerry L.
Title: Microflora Involved in Phytoremediation of Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons
Investigators: Nagle, David P. , Fletcher, John S.
Institution: University of Oklahoma
EPA Project Officer: Krishnan, Bala S.
Project Period: August 1, 2000 through July 31, 2001 (Extended to July 31, 2002)
Project Amount: Refer to main center abstract for funding details.
RFA: Integrated Petroleum Environmental Consortium (IPEC) (1999)
Research Category: Hazardous Waste/Remediation , Targeted Research
Description:
Objective:1. Examine the hypothesis that the root rhizosphere of some plant species provides an ecological habitat where polyaromatic-degrading microorganisms find a niche that favors their survival and persistence in a natural microbial community.
2. Develop molecular techniques to monitor the presence and activity of polyaromatic-degrading communities of microorganisms in the rhizosphere.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):This research was accomplished by conducting a series of integrated studies starting with field work at contaminated sites, followed by laboratory studies based on the field work, and concluded with development of preliminary molecular monitoring methods tested on field samples. This field-laboratory-field approach greatly enhances the chances of developing a successful phytoremediation system, because it starts with field identification of plant species currently growing in contaminated soil, presumed to have already fostered contaminant remediation under natural conditions as shown in previous work from this laboratory (Olson et al. 2001, Environ. Sci. and Pollut. Res 4: :243-249). Following the field work, laboratory studies were conducted to gain an understanding of the biological systems responsible for field observations, thereby providing information necessary to develop molecular monitoring methods for effective evaluation of the slow but sustained implementation of phytoremediation systems under field conditions.
Tree species that successfully grew to maturity at contaminated sites included: ash, Austrian pine, birch, black locust, mulberry, and willow. Field data collected in this study have shown that the Rhodococcus genus is potentially the most important group of polyaromatic-degrading organisms under field conditions and that the root zone of certain plant species favor the presence of this taxonomic group. Elevated levels of polyaromatic- degrading bacteria in the root zone of some plant species are consistent with the laboratory-based concept that the production and release of flavonoid compounds by fine root turnover of some plant species serve, through natural substrate enrichment, to modify microbial community structure in favor of organisms that metabolize both natural and synthetic polyaromatic compounds. Degradation studies showed that some of the Rhodococcus species isolated in this work have degradative properties equal or superior to those of Burkholderia sp. LB400, an often studied bacterium with impressive degradation properties. Quantitative PCR methods were used to show that a tight correlation existed between soil extracts of DNA coding for the nah genes and numbers of naphthalene degrading bacteria isolated from duplicate soil samples. These results support the idea of quantifying the degradative properties of rhizosphere soil by quantifying gene copies of selected enzymes in catabolic pathways. Generic primers for dioxygenase coded DNA were developed from Gen Bank data and unsuccessfully tested with DNA extracted from selected organisms and soil samples. The initial disappointing performance of these theoretically sound primers is still under investigation.
The findings reported in the open literature from this investigation (see following listing of publications) support the concept of rhizosphere remediation, whereby theplanting and maintenance of selected plant species at a contaminated site will foster development of a microbial community that is conducive to contaminant degradation. Thus, the use of long-lived perennial plants provides an ecologically sound means for inexpensive, sustained remediation of contaminated soil.
Journal Articles:No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 19 publications for this subproject
Supplemental Keywords:Bacteria, Bioremediation, Ecology, Microbial Monitoring, PAHs, PCBs, Plants, Rhizosphere, Roots, Soil, Terrestrial. , Toxics, Water, INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, Geographic Area, Scientific Discipline, Waste, RFA, Remediation, Molecular Biology/Genetics, Biology, Microbiology, Chemistry, Hazardous Waste, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Microbiology, Contaminant Candidate List, Contaminated Sediments, Hazardous, National Recommended Water Quality, Bioremediation, Engineering, State, soils, water quality, decontamination of soil, biodegradation, hydrocarbons, microbial degradation, phytoremediation, degradation, Phenanthrene, petroleum, Texas (TX), contaminants in soil, Naphthalene, Pyrene, contaminated soil, bioremediation of soils, waste treatment, field studies, soil microbes, hazardous waste treatment, microbes, PAH, soil, microflora, contaminated sites
Progress and Final Reports:
2001 Progress Report
Original Abstract
Main Center Abstract and Reports:
R827015 IPEC University of Tulsa (TU)
Subprojects under this Center:
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R827015C001 Evaluation of Road Base Material Derived from Tank Bottom Sludges
R827015C002 Passive Sampling Devices (PSDs) for Bioavailability Screening of Soils Containing Petrochemicals
R827015C003 Demonstration of a Subsurface Drainage System for the Remediation of Brine-Impacted Soil
R827015C004 Anaerobic Intrinsic Bioremediation of Whole Gasoline
R827015C005 Microflora Involved in Phytoremediation of Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons
R827015C006 Microbial Treatment of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM)
R827015C007 Using Plants to Remediate Petroleum-Contaminated Soil
R827015C008 The Use of Nitrate for the Control of Sulfide Formation in Oklahoma Oil Fields
R827015C009 Surfactant-Enhanced Treatment of Oil-Contaminated Soils and Oil-Based Drill Cuttings
R827015C010 Novel Materials for Facile Separation of Petroleum Products from Aqueous Mixtures Via Magnetic Filtration
R827015C011 Development of Relevant Ecological Screening Criteria (RESC) for Petroleum Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Exploration and Production Sites
R827015C012 Humate-Induced Remediation of Petroleum Contaminated Surface Soils
R827015C013 New Process for Plugging Abandoned Wells
R827015C014 Enhancement of Microbial Sulfate Reduction for the Remediation of Hydrocarbon Contaminated Aquifers - A Laboratory and Field Scale Demonstration
R827015C015 Locating Oil-Water Interfaces in Process Vessels
R827015C016 Remediation of Brine Spills with Hay
R827015C017 Continuation of an Investigation into the Anaerobic Intrinsic Bioremediation of Whole Gasoline
R827015C018 Using Plants to Remediate Petroleum-Contaminated Soil
R827015C019 Biodegradation of Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Salt-Impacted Soil by Native Halophiles or Halotolerants and Strategies for Enhanced Degradation
R827015C020 Anaerobic Intrinsic Bioremediation of MTBE
R827015C021 Evaluation of Commercial, Microbial-Based Products to Treat Paraffin Deposition in Tank Bottoms and Oil Production Equipment
R827015C022 A Continuation: Humate-Induced Remediation of Petroleum Contaminated Surface Soils
R827015C023 Data for Design of Vapor Recovery Units for Crude Oil Stock Tank Emissions
R827015C024 Development of an Environmentally Friendly and Economical Process for Plugging Abandoned Wells
R827015C025 A Continuation of Remediation of Brine Spills with Hay
R827015C026 Identifying the Signature of the Natural Attenuation of MTBE in Goundwater Using Molecular Methods and "Bug Traps"
R827015C027 Identifying the Signature of Natural Attenuation in the Microbial
Ecology of Hydrocarbon Contaminated Groundwater Using Molecular Methods and
"Bug Traps"
R827015C028 Using Plants to Remediate Petroleum-Contaminated Soil: Project Continuation
R827015C030 Effective Stormwater and Sediment Control During Pipeline Construction Using a New Filter Fence Concept
R827015C031 Evaluation of Sub-micellar Synthetic Surfactants versus Biosurfactants for Enhanced LNAPL Recovery
R827015C032 Utilization of the Carbon and Hydrogen Isotopic Composition of Individual Compounds in Refined Hydrocarbon Products To Monitor Their Fate in the Environment
R830633 Integrated Petroleum Environmental Consortium (IPEC)
R830633C001 Development of an Environmentally Friendly and Economical Process for Plugging Abandoned Wells (Phase II)
R830633C002 A Continuation of Remediation of Brine Spills with Hay
R830633C003 Effective Stormwater and Sediment Control During Pipeline Construction Using a New Filter Fence Concept
R830633C004 Evaluation of Sub-micellar Synthetic Surfactants versus Biosurfactants for Enhanced LNAPL Recovery
R830633C005 Utilization of the Carbon and Hydrogen Isotopic Composition of Individual Compounds in Refined Hydrocarbon Products To Monitor Their Fate in the Environment
R830633C006 Evaluation of Commercial, Microbial-Based Products to Treat Paraffin Deposition in Tank Bottoms and Oil Production Equipment
R830633C007 Identifying the Signature of the Natural Attenuation in the Microbial Ecology of Hydrocarbon Contaminated Groundwater Using Molecular Methods and “Bug Traps”
R830633C008 Using Plants to Remediate Petroleum-Contaminated Soil: Project Continuation
R830633C009 Use of Earthworms to Accelerate the Restoration of Oil and Brine Impacted Sites
X832428C001 Effective Stormwater and Sediment Control During Pipeline Construction Using a New Filter Fence Concept
X832428C002 Paraffin Control in Oil Wells Using Anaerobic Microorganisms
X832428C003 Fiber Rolls as a Tool for Re-Vegetation of Oil-Brine Contaminated Watersheds