Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: MSU SEER: Microbial Control of Arsenic Speciation and Redox Cycling in Contaminated Riverine Sediments
EPA Grant Number: R827457E03Title: MSU SEER: Microbial Control of Arsenic Speciation and Redox Cycling in Contaminated Riverine Sediments
Investigators: McDermott, Timothy R. , Inskeep, William P.
Institution: Montana State University
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: July 1, 1999 through June 30, 2002
Project Amount: $140,000
RFA: EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) (1998) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: EPSCoR (The Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research)
Objective:
The objectives of this research project were to: (1) investigate microbial-arsenic (As) interactions; and (2) determine how microbial activity can influence As transport and behavior in natural environments. Initial plans called for extensive interaction and collaboration with the University of Montana SEER project. However, logistical issues proved this approach to be unworkable. Therefore, the focus of the Montana State University (MSU) research projects was shifted from riverine sediments to As-contaminated soil and aqueous environments. A variety of techniques were employed to study As-microbe interactions in agricultural soils, smelter-contaminated soils, and mine tailings. In addition, a geothermal spring in Yellowstone National Park provided an excellent opportunity to study As redox cycling in an environment that modeled acid mine drainage systems. Results of these studies strongly suggest that As biogeochemistry is heavily influenced by microbial As redox cycling and that As chemical speciation does not follow from simple chemical or thermodynamic equilibrium models.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
Relationships between As speciation and microbial activity were determined by comparing As redox kinetics (tracking total As, As[III], and As[V]) with microbial population dynamics within a treatment matrix that included As concentration, carbon availability, O2 availability, and pH. Microbial community-level analyses included polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) to monitor shifts in total diversity, and16S rDNA sequence information obtained from PCR-cloned DNA was used to track the occurrence of relevant populations. Cultivation techniques also identified As redox cycling microbes. Isolated organisms were characterized for their ability to oxidize or reduce As, with the latter differentiated between dissimilatory reduction (i.e., electron acceptor) versus detoxification.
Microbial reduction of As(V) to As(III) and the subsequent effects on As mobilization were studied in contaminated mine tailings under transport conditions. Molecular analysis of bacterial populations and traditional isolation techniques were coupled with column experiments designed to observe relationships among pH (limed versus unlimed treatments), redox potential (Pt-electrode), and mobilized As species. Liming increased pH values from approximately 4 to 8, resulting in a fivefold increase in total As eluted from sterile columns. Elution of As from limed columns was further enhanced by microbial activity. Arsenite (As[III]) was the predominant As species eluted from oxic-nonsterile columns, while primarily As(V) was observed in the effluent from sterilized columns. DGGE of 16S rRNA gene segments revealed that liming of the mine tailings stimulated specific Sphingomonas, Pseudomonas, and Leptothrix populations. These bacteria rapidly reduced As(V) in aerated serum bottles. An intracellular As detoxification pathway was thought to be responsible for the reduction of As(V) by these isolates. These results indicate that microbial reduction of As(V) in field samples may occur under aerobic conditions over relatively short time scales and may result in enhanced As mobilization.
Journal Articles on this Report : 12 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
| Other project views: | All 14 publications | 13 publications in selected types | All 12 journal articles |
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Bhandari A, Lesan HM. Isotherms for atrazine desorption from two surface soils. Environmental Engineering Science 2003;20(3):257-263. |
R827457E03 (Final) R827589E02 (Final) |
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Jackson CR, Langner HW, Donahoe-Christiansen J, Inskeep WP, McDermott TR. Molecular analysis of microbial community structure in an arsenite-oxidizing acidic thermal spring. Environmental Microbiology 2001;3(8):532-542. |
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Langner HW, Jackson CR, McDermott TR, Inskeep WP. Rapid oxidation of arsenite in a hot spring ecosystem, Yellowstone National Park. Environmental Science & Technology 2001;35(16):3302-3309. |
R827457E03 (Final) |
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Lesan HM, Bhandari A. Atrazine sorption on surface soils: time-dependent phase distribution and apparent desorption hysteresis. Water Research 2003;37(7):1644-1654. |
R827457E03 (Final) R827589E02 (Final) |
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Macur RE, Wheeler JT, McDermott TR, Inskeep WP. Microbial populations associated with the reduction and enhanced mobilization of arsenic in mine tailings. Environmental Science & Technology 2001;35(18):3676-3682. |
R827457E03 (Final) R825403 (1999) R825403 (Final) |
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Macur RE, Jackson CR, Botero LM, McDermott TR, Inskeep WP. Bacterial populations associated with the oxidation and reduction of arsenic in an unsaturated soil. Environmental Science & Technology 2004; 38(1):104-111. |
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Meng Z, Carper WR. Effects of hydration on the molecular structure of atrazine dimers: a MOPAC (PM3) study. Journal of Molecular Liquids 2002;96-97:397-407. |
R827457E03 (Final) R827589E02 (Final) |
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Meng Z, Carper WR. GIAO NMR calculations for atrazine and atrazine dimers: comparison of theoretical and experimental 1H and 13C chemical shifts. Journal of Molecular Structure: THEOCHEM 2002;588(1-3):45-53. |
R827457E03 (Final) R827589E02 (Final) |
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Meng Z, Carper WR. Effects of hydration on the molecular structure of metal ion-atrazine dimer complexes: a MOPAC (PM3) study. Journal of Molecular Structure: THEOCHEM 2000;531(1-3):89-98. |
R827457E03 (Final) R827589E02 (Final) |
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Otto WH, Larive CK. Improved spin-echo-edited NMR diffusion measurements. Journal of Magnetic Resonance 2001;153(2):273-276. |
R827457E03 (Final) R827589E02 (Final) |
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Otto WH, Britten DJ, Larive CK. NMR diffusion analysis of surfactant-humic substance interactions. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science. 2003;261(2):508-513. |
R827457E03 (Final) R827589E02 (Final) |
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Parvatiyar K, Alsabbagh EM, Ochsne UA, Stegemeyer MA, Smulian AG, Hwang SH, Jackson CR, McDermott TR, Hassett DJ. Global analysis of cellular factors and responses involved in Pseudomonas aeruginosa resistance to arsenite. Journal of Bacteriology 2005;187(14):4853-4864. |
R827457E03 (Final) |
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Supplemental Keywords:
bacteria, arsenic, As, arsenic mobilization, arsenic detoxification, microbial-arsenic interactions, redox, trace elements, mine tailings, limed treatment, arsenic transport, behavior, natural environment, soil, aqueous, smelter-contaminated soils, arsenic-contaminated soil, Yellowstone National Park, geothermal springs., RFA, Scientific Discipline, INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, Waste, TREATMENT/CONTROL, Water, Chemical Engineering, Treatment Technologies, Remediation, Environmental Chemistry, Contaminated Sediments, Biochemistry, Hazardous Waste, Bioremediation, Groundwater remediation, Hazardous, sorption, hazardous waste treatment, microbial degradation, biodegradation, Chromium, contaminated sediment, demonstration, contaminated soil, contaminants in soil, bioremediation of soils, adsorbable metals, contaminated groundwater, metals removal, contaminated soils, groundwater, arsenic, metal removalProgress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.