Open AccessGeochemistry and microbial diversity of a trichloroethene‐contaminated Superfund site undergoing intrinsic in situ reductive dechlorination
Author(s) -
Lowe Mary,
Madsen Eugene L.,
Schindler Karen,
Smith Courtney,
Emrich Scott,
Robb Frank,
Halden Rolf U.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
fems microbiology ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.377
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1574-6941
pISSN - 0168-6496
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6941.2002.tb00944.x
Subject(s) - reductive dechlorination , dehalococcoides , environmental chemistry , biology , bioremediation , microbial population biology , environmental remediation , gammaproteobacteria , microbiology and biotechnology , 16s ribosomal rna , bacteria , contamination , vinyl chloride , ecology , chemistry , organic chemistry , genetics , copolymer , polymer
This study explored the geochemistry and microbial diversity of a Superfund site containing trichloroethene (TCE) and an unusual co‐pollutant, tetrakis(2‐ethylbutoxy)silane. Geochemical analysis of contaminated groundwater indicated subsurface anaerobiosis, reductive dechlorination of TCE to predominantly cis ‐1,2‐dichloroethene, and (transient) accumulation of 2‐ethylbutanol and 2‐ethylbutyrate as a result of tetrakis(2‐ethylbutoxy)silane breakdown. Comparative analysis of 106 16S rDNA and 61 16S–23S rDNA intergenic spacer region sequences – obtained from pristine and contaminated groundwater via DNA extraction, PCR amplification, cloning and sequencing – revealed that the contaminated groundwater featured (i) a distinct microbial community, (ii) reduced species diversity, (iii) various anaerobes, and (iv) bacteria closely related to the TCE‐dechlorinating, dichloroethene‐accumulating genus Dehalobacter , whereas (v) the TCE‐dechlorinating, ethene‐producing species Dehalococcoides ethenogenes was not detectable. Thus, geochemical and molecular biological results were in excellent agreement in this first ecological field study linking in situ reductive dechlorination of TCE to metabolism of tetraalkoxysilanes.