Open AccessMicrobial Isotopic Fractionation of Perchlorate Chlorine
Author(s) -
Max Coleman,
Magali Ader,
Suhnrita Chaudhuri,
John D. Coates
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
applied and environmental microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.552
H-Index - 324
eISSN - 1070-6291
pISSN - 0099-2240
DOI - 10.1128/aem.69.8.4997-5000.2003
Subject(s) - perchlorate , environmental chemistry , chlorine , abiotic component , fractionation , chloride , microbial biodegradation , chemistry , contamination , environmental science , microorganism , ecology , biology , chromatography , bacteria , organic chemistry , ion , genetics
Perchlorate contamination can be microbially respired to innocuous chloride and thus can be treated effectively. However, monitoring a bioremediative strategy is often difficult due to the complexities of environmental samples. Here we demonstrate that microbial respiration of perchlorate results in a significant fractionation ( approximately -15 per thousand ) of the chlorine stable isotope composition of perchlorate. This can be used to quantify the extent of biotic degradation and to separate biotic from abiotic attenuation of this contaminant.