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The potential for bioaugmentation of sand filter materials from waterworks using bacterial cultures degrading 4‐chloro‐2‐methylphenoxyacetic acid
Author(s) -
Krüger Urse S,
Johnsen Anders R,
Burmølle Mette,
Aamand Jens,
Sørensen Sebastian R
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
pest management science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.296
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1526-4998
pISSN - 1526-498X
DOI - 10.1002/ps.3796
Subject(s) - mcpa , bioaugmentation , sand filter , groundwater , bacteria , environmental remediation , chemistry , environmental chemistry , mecoprop , filter (signal processing) , inoculation , microbiology and biotechnology , pulp and paper industry , environmental science , environmental engineering , contamination , pesticide , biology , wastewater , agronomy , ecology , microorganism , horticulture , geology , computer science , engineering , genetics , computer vision , geotechnical engineering
BACKGROUND The herbicide 4‐chloro‐2‐methylphenoxyacetic acid ( MCPA ) is found frequently in Danish groundwater in concentrations exceeding the EU threshold limit of 0.1 µg L −1 . Groundwater is used for drinking water, and one potential remediation strategy is bioaugmentation using inoculation of sand filters at affected waterworks with degrader bacteria. Numerous bacteria degrading phenoxyacetic acid herbicide have previously been isolated, and they may be candidates for bioaugmentation processes. Designing the optimum inoculum, however, requires knowledge of the capacity for degrading realistically low herbicide concentrations and the robustness of the bacteria when inoculated into sand filter materials. RESULTS Testing a range of different MCPA ‐mineralising bacterial combinations, using a high‐throughput microplate radiorespirometric mineralisation assay, highlighted three efficient cocultures for mineralising low MCPA concentrations. Cocultures demonstrating a shorter time delay before initiation of 14 C ‐ ring ‐labelled MCPA mineralisation to 14 CO 2 , and a more extensive mineralisation of MCPA , compared with those of single strains, were found. When inoculated into different sand filter materials, the coculture effect was diminished, but several single strains enhanced MCPA mineralisation significantly at low MCPA concentrations. CONCLUSION This study shows that an increase in the potential for mineralisation of low herbicide concentrations in sand filter materials can be achieved by inoculating with bacterial degrader cultures. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry