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Enhanced biotransformation of TCE using plant terpenoids in contaminated groundwater
Author(s) -
Brown J.R.M.,
Thompson I.P.,
Paton G.I.,
Singer A.C.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
letters in applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.698
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1472-765X
pISSN - 0266-8254
DOI - 10.1111/j.1472-765x.2009.02738.x
Subject(s) - biotransformation , terpenoid , groundwater , contaminated groundwater , environmental chemistry , contamination , chemistry , environmental science , biology , botany , environmental remediation , ecology , organic chemistry , geology , enzyme , geotechnical engineering
Aims: To examine plant terpenoids as inducers of TCE (trichloroethylene) biotransformation by an indigenous microbial community originating from a plume of TCE‐contaminated groundwater. Methods and Results: One‐litre microcosms of groundwater were spiked with 100 μmol 1 −1 of TCE and amended weekly for 16 weeks with 20 μl 1 −1 of the following plant monoterpenes: linalool, pulegone, R‐(+) carvone, S‐(−) carvone, farnesol, cumene. Yeast extract‐amended and unamended control treatments were also prepared. The addition of R‐carvone and S‐carvone, linalool and cumene resulted in the biotransformation of upwards of 88% of the TCE, significantly more than the unamendment control (61%). The aforementioned group of terpenes also significantly ( P < 0·05) allowed more TCE to be degraded than the remaining two terpenes (farnesol and pulegone), and the yeast extract treatment which biotransformed 74–75% of the TCE. The microbial community profile was monitored by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and demonstrated much greater similarities between the microbial communities in terpene‐amended treatments than in the yeast extract or unamended controls. Conclusions: TCE biotransformation can be significantly enhanced through the addition of selected plant terpenoids. Significance and Impact of the Study: Plant terpenoid and nutrient supplementation to groundwater might provide an environmentally benign means of enhancing the rate of in situ TCE bioremediation.