title: The spatial distribution of eubacteria and archaea in sand-clay columns degrading carbon tetrachloride and methanol.
abstract: The spatial distribution of microbial communities was investigated in anaerobic sand-clay columns fed methanol and carbon tetrachloride (CT). Microbial communities were characterized through analysis of soil samples with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for archaea and eubacteria. Increasing CT inlet concentrations to 29 microM lead to complete inhibition of methanol consumption in both columns. Although low levels of eubacteria and archaea were initially present in the clay soils in both columns, there was no significant microbial growth over 400 days in the clays beyond the interface with the sand zone. Thus, the potential for increased contaminant attenuation in heterogeneous sand-clay systems through biodegradation in the clay matrix zones may be limited in many systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Espírito Santo, Av. Fernando Ferrari, s/n, Vitória, ES, Caixa Postal 9011, 29060-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gláucia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: da P Lima
authors.forename: Brent E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Sleep
mesh_terms: D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001105:Archaea / Q000378:metabolism*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000378:metabolism*; D000077215:Clay; D004586:Electrophoresis; D000432:Methanol / Q000378:metabolism*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D000077215:Clay; D000432:Methanol