Dual augmentation for aerobic bioremediation of MTBE and TCE pollution in heavy metal-contaminated soil.
In this work we isolated from soil and characterized several bacterial strains capable of either resisting high concentrations of heavy metals (Cd(2+) or Hg(2+) or Pb(2+)) or degrading the common soil and groundwater pollutants MTBE (methyl-tert-butyl ether) or TCE (trichloroethylene). We then used soil microcosms exposed to MTBE (50 mg/l) or TCE (50 mg/l) in the presence of one heavy metal (Cd 10 ppm or Hg 5 ppm or Pb 50 or 100 ppm) and two bacterial isolates at a time, a degrader plus a metal-resistant strain. Some of these two-membered consortia showed degradation efficiencies well higher (49-182% higher) than those expected under the conditions employed, demonstrating the occurrence of a synergetic relationship between the strains used. Our results show the efficacy of the dual augmentation strategy for MTBE and TCE bioremediation in the presence of heavy metals.
Fernandes
V C
VC
IBMC, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, R. Campo Alegre, 823, 4150-180, Porto, Portugal.
Albergaria
J T
JT
Oliva-Teles
T
T
Delerue-Matos
C
C
De Marco
P
P
D000332:Aerobiosis; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000378:metabolism*; D008738:Methyl Ethers / Q000378:metabolism*; D020580:Methylobacterium / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D014241:Trichloroethylene / Q000378:metabolism*
D019216:Metals, Heavy; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014241:Trichloroethylene; C043243:methyl tert-butyl ether