Enhancement of aerobic biodegradation in an oxygen-limiting environment using a saponin-based microbubble suspension.
This study investigated the ability of a saponin-based microbubble suspension to enhance aerobic biodegradation of phenanthrene by subsurface delivery. As the microbubble suspension flowed through a sand column pressure buildup and release was repeatedly observed, which delivered oxygen to the less permeable regions. Burkholderia cepacia RPH1, a phenanthrene-degrading bacterium, was mainly transported in a suspended form in the microbubble suspension. When three pore volumes of the microbubble suspension containing B. cepacia RPH1 was introduced into a column contaminated with phenanthrene (100 mg/kg), the oxygen content declined to 5% from an initial value of 20% within 5 days and correspondingly, 34.4% of initial phenanthrene was removed in 8 days. The addition of two further three pore volumes enhanced the biodegradation efficiency by a factor of 2.2. Our data suggest that a saponin-based microbubble suspension could be a potential carrier for enhancing the aerobic biodegradation under an oxygen-limiting environment.
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Seoul National University, Shillim-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Yong Ju
YJ
Choi
Young-Jin
YJ
Kim
Kyoungphile
K
Nam
D000332:Aerobiosis; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D016956:Burkholderia cepacia / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D045423:Microbubbles / Q000382:microbiology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D012503:Saponins / Q000378:metabolism*
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D012503:Saponins; C031181:phenanthrene; D010100:Oxygen