title: Biodegradation: Updating the concepts of control for microbial cleanup in contaminated aquifers.
abstract: Biodegradation is one of the most favored and sustainable means of removing organic pollutants from contaminated aquifers but the major steering factors are still surprisingly poorly understood. Growing evidence questions some of the established concepts for control of biodegradation. Here, we critically discuss classical concepts such as the thermodynamic redox zonation, or the use of steady state transport scenarios for assessing biodegradation rates. Furthermore, we discuss if the absence of specific degrader populations can explain poor biodegradation. We propose updated perspectives on the controls of biodegradation in contaminant plumes. These include the plume fringe concept, transport limitations, and transient conditions as currently underestimated processes affecting biodegradation.
authors.affiliation: †University of Duisburg-Essen, Biofilm Centre, Universitätsstrasse 5, 45141 Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Rainer U
authors.initials: RU
authors.lastname: Meckenstock
authors.affiliation: ○Helmholtz Zentrum München, Institute of Groundwater Ecology, Ingolstädter Landstrasse 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elsner
authors.affiliation: ○Helmholtz Zentrum München, Institute of Groundwater Ecology, Ingolstädter Landstrasse 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Griebler
authors.affiliation: ○Helmholtz Zentrum München, Institute of Groundwater Ecology, Ingolstädter Landstrasse 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Tillmann
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lueders
authors.affiliation: ○Helmholtz Zentrum München, Institute of Groundwater Ecology, Ingolstädter Landstrasse 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stumpp
authors.affiliation: ‡Department of Geochemistry, Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS), Øster Voldgade 10, 1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aamand
authors.affiliation: §Laboratory of Bioengineering; Earth and Life Institute (ELI); Université Catholique de Louvain; Place Croix du Sud 2, L7.05.19, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
authors.forename: Spiros N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Agathos
authors.affiliation: ∥Department of Environmental Engineering, Miljoevej, building 113, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
authors.forename: Hans-Jørgen
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Albrechtsen
authors.affiliation: ⊥Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium.
authors.forename: Leen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bastiaens
authors.affiliation: ∥Department of Environmental Engineering, Miljoevej, building 113, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
authors.forename: Poul L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Bjerg
authors.affiliation: ∇University of Gent, LabMET, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Nico
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Boon
authors.affiliation: ⊥Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium.
authors.forename: Winnie
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dejonghe
authors.affiliation: ◆Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PJ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Wei E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: ¶CSB Centre for Systems Biology, School of Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston B15 2TT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Susanne I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.affiliation: ∞Division Soil and Water Management, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 20, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Smolders
authors.affiliation: ‡Department of Geochemistry, Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS), Øster Voldgade 10, 1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark.
authors.forename: Sebastian R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Sørensen
authors.affiliation: ∞Division Soil and Water Management, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 20, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Springael
authors.affiliation: #Department of Earth Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, NL-1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Boris M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: van Breukelen
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D004583:Electrons; D060587:Groundwater / Q000382:microbiology*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical