Biodegradation of Fuel Oil Under Laboratory and Arctic Marine Conditions

The aerobic biodegradation of the components of a fuel oil under Arctic summer conditions follows a pattern that is indistinguishable from that exhibited under temperate conditions. Straight chain alkanes and small aromatics are degraded first, followed by branched alkanes and larger and alkylated aromatics. We present data on the biodegradation of heptadecane as a representative n-alkane, pristane as a representative iso-alkane, and naphthalene, phenanthrene, and chrysene and their alkylated forms as representative two-, three- and four-ring aromatic hydrocarbons. In particular, the pattern of degradation of the alkylated aromatics allows the identification of biodegradation in samples collected from the field and the estimation of the extent of biodegradation that occurred in the In-Situ Treatment of Oiled Sediment Shorelines Field Trials.     

共基质和无机盐对原油降解菌株降解原油效果的影响

从大港油田石油污染土壤中分离筛选出1株原油降解菌X3,对原油的降解率达72．6％,经鉴定X3菌株属于假单胞菌属（Psedomonas）。利用生物摇床对X3菌株降解原油的实验发现,共代谢基质α-乳糖对X3菌株降解原油有促进作用,可使原油降解率提高到80．3％;而葡萄糖和蔗糖对X3菌株降解原油有抑制作用。Fe2＋对X3菌株的降解原油也有促进作用,在α-乳糖和Fe2＋的共同作用下,X3菌株对原油的降解率可达82．3％;K＋和Mg2＋对X3菌株降解原油则有抑制作用。在FeSO4质量浓度为0．2～0．3mg／L时,X3菌株对原油的降解率最高,FeSO4质量浓度继续增加,X3菌株对原油的降解率下降。     

Biodegradation of Dispersed Forties Crude and Alaskan North Slope Oils in Microcosms Under Simulated Marine Conditions

For oil spills in the open sea, operational experience has found that conventional response techniques, such as mechanical recovery, tend to remove only a small fraction of oil during major spills, a recent exception being the Mississippi River spill in Louisiana [Spill Sci. Technol. Bull. 7 (2002) 155]. By contrast, the use of dispersants can enable significant fractions of oil to be removed from the sea surface by dispersing the oil into the water column. It is thought that once dispersed the oil can biodegrade in the water column, although there is little information on the mechanism and rate of biodegradation. Two studies were undertaken on dispersion, microbial colonisation and biodegradation of Forties crude and Alaskan North Slope (ANS) oils under simulated marine conditions. The study using the Forties crude lasted 27 days and was carried out in conditions simulating estuarine and coastal conditions in waters around the UK (15 °C and in the presence of nutrients, 1 mg N-NO₃/l), while the ANS study simulated low temperature conditions typical of Prince William Sound (8 °C) and took place over 35 days. The results of both studies demonstrated microbial colonisation of oil droplets after 4 days, and the formation of neutrally buoyant clusters consisting of oil, bacteria, protozoa and nematodes. By day 16, the size of the clusters increased and they sank to the bottom of the microcosms, presumably because of a decrease in buoyancy due to oil biodegradation, however biodegradation of n-alkanes was confirmed only in the Forties study. No colonisation or biodegradation of oil was noted in the controls in which biological action was inhibited. Oil degrading bacteria proliferated in all biologically active microcosms. Without dispersant, the onset of colonisation was delayed, although microbial growth rates and population size in ANS were greater than observed with the Forties. This difference reflected the greater droplet number seen with ANS at 8 °C than with Forties crude at 15 °C. Although these studies differed by more than one variable, complicating comparison, the findings suggest that dispersion (natural or chemical) changes the impact of the oil on the marine environment, potentially having important implications for management of oil spills in relation to the policy of dispersant use in an oil spill event.     

膨胀石墨-ZnO复合材料的制备及其光催化降解原油的性能

采用化学氧化-浸渍法制备出膨胀石墨-ZnO（EG—ZnO）复合材料,采用扫描电镜、X射线衍射仪、紫外-可见分光光度法及傅里叶变换红外光谱仪等表征手段对该复合材料的形貌、结构及其光催化降解水面原油的性能进行了研究。研究结果表明,EG—ZnO复合材料保持了膨胀石墨疏松多孔的蠕虫形貌,六方晶系结构的ZnO晶体均匀地分布于膨胀石墨的层间和表面。经紫外光照射72h后,吸附于EG—ZnO复合材料中的原油发生了显著的光催化降解反应。当该复合材料中ZnO的质量分数为80％时,原油的降解率可达35％,降解产物中有酮、醛及醇类等物质。     

In-situ Treatment of Oiled Sediment Shorelines

Experimental oil spill studies were conducted to quantify the effectiveness of selected in-situ shoreline treatment options to accelerate natural oil removal processes on mixed-sediment (sand and pebble) shorelines. At each of three distinct shoreline sites, treatment test plots and control plots were established within a 40-, 80- and 143-m continuous stretch of oiled shoreline. A total of 5500 l of oil was deposited along a 3-m wide swath in the upper intertidal zone at each site. Approximately one week after oiling, a different treatment technique was applied to each plot. The treatment techniques were: sediment relocation (surf washing), mixing (tilling), bioremediation (fertilizer application), and bioremediation combined with mixing. One plot at each site was monitored for natural attenuation. The quantity of oil removed from the plots was measured six times up to 60 days post-treatment and then again one year later. Changes in the physical character of the beach, oil penetration, movement of oil to the subtidal environment, toxicity, and biodegradation were monitored over the 400-day period.The results verified quantitatively that relocation of oiled sediments significantly accelerated the rate of oil removal from the shoreline by more than one year. Microscopic observations and image analyses confirmed that the oil-mineral aggregate formation process was active and was increased by sediment relocation. Oil biodegradation occurred in this arctic environment, both in the oiled sediments and on the fine mineral particles removed from the sediment by natural physical processes. The biodegradation of oil in sediment was significantly stimulated by simple bioremediation protocols. Mixing (by tilling) did not clearly stimulate oil loss and natural recovery in the context of this experimental design. None of the treatment techniques elevated toxicity in the nearshore environment to unacceptable levels, nor did they result in consequential alongshore or nearshore oiling.     

Marsh Sensitivity to Burning of Applied Crude Oil

This research note summarizes Spartina alterniflora and Sagittaria lancifolia sensitivity to oiling and in situ burning of applied oil. Experimental plots (2.4 m × 2.4 m × 0.6 m) were constructed in salt and freshwater marsh habitats and South Louisiana Crude (SLC) applied (2 l m⁻²) to stems and leaves of marsh plants of oil and oil/burn treatment plots. Burning was initiated mid-August when winds were calm and a 15-25 cm floodwater layer covered the marsh substrate. Vegetative responses (stem density, height, carbon assimilation and biomass production) were measured for approximately one year following the in situ burns. Application of oil and burning of SLC only had short-term detrimental effects on salt and freshwater marsh vegetation. About one year after burns, vegetative responses measured in oiled and oiled/burned plots approached or exceeded control (no oil or burn) values. Field results suggest, under our experimental conditions, in situ burning of spilled oil in S. alterniflora and S. lancifolia marshes may be a remediation operation to consider.     

微生物对石油烃的降解机理及影响因素

综述了微生物对链烷烃、环烷烃和芳香烃的降解途径、机理和降解动力学,分析了温度、营养物质、氧及盐度等非生物因素对降解作用的影响。     

微生物降解重油的初步研究

丛石油污染的土壤中筛选出一株假单胞菌,考察了其对重油的降解效果。降解18d,重油的降解率达到42．8％,饱和烃、芳香烃、胶质、沥青质的降解率分别为42．95％,43．85％,44．5％,5．55％;质量浓度2．5g／L的表面活性剂Tween-80可使重油的18d降解率达到51．0％;弱碱性条件有利于重油的生物降解;生物泥浆法处理重油污染的土壤,1kg土壤中重油质量100g,降解45d,重油的降解率达到38．85％。     

Comparative Biodegradation Study of Starch- and Polylactic Acid-Based Materials

The degradation of starch- and polylactic acid-based plastic films by microorganisms extracted from compost was studied in a liquid medium. The various degradation products produced were measured throughout the duration of the experiment, and total carbon balances were estimated. For an easily biodegradable material, the evolution of the way carbon repartitioned between different degradation products was quite similar whatever the experimental condition or the type of substrate. On the other hand, for a resistant material exposed to these microorganisms, the nature of the biodegradation depended strongly on the experimental conditions. In the latter case, a differential scanning calorimetry analysis confirmed the importance of the applied norm on the state of the residual material. The consequences for improved methods of estimation of biodegradability of these materials are discussed.     

壬基酚的环境行为及生物降解研究进展

简单介绍了环境内分泌干扰物壬基酚的化学性质、环境释放机制及其对环境构成的危害,归纳了壬基酚降解的生物菌种特征及生物代谢途径,讨论了包括厌氧或好氧条件下的温度、介质及壬基酚的同分异构等因素对壬基酚生物降解过程的影响,从基础研究、处理技术及环境管理等方面提出了控制壬基酚环境污染的研究方向。     

Intrinsic and Stimulated In Situ Biodegradation of Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH)

The feasibility of the biodegradation of HCH and its intermediates has been investigated. A recent characterisation of two sites in The Netherlands has shown intrinsic biodegradation of HCH. At one site, breakdown products (monochlorobenzene, benzene and chlorophenol) were found in the core of the HCH-plume, whereas the HCH-concentration decreased over time and space. Characterisation of a second, industrial site indicated less intrinsic biodegradation and the need to stimulate biodegradation. In the laboratory, enhanced HCH degradation was tested with soil and groundwater material from both sites, and the required conversion to the intermediates benzene and monochlorobenzene was demonstrated. Furthermore, the biodegradation of these intermediates could be initiated by adding low amounts of oxygen (<5%). Adding nitrate enhanced this degradation. We hypothesise that this occurs through anaerobic nitrate reducing conversion of oxidised intermediates.At the non-industrial other site, intrinsic degradation took place, as shown in the laboratory experiments. Interpretation of the field data with computer codes Modflow and RT3D was performed. As a result of the modelling study, it has been proposed to monitor natural attenuation for several years before designing the final approach.At the industrial site, the results of the batch experiments are applied. Anaerobic HCH degradation to monochlorobenzene and benzene is stimulated via the addition of an electron donor.Infiltration facilities have been installed at the site to create an anaerobic infiltration zone in which HCH will be degraded, and these facilities are combined with the redevelopment of the site.     

选择性吸附-高效生物降解法处理含硝基苯与苯酚混合废水

结合NDA-150型树脂（简称树脂）选择性吸附和生物降解的优点,对含硝基苯和苯酚的模拟混合废水（简称混合废水）进行处理。通过树脂的选择性吸附,使混合废水中的硝基苯和苯酚分离,随后用高效菌对树脂所吸附的硝基苯进行生物降解,同时实现树脂的再生。实验结果表明：通过调节混合废水的pH,树脂可有效地将混合废水中的硝基苯和苯酚进行选择性吸附分离;树脂对硝基苯的吸附是可逆的;树脂的再生程度受微生物对可利用硝基苯质量浓度的下限（1．2mg／L）限制;吸附-生物再生循环实验结果表明,该树脂可有效抵抗微生物的生物降解与破坏。     

黄孢原毛平革菌的生长及降解石油条件的优化

在限氮振荡的条件下研究了藜芦醇、Tween-80、草酸、H2O2对黄孢原毛平革菌(P.C.菌)的生长量和石油降解性能的影响。实验结果表明:藜芦醇质量浓度低于0.05 g/L时促进P.C.菌的生长,高质量浓度时抑制P.C.菌的生长,石油降解率随藜芦醇质量浓度增加先升高后下降;Tween-80质量浓度低于7 mg/L时,P.C.菌生长量和石油降解率均随Tween-80质量浓度增大而增加,Tween-80质量浓度大于其临界胶束浓度时,P.C.菌生长量和石油降解率均低于未加Tween-80时;添加草酸抑制P.C.菌的生长,草酸质量浓度为35 mg/L时石油降解率最高,草酸质量浓度为350 mg/L时石油降解率低于未加草酸时;加入H2O2的体系中,石油降解率明显高于无H2O2体系。     

Photo-oxidation and Photo-toxicity of Crude and Refined Oils

The fate and effects of an oil spill are effected by solar radiation through the action of photo-oxidation and photo-toxicity. Photo-oxidation, an important process in the weathering of oil, produces a variety of oxidized compounds, including aliphatic and aromatic ketones, aldehydes, carboxylic acids, fatty acids, esters, epoxides, sulfoxides, sulfones, phenols, anhydrides, quinones and aliphatic and aromatic alcohols. Some of these compounds contribute to the marine biota toxicity observed after an oil spill. Photo-toxicity occurs when uptake of certain petroleum compounds, e.g. certain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and benzothiophenes, is followed by solar exposure which results in much greater toxicity than after dark uptake. The mechanism of PAH photo-toxicity includes absorbance of solar radiation by the PAH which produces a free radical and this free radical in turn reacts with oxygen to produce reactive oxygen species that can damage DNA and other cellular macromolecules. While most studies on photo-toxicity have been carried out in the laboratory, there are studies showing that water from an oil spill is photo-toxic to bivalve embryos for at least a few days after the spill. Other studies have found that oil contaminated sediments are photo-toxic to several marine invertebrates. More studies are required to determine if marine fauna at an oil spill site are effected by the action of photo-toxicity and photo-oxidation.     

Evaluation of the Biodegradation of Starch and Cellulose Under Controlled Composting Conditions

In order to verify the response of the controlled composting test method (i.e., the ISO/DIS 14855:1997, the ASTM D 5338-92, or the CEN counterpart) to starch at different concentrations, the maximum amount prescribed by the test method (100 g) and lower amounts (60 and 30 g), as if starch were a coingredient in a blend, were tested. After 44 days of incubation (at a constant temperature of 58°C) the biodegradation curves were in a plateau phase, displaying the following final values (referred to a nominal starch initial amount of 100 g): starch 100 g, 97.5%; starch 60 g, 63.7%; and starch 30 g, 32.5%. The data show a CO₂ evolution roughly equal, in each case, to the theoretical maximum, indicating a complete starch mineralization. We cannot discern whether the deviations found at lower concentrations are caused by a priming effect. In any case, the extent of the deviations is not high and is acceptable in biodegradation studies. The average biodegradation of cellulose, obtained gathering four independent experiments with 11 biodegradation curves, turned out to be 96.8 ± 6.7% (SD) after 47 ± 1 days. The data indicate that the controlled composting is a reliable test method also for starch and cellulose and, consequently, for starch-based and cellulose-based materials.     

Photodegradation and Biodegradation Study of a Starch and Poly(Lactic Acid) Coextruded Material

To simulate the behavior of agricultural mulch coextruded poly(lactic acid)(PLA)/starch films, two stages were carried out. The first was an ultraviolet treatment (UV) at 315 nm, during which glass transition temperature T_g, weight, and molecular weight (MW) decreased and a separation between PLA and starch phase was observed. For the second stage, the mineralization of the carbon of the material was followed using the ASTM (D 5209–92 and 5338–92) and ISO/CEN (14852 and 14855) standard procedures. To measure the biodegradability of polymer material, the assessment of the carbon balance allowed determination of the distribution between the carbon rate used to the biomass synthesis or the respiration process (released CO₂), as well as the dissolved organic carbon into the culture medium and the carbon in the residual insoluble material. The influence of the nature of the medium and the standardized procedures on the final rate of biodegradation was investigated. Whatever the standardized method, the biodegradation percentage was significantly stronger in liquid medium (92.4–93.4) than on inert medium (80–83%). In the case of the compost process, only released CO₂ was measured and corresponded to 79.1–80.3%.     

A Processing,Characterization and Marine Biodegradation Study of Melt-Extruded Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) Films

A series of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), all containing 1% nucleating agent but varying in structure, were melt-processed into films through single screw extrusion techniques. This series consisted of three polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and three polyhydroxybutyrate-valerate (PHBV) resins with varying valerate content. Processing parameters of temperature in the barrel (165–173 °C) and chill rolls (60 °C) were optimized to obtain cast films. The gel-permeation chromatography (GPC) results showed a loss of 8–19% of the polymer’s initial molecular weight due to extrusion processing. Modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC) displayed glass transition temperatures of the films ranging from −4.6 to 6.7 °C depending on the amount of crystallinity in the film. DSC data were also used to calculate the percent crystallinity of each sample and slightly higher crystallinity was observed in the PHBV series of samples. X-ray diffraction patterns did not vary significantly for any of the samples and crystallinity was confirmed with X-ray data. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) verified the glass transition trends for the films from DSC while loss modulus (E′) reported at 20 °C showed that the PHBV (3,950–3,600 MPa) had the higher E′ values than the PHB (3,500–2,698 MPa) samples. The Young’s modulus values of the PHB and PHBV samples ranged from 700 to 900 MPa and 900 to 1,500 MPa, respectively. Polarized light microscopy images revealed gel particles in the films processed through single-screw extrusion, which may have caused diminished Young’s modulus and tensile strength of these films. The PHBV film samples exhibited the greatest barrier properties to oxygen and water vapor when compared to the PHB film samples. The average oxygen transmission rate (OTR) and water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) for the PHBV samples was 247 (cc-mil/m²-day) and 118 (g-mil/m²-day), respectively; while the average OTR and WVTR for the PHB samples was 350 (cc-mil/m²-day) and 178 (g-mil/m²-day), respectively. Biodegradation data of the films in the marine environment demonstrated that all PHA film samples achieved a minimum of 70% mineralization in 40 days when run in accordance with ASTM 6691. For static and dynamic incubation experiments in seawater, microbial action resulting in weight loss as a function of time showed all samples to be highly biodegradable and correlated with the ASTM 6691 biodegradation data.     

水域泄漏油品回收处理技术

提出了水域泄漏油品回收技术的装备需求,介绍了水域泄漏油品问收处理措施.采用拦油栅来控制漂浮在水上的油品,将泄漏油品集中在相对较小的区域内,并使水面的浮油层加厚,然后使用人工或机械对泄漏油品进行回收.对于水域中的少量泄漏油品,采用吸油材料来进行吸附.在油膜较薄,难以用机械方法回收的情况下,使用消油剂或固化剂进行处理.水域...     

Volatilization and Biodegradation of VOCs in Membrane Bioreactors (MBR)

Volatilization and biodegradation are major competitive volatile organic compound (VOC) removal mechanisms in biological wastewater treatment process, which depend on compound specific properties and system design/operational parameters. In this study, a mathematical model was used to determine major removal pathways at various organic loading rates (OLR), solids residence time (SRT) and dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations in a biological process for vinyl acetate. Model results showed that biological treatment process should be designed with long SRT, high OLR and low DO concentrations to maximize biodegradation and minimize volatilization of VOCs. Unless a VOC is toxic to microorganisms under the given conditions, low VOC emission rates are an inherent advantage of MBRs, which operate at higher OLR and longer SRT compared to conventional activated sludge process. A lab scale membrane bioreactor (MBR) was operated at varying OLR to investigate the relative volatilization and biodegradation rates for acetaldehyde, butyraldehyde and vinyl acetate. Synthetic wastewater containing three VOCs was introduced to the MBR. The DO concentration and SRT was maintained at 2.0 mg L^{− 1} and 100 days, respectively. The overall VOC removal rate was more than 99.7% for three VOCs at all the OLR. For vinyl acetate, the biodegradation rate increased from 93.87 to 99.40% and the volatilization removal rate decreased from 6.09 to 0.59% as OLR was increased from 1.1 to 2.0 kg COD m^{− 3} d^{− 1}. It was confirmed that a MBR can be a promising solution to reduce VOC emissions from wastewater.     

Biodegradation of Chitosan-Gellan and Poly(L-lysine)-Gellan Polyion Complex Fibers by Pure Cultures of Soil Filamentous Fungi

The degradation of two kinds of polyion complex (PIC) fibers, chitosan-gellan (CGF), and poly(L-lysine)-gellan (LGF) fibers, by seven species of soil filamentous fungi has been investigated. All of the pure-line soil filamentous fungi, Aspergillus oryzae, Penicillium caseicolum, P. citrinum, Mucor sp., Rhizopus sp., Curvularia sp., and Cladosporium sp. grew on the two fiber materials. Microscopic observation of the biodegradation processes revealed that P. caseicolum on the CGF and LGF grew, along with the accompanying collapse of the fiber matrices. In the biochemical oxygen-demand (BOD) test, the biodegradation of the LGF by P. caseicolum and Curvularia sp. exceeded 97% carbon dioxide generation and the biodegradation of the CGF by A. oryzae was 59%. These results might offer some clues to the applications of the PIC fibers as environmentally biodegradable materials.