Biological remediation of explosives and related nitroaromatic compounds

Nitroaromatics form an important group of recalcitrant xenobiotics. Only few aromatic compounds, bearing one nitro group as a substituent of the aromatic ring, are produced as secondary metabolites by microorganisms. The majority of nitroaromatic compounds in the biosphere are industrial chemicals such as explosives, dyes, polyurethane foams, herbicides, insecticides and solvents. These compounds are generally recalcitrant to biological treatment and remain in the biosphere, where they constitute a source of pollution due to both toxic and mutagenic effects on humans, fish, algae and microorganisms. However, relatively few microorganisms have been described as being able to use nitroaromatic compounds as nitrogen and/or carbon and energy source. The best-known nitroaromatic compound is the explosive TNT (2,4,6-trinitrotoluene). This article reviews the bioremediation strategies for TNT-contaminated soil and water. It comes to the following conclusion: The optimal remediation strategy for nitroaromatic compounds depends on many site-specific factors. Composting and the use of reactor systems lend themselves to treating soils contaminated with high levels of explosives (e.g. at former ammunition production facilities, where areas with a high contamination level are common). Compared to composting systems, bioreactors have the major advantage of a short treatment time, but the disadvantage of being more labour intensive and more expensive. Studies indicate that biological treatment systems, which are based on the activity of the fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium or on Pseudomonas sp. ST53, might be used as effective methods for the remediation of highly contaminated soil and water. Phytoremediation, although not widely used now, has the potential to become an important strategy for the remediation of soil and water contaminated with explosives. It is best suited where contaminant levels are low (e.g. at military sites where pollution is rather diffuse) and where larger contaminated surfaces or volumes have to be treated. In addition, phytoremediation can be used as a polishing method after other remediation treatments, such as composting or bioslurry, have taken place. This in-situ treatment method has the advantage of lower treatment costs, but has the disadvantage of a considerable longer treatment time. In order to improve the cost-efficiency, phytoremediation of nitroaromatics (and other organic xenobiotics) could be combined with bio-energy production. This requires, however, detailed knowledge on the fate of the contaminants in the plants as well as the development of efficient treatment methods for the contaminated biomass that minimise the spreading of the contaminants into the environment during post harvest treatment.     

Utilising the Synergy between Plants and Rhizosphere Microorganisms to Enhance Breakdown of Organic Pollutants in the Environment (15 pp)

Background Phytoremediation is a promising technology for the cleanup of polluted environments. The technology has so far been used mainly to remove toxic heavy metals from contaminated soil, but there is a growing interest in broadening its applications to remove/degrade organic pollutants in the environment. Both plants and soil microorganisms have certain limitations with respect to their individual abilities to remove/breakdown organic compounds. A synergistic action by both rhizosphere microorganisms that leads to increased availability of hydrophobic compounds, and plants that leads to their removal and/or degradation, may overcome many of the limitations, and thus provide a useful basis for enhancing remediation of contaminated environments.Main Features The review of literature presented in this article provides an insight to the nature of plant-microbial interactions in the rhizosphere, with a focus on those processes that are relevant to the breakdown and/or removal of organic pollutants. Due consideration has been given to identify opportunities for utilising the plant-microbial synergy in the rhizosphere to enhance remediation of contaminated environments.Results and Discussion The literature review has highlighted the existence of a synergistic interaction between plants and microbial communities in the rhizosphere. This interaction benefits both microorganisms through provision of nutrients by root exudates, and plants through enhanced nutrient uptake and reduced toxicity of soil contaminants. The ability of the plant-microbial interaction to tackle some of the most recalcitrant organic chemicals is of particular interest with regard to enhancing and extending the scope of remediation technologies.Conclusions Plant-microbial interactions in the rhizosphere offer very useful means for remediating environments contaminated with recalcitrant organic compounds.Outlook A better knowledge of plant-microbial interactions will provide a basis for improving the efficacy of biological remediations. Further research is, however, needed to investigate different feedback mechanisms that select and regulate microbial activity in the rhizosphere.     

Natural attenuation/phytoremediation in the vadose zone of a former industrial sludge basin

The natural attenuation of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the vadose zone of a naturally revegetated former industrial sludge basin (0.45 ha) was examined. This was accomplished by comparing the concentration of 16 PAH contaminants present in sludge collected below the root zone of plants with contaminants present at 3 shallower depths within the root zone. Chemical analysis of 240 samples from 60 cores showed the average concentration of total and individual PAHs in the 0-30 cm, 30-60 cm, and bottom of the root zone strata were approximately 10, 20, and 50%, respectively, of the 16, 800 ppm average total PAH concentration in deep non-rooted sludge. Statistically significant differences in average PAH concentrations were observed between each strata studied and the non-rooted sludge except for the concentrations of acenaphthene and chrysene present at the bottom of the root zone in comparison to sludge values. The rooting depth of the vegetation growing in the basin was dependent on both vegetation type and plant age. Average rooting depths for trees, forbs (herbaceous non-grasses), and grasses were 90, 60, and 50 cm, respectively. The deepest root systems observed (100-120 cm) were associated with the oldest (12-14 year-old) mulberry trees. Examination of root systems and PAH concentrations at numerous locations and depths within the basin indicated that plant roots and their microbially active rhizospheres fostered PAH disappearance; including water insoluble, low volatility compounds, i.e. benzo(a)pyrene and benzo(ghi)perylene. The reduced concentration of PAHs in the upper strata of this revegetated former sludge basin indicated that natural attenuation had occurred. This observation supports the concept that through appropriate planting and management practices (phytoremediation) it will be possible to accelerate, maximize, and sustain natural processes, whereby even the most recalcitrant PAH contaminants (i.e. benzo(a)pyrene) can be remediated over time.     

化学农药污染土壤植物修复中的环境化学问题

报道了利用植草修复受DDT，BHC和Dicofol污染的研究，讨论了化学农药污染土壤植物修复中,农药在植物中富集与在土壤中降解以及结合残留等环境化学问题。研究表明，在植物修复的过程中，通过草对农药吸收的途径而去除土壤中污染物的作用所作的贡献很小，植草的作用可能是通过草的根部向土壤释放酶和某些分泌物，从而激发土壤中微生物的活性，并加速农药生物降解作用的结果。草在不同土壤中修复能力的差异，可能与不同土壤中所存土著微生物的差异以及其活性受酶和某些分泌物所激发差异的结果。选择能使根际区产生强烈的生物降解作用的草品种，是利用草作为化学农药污染土壤修复的关键。土壤与植株中农药结合残留的形成可能是土壤中污染物消除的又一个重要因素。     

不同土壤处理对东南景天吸取土壤中锌和镉效率的影响

通过盆栽试验，观察分析东南景天植物在未处理及若干用土壤添加剂处理的土壤介质上生长和累积锌、镉的状况。结果显示：除单独使用沸石粉外，所有土壤处理均有利于土壤改良和东南景天的生长。与对照处理相比，赤泥和城市污泥对东南景天累积锌起促进作用，而施用熟石灰却无助或甚至不利于东南景天累积锌。不过，尽管赤泥和城市污泥对东南景天累积镉的效果比熟石灰好，无论施用赤泥、城市污泥或熟石灰，东南景天植物干物质所含的镉均比对照处理高得多。总的来说，赤泥和城市污泥均为改良土壤、促使东南景天生长和超累积锌、镉的良好添加剂；而熟石灰或沸石粉单独使用则对东南景天超累积锌、镉的作用较小。在试验中，将15g污泥、15g沸石和6g赤泥与1000g土壤混和的T7处理对促使东南景天生长和超累积锌、镉最为有效。研究结果表明，在利用东南景天修复酸性锌、镉污染土壤时，通过加入合适的改良剂，调控土壤pH值和营养供给，可大大提高植物修复重金属污染的效果。     

Effect of Diesel Fuel on Growth of Selected Plant Species

Diesel oil is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons with an average carbon number of C8–C26. The majority of components consist of alkanes, both straight chained and branched and aromatic compounds including mono-, di- and polyaromatic hydrocarbons. Regardless of this complexity, diesel oil can be readily degraded by a number of soil microorganisms making it a likely candidate for bioremediation. The concept of using plants to enhance bioremediation, termed phytoremediation, is a relatively new area of scientific interest. It is particularly applicable to diesel oil contamination as diesel oil generally contaminates the top few metres of soil (surface soil) and contamination is not uniform throughout the site. By encouraging plants to grow on diesel oil contaminated soil, conditions are improved for the microbial degradation of the contaminant. During this study, establishing plants on diesel oil contaminated soil proved difficult. Diesel oil is phytotoxic to plants at relatively low concentrations. At concentrations below this phytotoxic level, the development of plants grown in diesel oil contaminated soil differs greatly from plants grown in uncontaminated soil. Tolerance of plants to diesel oil and ability to germinate in diesel oil contaminated soil varied greatly between plant species as well as within plant species. The broadest differences in germination were seen within the grasses with certain species thriving in low levels of contamination (e.g. Creeping bent) while others were intolerant of diesel oil contamination (e.g. Rough meadow grass). The herbs, legumes and commercial crops screened appeared to be largely unaffected by low levels of diesel oil contamination (25g dieselkg^–1). At the higher level of contamination (50g dieselkg^–1), half of the twenty two plants species screened failed to reach a germination rate equal to 50% of the control rate. Two species of grass failed to germinate at all at this contamination level. Plant species that successfully germinated and grew were studied further to determine the effect of diesel oil contamination on the later stages of plant development. This work investigates the effect of diesel oil on plant growth and development.     

放射性污染植物修复中超富集植物的数值评价

目前超富集植物在放射性污染植物修复评价体系中还没有明确的核素富集量限定值,借鉴辐射环境评价方式,明确放射性污染低剂量概念,推算达干预水准时的植物富集系数,结合放射性废物管理规定,计算富集系数应达到的水平,提出了重要核素的超富集植物评价的新的量值概念;建立修复年限模式,讨论了一定生物量和生物富集系数对修复年限的影响。结果表明,根据上述因素导出的各重要核素的超富集植物最低富集系数略有不同,分别是Cs-137:0.70、Sr-90:0.86、Co-60:2.89、Pu-239:0.26、Am-241:0.21、Cm-244:0.12、U-235:0.18、U-238:0.052。良好的超富集植物,其富集系数应再提高一个数量级。     

铜尾矿坝不同恢复年限土壤理化性质和酶活性的特征

金属矿产资源开采使尾矿坝迅速升高,矿区生态环境遭到严重破坏.土壤理化性质和酶活性是衡量生态系统功能的重要指标,可作为评价土壤恢复质量的重要因子.以山西省垣曲县十八河铜尾矿区9个尾矿子坝作为研究对象,分析不同恢复年限子坝土壤理化性质与土壤酶活性之间的关系.结果表明,不同恢复年限子坝的土壤理化性质差异较大,随着恢复年限的增加,土壤养分含量显著升高.过氧化氢酶与碳氮比显著负相关,脲酶与总氮含量和土壤含水量均显著正相关,磷酸酶和蔗糖酶与土壤理化因子之间无显著关系.土壤中铜含量随子坝恢复年限增加而逐渐累积,砷和镉含量先增加后降低,恢复后期逐渐达到稳定水平,各子坝的土壤锌含量无显著差异.为铜尾矿区的土壤生态系统恢复及退化机制的研究提供一定的生态学依据.     

苯并[a]芘污染土壤的植物根际修复研究初探

研究了黑麦草(Lolium multiflorumL.)对多环芳烃苯并[a]芘污染土壤的修复作用。研究结果表明,土壤中苯并[a]芘的可提取态wB[a]P随着时间延长而逐渐减少,黑麦草加快了土壤中可提取态苯并[a]芘的减少,提高了苯并[a]P在土壤中的降解率,在1、10、50mg·kg-1苯并[a]芘处理下,黑麦草生长土壤中苯并[a]芘的降解率分别达90.3%、87.5%、78.6%;而没有黑麦草生长土壤中苯并[a]芘的降解率则为79.3%、66.4%、55.6%。黑麦草根际增加土壤中微生物碳的含量,从而提高植物对苯并[a]芘的降解率。植物的地上部也可积累少量苯并[a]芘,但植物对苯并[a]芘的吸收不是黑麦草对其修复的主要机制。土壤自身具有修复苯并[a]芘的潜能,种植黑麦草具有强化土壤修复苯并[a]芘污染的作用。     

Spread of metals through an invertebrate food chain as influenced by a plant that hyperaccumulates nickel

Summary. Hyperaccumulation of metals in the shoot system of plants is uncommon, yet taxonomically and geographically widespread. It may have a variety of functions, including defense against herbivores. This study investigated the effects of hyperaccumulation on metal concentrations across trophic levels. We collected plant material, soil, and invertebrates from Portuguese serpentine outcrops whose vegetation is dominated by the nickel hyperaccumulator Alyssum pintodasilvae. Samples were analyzed for nickel, chromium, and cobalt. Grasshoppers, spiders, and other invertebrates collected from sites where A. pintodasilvae was common had significantly elevated concentrations of nickel, compared to nearby sites where this hyperaccumulator was not found. Chromium and cobalt, occurring in high concentrations in the serpentine soil but not accumulated by A. pintodasilvae, were not elevated in the invertebrates. Therefore, it appears likely that a flux of nickel to herbivore and carnivore trophic levels is specifically facilitated by the presence of plants that hyperaccumulate this metal. The results may be relevant to the development of phytoremediation and phytomining technologies, which use plants to extract metals from the soil. Reveived 22 August 2002; accepted 2 April 2003. R1D=" Correspondence to: A. J. Pollard, e-mail:joe.pollard@furman.edu