1, 4-Dioxane biodegradation at low temperatures in Arctic groundwater samples
| dc.contributor.advisor | Alvarez, Pedro J. | |
| dc.creator | Li, Mengyan | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2011-07-25T02:06:29Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2011-07-25T02:06:29Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2010 | |
| dc.description.abstract | 1,4-Dioxane is an emerging groundwater contaminant and a probable human carcinogen. Its biodegradation was investigated in microcosms prepared with groundwater and soil from an impacted site in Alaska. In addition to natural attenuation conditions (i.e., no amendments), the following treatments were tested: (a) biostimulation by addition of 1-butanol (a readily available auxiliary substrate) and inorganic nutrients; and (b) bioaugmentation with Pseudonocardia dioxanivorans CB1190, a well-characterized dioxane degrading bacterium, or with Pseudonocardia antarctica DVS 5a1, a bacterium isolated from Antarctica. Biostimulation enhanced the degradation of 50 mg L-1 dioxane by indigenous microorganisms (about 0.01 mg dioxane d-1 mg protein-1) at both 4 and 14°C, with a simultaneous increase in biomass. A more pronounced enhancement was observed through bioaugmentation. Microcosms with 50 mg L -1 initial dioxane (representing source zone contamination) and augmented with CB1190 degraded dioxane fastest (0.155 +/- 0.038 mg dioxane d-1 mg protein-1) at 14°C, and the degradation rate decreased dramatically at 4°C (0.021 +/- 0.007 mg dioxane d-1 mg protein-1). In contrast, microcosms with DVS 5a1 degraded dioxane at similar rates at 4 and 14°C (0.018 +/- 0.004 and 0.015 +/- 0.006 mg dioxane d-1 mg protein-1, respectively). DVS 5a1 outperformed CB1190 when the initial dioxane concentration was low (500 microg L-1). This indicates differences in competitive advantages of these two strains. Natural attenuation microcosms also showed significant degradation over 6 months when the initial dioxane concentration was 500 microg L-1. This is the first study to report the potential for dioxane bioremediation and natural attenuation of contaminated groundwater in sensitive cold-weather ecosystems such as the Arctic. | |
| dc.format.mimetype | application/pdf | |
| dc.identifier.callno | THESIS C.E. 2010 LI | |
| dc.identifier.citation | Li, Mengyan. "1, 4-Dioxane biodegradation at low temperatures in Arctic groundwater samples." (2010) Master’s Thesis, Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/62117">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/62117</a>. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/1911/62117 | |
| dc.language.iso | eng | |
| dc.rights | Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder. | |
| dc.subject | Environmental science | |
| dc.title | 1, 4-Dioxane biodegradation at low temperatures in Arctic groundwater samples | |
| dc.type | Thesis | |
| dc.type.material | Text | |
| thesis.degree.department | Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering | |
| thesis.degree.discipline | Engineering | |
| thesis.degree.grantor | Rice University | |
| thesis.degree.level | Masters | |
| thesis.degree.name | Master of Science |
Files
Original bundle
1 - 1 of 1