Field application of a genetically engineered microorganism for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon bioremediation process monitoring and control

On October 30, 1996, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) commenced the first test release of genetically engineered microorganisms (GEMs) for use in bioremediation. The specific objectives of the investigation were multifaceted and include (1) testing the hypothesis that a GEM can be successfully introduced and maintained in a bioremediation process, (2) testing the concept of using, at the field scale, reporter organisms for direct bioremediation process monitoring and control, and (3) acquiring data that can be used in risk assessment decision making and protocol development for future field release applications of GEMs. The genetically engineered strain under investigation is Pseudomonas fluorescens strain HK44 (King et al., 1990). The original P. fluorescens parent strain was isolated from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contaminated manufactured gas plant soil. Thus, this bacterium is able to biodegrade naphthalene (as well as other substituted naphthalenes and other PAHs) and is able to function as a living bioluminescent reporter for the presence of naphthalene contamination, its bioavailability, and the functional process of biodegradation. A unique component of this field investigation was the availability of an array of large subsurface soil lysimeters. This article describes the experience associated with the release of a genetically modified microorganism, the lysimeter facility and its associated instrumentation, as well as representative data collected during the first eighteen months of operation

Electrochemical Disinfection of Simulated Ballast Water Using RuO2-TiO2/Ti Electrode

The present work investigated the treatment of ballast water via electrochemical disinfection using a RuO2-TiO2/Ti electrode. Batch tests were conducted with simulated ballast water containing Escherichia coli as an indicator organism. The effect of varying NaCl concentrations (1%, 2%, and 3%; w/v) and current densities (0.3, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 mA/cm2) on the inactivation of E. coli was examined. Results showed higher disinfection efficiency of E. coli was obtained at higher NaCl concentration and current density. Complete inactivation of E. coli was attained within 2 and 1 min at 0.3 and 1 mA/cm2, respectively, under 3% NaCl concentration. Meanwhile, complete disinfection at 1 and 2% NaCl concentrations was observed in 6 and 2 min, respectively, using a current density of 0.3 mA/cm2. The 100% inactivation of E. coli was achieved with an energy consumption in the range of 2.8 to 2.9 Wh/m3 under the NaCl concentrations at 1 mA/cm2 and 1 min of electrolysis time. The complete disinfection attained within 1 min meets the D-2 standard (<250 CFU E. coli/100 mL) of ballast water under the International Maritime Organization. The values of energy consumption of the present work are lower than previous reports on the inactivation of E. coli from simulated ballast water

Monitoring of specific methanogenic activity of granular sludge by confocal laser scanning microscopy during start-up of thermophilic upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor

Confocal, laser-scanning microscopy was applied to acquire coenzyme F-420-based autofluorescence images of middle sections of sludge granules during start-up of a thermophilic reactor that were seeded with mesophilically-grown microorganisms of granular sludge. Digital images were analyzed to calculate weighted averages of autofluorescence. The values were related (r(2)=0.97) to specific methanogenic activities of granular sludge as the granules developed to steady state

Isolation and characterization of Rhodopseudomonas palustris P4 which utilizes CO with the Production of H2

A novel photosynthetic bacterium, Rhodopseudomonas palustris P4, was isolated from an anaerobic wastewater sludge digester by virtue of its ability to utilize CO with the production of H2. P4 grew under light with CO as a sole carbon source with the doubling time of 2 h and produced H2 at 20.7 mmol g-1 cell h

Color removal of real textile wastewater by sequential anaerobic and aerobic reactors

Textile wastewater from the Pusan Dyeing Industrial Complex (PDIC) was treated utilizing a two-stage continuous system, composed of an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor and an activated sludge reactor. The effects of color and organic loading rates were studied by varying the hydraulic retention time and influent glucose concentration. The maximum color load to satisfy the legal discharge limit of color intensity in Korea (400 ADMI, unit of the American Dye Manufacturers Institute) was estimated to be 2,700 ADMI(.)L(-1) day(-1). This study indicates that the two-stage anaerobic/aerobic reaction system is potentially useful in the treatment of textile wastewater