4 research outputs found
MALDI-TOF MS for the identification of cultivable organic-degrading bacteria in contaminated groundwater near unconventional natural gas extraction sites
Groundwater quality and quantity is of extreme importance as it is a source of drinking water in the United States. One major concern has emerged due to the possible contamination of groundwater from unconventional oil and natural gas extraction activities. Recent studies have been performed to understand if these activities are causing groundwater contamination, particularly with respect to exogenous hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds. The impact of contaminants on microbial ecology is an area to be explored as alternatives for water treatment are necessary. In this work, we identified cultivable organic-degrading bacteria in groundwater in close proximity to unconventional natural gas extraction. Pseudomonas stutzeri and Acinetobacter haemolyticus were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), which proved to be a simple, fast, and reliable method. Additionally, the potential use of the identified bacteria in water and/or wastewater bioremediation was studied by determining the ability of these microorganisms to degrade toluene and chloroform. In fact, these bacteria can be potentially applied for in situ bioremediation of contaminated water and wastewater treatment, as they were able to degrade both compounds.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
An Evaluation of Water Quality in Private Drinking Water Wells Near Natural Gas Extraction Sites in the Barnett Shale Formation
Natural gas has become a leading
source of alternative energy with
the advent of techniques to economically extract gas reserves from
deep shale formations. Here, we present an assessment of private well
water quality in aquifers overlying the Barnett Shale formation of
North Texas. We evaluated samples from 100 private drinking water
wells using analytical chemistry techniques. Analyses revealed that
arsenic, selenium, strontium and total dissolved solids (TDS) exceeded
the Environmental Protection Agency’s Drinking Water Maximum
Contaminant Limit (MCL) in some samples from private water wells located
within 3 km of active natural gas wells. Lower levels of arsenic,
selenium, strontium, and barium were detected at reference sites outside
the Barnett Shale region as well as sites within the Barnett Shale
region located more than 3 km from active natural gas wells. Methanol
and ethanol were also detected in 29% of samples. Samples exceeding
MCL levels were randomly distributed within areas of active natural
gas extraction, and the spatial patterns in our data suggest that
elevated constituent levels could be due to a variety of factors including
mobilization of natural constituents, hydrogeochemical changes from
lowering of the water table, or industrial accidents such as faulty
gas well casings