Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2014.12.028
Title (Primary) Evaluation of ethyl tert-butyl ether biodegradation in a contaminated aquifer by compound-specific isotope analysis and in situ microcosms
Author Bombach, P.; Nägele, N.; Rosell, M.; Richnow, H.H.; Fischer, A.
Source Titel Journal of Hazardous Materials
Year 2015
Department ISOBIO
Volume 286
Page From 100
Page To 106
Language englisch
Keywords ETBE biodegradation; Compound-specific stable isotope analysis (CSIA); In situ microcosm (BACTRAP); Total lipid fatty acid-stable isotope probing (TLFA-SIP); Groundwater remediation
UFZ wide themes RU3;
Abstract Ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE) is an upcoming groundwater pollutant in Europe whose environmental fate has been less investigated, thus far. In the present study, we investigated the in situ biodegradation of ETBE in a fuel-contaminated aquifer using compound-specific stable isotope analysis (CSIA), and in situ microcosms in combination with total lipid fatty acid (TLFA)-stable isotope probing (SIP). In a first field investigation, CSIA revealed insignificant carbon isotope fractionation, but low hydrogen isotope fractionation of up to +14‰ along the prevailing anoxic ETBE plume suggesting biodegradation of ETBE. Ten months later, oxygen injection was conducted to enhance the biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons (PH) at the field site. Within the framework of this remediation measure, in situ microcosms loaded with [13C6]-ETBE (BACTRAP®s) were exposed for 119 days in selected groundwater wells to assess the biodegradation of ETBE by TLFA-SIP under the following conditions: (i) ETBE as main contaminant; (ii) ETBE as main contaminant subjected to oxygen injection; (iii) ETBE plus other PH; (iv) ETBE plus other PH subjected to oxygen injection. Under all conditions investigated, significant 13C-incorporation into microbial total lipid fatty acids extracted from the in situ microcosms was found, providing clear evidence of ETBE biodegradation.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=15685
Bombach, P., Nägele, N., Rosell, M., Richnow, H.H., Fischer, A. (2015):
Evaluation of ethyl tert-butyl ether biodegradation in a contaminated aquifer by compound-specific isotope analysis and in situ microcosms
J. Hazard. Mater. 286 , 100 - 106 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2014.12.028