Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1021/es702468f
Title (Primary) Combined carbon and hydrogen isotope fractionation investigations for elucidating benzene biodegradation pathways
Author Fischer, A.; Herklotz, I.; Herrmann, S.; Thullner, M.; Weelink, S.A.B.; Stams, A.J.M.; Schlömann, M.; Richnow, H.H.; Vogt, C.
Source Titel Environmental Science & Technology
Year 2008
Department ISOBIO; UMB
Volume 42
Issue 12
Page From 4356
Page To 4363
Language englisch
Abstract Recently, combined carbon and hydrogen isotope fractionation investigations have emerged as a powerful tool for the characterization of reaction mechanisms relevant for the removal of organic pollutants. Here, we applied this approach in order to differentiate benzene biodegradation pathways under oxic and anoxic conditions in laboratory experiments. Carbon and hydrogen isotope fractionation of benzene was studied with four different aerobic strains using a monooxygenase or a dioxygenase for the initial benzene attack, a facultative anaerobic chlorate-reducing strain as well as a sulfate-reducing mixed culture. Carbon and hydrogen enrichment factors (eC, eH) varied for the specific pathways and degradation conditions, respectively, so that from the individual enrichment factors only limited information could be obtained for the identification of benzene biodegradation pathways. However, using the slope derived from hydrogen vs carbon isotope discriminations or the ratio of hydrogen to carbon enrichment factors (? = ?H/?C eH/eC), benzene degradation mechanisms could be distinguished. Although experimentally determined ? values partially overlapped, ranges could be determined for different benzene biodegradation pathways. Specific ? values were <2 for dihydroxylation, between 7 and 9 for monohydroxylation, and >17 for anaerobic degradation. Moreover, variations in ? values suggest that more than one reaction mechanism exists for monohydroxylation as well as for anaerobic benzene degradation under nitrate-reducing, sulfate-reducing, or methanogenic conditions. Our results show that the combined carbon and hydrogen isotope fractionation approach has potential to elucidate biodegradation pathways of pollutants in field and laboratory microcosm studies.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=920
Fischer, A., Herklotz, I., Herrmann, S., Thullner, M., Weelink, S.A.B., Stams, A.J.M., Schlömann, M., Richnow, H.H., Vogt, C. (2008):
Combined carbon and hydrogen isotope fractionation investigations for elucidating benzene biodegradation pathways
Environ. Sci. Technol. 42 (12), 4356 - 4363 10.1021/es702468f