Exploring the Correlation between Halorespirer Biomarker Concentrations and TCE Dechlorination Rates
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 134, Issue 11
Abstract
Whether the concentration of selected genetic biomarkers could be correlated to the rate of trichloroethylene (TCE) reductive dechlorination was investigated. Samples from a pilot-scale aquifer that had been bioaugmented with a halorespiring mixed culture to promote bioremediation of a chlorinated solvent source zone were used for this purpose. Dechlorination rates were determined in batch microcosms, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analyses were used to estimate the concentration of phylogenetic 16S rRNA for total Bacteria and for Dehalococcoides spp., and the catabolic gene tceA and its expressed mRNA. The first-order dechlorination rate coefficient obtained from the mixed culture used to bioaugment the pilot scale aquifer ranged from . Samples collected from the source zone showed the highest value ( ; ) as well as the highest concentration of the biomarkers tested: for total Bacteria, for Dehalococcoides spp.; for tceA; and for the tceA mRNA. Apparently, the inoculated halorespirers thrived near the dense nonaqueous phase liquid, which is important to enhance source zone remediation. Surprisingly, the strongest biomarker correlation with TCE dechlorination rate coefficients was obtained with the universal biomarker for total Bacteria. No significant correlations were obtained between and the concentration of specific biomarkers for Dehalococcoides 16S rRNA , the tceA gene , or its transcriptome (mRNA) . Therefore, although qPCR is an important tool to verify the presence and distribution of halorespirers, its use to estimate dechlorination rates based on the tested biomarker concentrations was unreliable.
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Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 134 • Issue 11 • November 2008
Pages: 895 - 901
Copyright
© 2008 ASCE.
History
Received: Sep 5, 2007
Accepted: Apr 25, 2008
Published online: Nov 1, 2008
Published in print: Nov 2008
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