Spatial Heterogeneity of Microbial and Geochemical Parameters in Gasoline Contaminated Aquifers
Publication: Practice Periodical of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste Management
Volume 8, Issue 2
Abstract
Spatial heterogeneity of microbial populations (total heterotrophs or total bacteria (AODC), iron reducers, sulfate reducers, methanogens, aerobic, and anaerobic protozoa) and geochemical parameters (hydrocarbon concentrations, inorganics, grain size, sediment Fe) were studied at gasoline contaminated aquifers located at Rocky Point, N.C. and Pope Air Force Base (AFB), N.C. At Rocky Point, heterogeneity was studied on samples collected on vertical scale (2–3 cm and 0.3 m intervals) and horizontal scale (>40 m). At Pope (AFB) heterogeneity was studied in samples collected on vertical scale (7.5 cm intervals) and horizontal scale (>20 m). Distribution of microbial populations at Rocky Point showed that there is little variability in 2–3 cm spaced samples, while there is substantial variability over 0.3 m intervals. Elevated numbers of iron reducers and anaerobic protozoa were measured at specific depth intervals that corresponded with reduced contaminant concentrations. On the horizontal scale little variability was observed in microbial and geochemical parameters. At Pope AFB, distribution of microbial populations varied on horizontal and vertical scales. Shifts in the dominance of trophic groups were observed on vertical scale and dominant microbial processes varied on the horizontal scale. In addition aqueous inorganic analysis and sediment Fe analysis showed that geochemistry at the two aquifer varied. At Rocky Point extractable Fe(III) was greater relative to Pope AFB and significantly greater fraction of total Fe(II) was on the solid phase (>98%) relative to Pope AFB (60–72%). The measured heterogeneity suggests that techniques utilizing blended sediment for the measurement of in situ biodegradation rates and vertically averaged measurement of hydrocarbons in the field will provide misleading results.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
Adrian, R. N., Robinson, J. A., and Suflita, J. M.(1994). “Spatial variability in biodegradation rates as evidenced by methane production from an aquifer.” Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 60, 3632–3639.
Albrechtsen, H.-J., Heron, G., and Christensen, T. H.(1995). “Limiting factors for microbial Fe(III)—Reduction in a landfill leachate polluted aquifer (Vejen, Denmark).” FEMS Microbiol. Ecol., 16, 233–248.
Albrechtsen, H.-J., and Winding, A.(1992). “Microbial biomass and activity in subsurface sediment from Vejen, Denmark.” Microb. Ecol., 23, 303–317.
Balkwill, D. L., Fredrickson, J. K., and Thomas, J. M.(1989). “Numbers, diversity, and morphological characteristics of aerobic, chemoheterotrophic bacteria in deep subsurface sediments from a site in South Carolina.” Geomicrobiol. J., 7, 33–52.
Balkwill, D. L., Leach, F. R., Wilson, J. T., McNabb, J. F., and White, D. C.(1988). “Equivalence of microbial biomass measures based on membrane lipid and cell wall components, adenosine triphosphate, and direct counts in subsurface aquifer sediments.” Microb. Ecol., 16, 73–84.
Barlaz, M. A., Schaefer, D. M., and Ham, R. K.(1989). “Bacterial population development and chemical characteristics of refuse decomposition in a simulated sanitary landfill.” Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 55, 55–65.
Beckins, B. A., Cozzarelli, I. M., Godsy, E. M., Warren, E., and Tuccillo, M. E. (1997). “Heterogeneity of microbial populations in a crude oil contaminated aquifer.” Proc., American Geophysical Union, Baltimore, in press.
Beckins, B. A., Cozzarelli, I. M., Godsy, E. M., Warren, E., and Tuccillo, M. E. (1998). “Chemical and physical controls on shifts of microbial populations in an aquifer contaminated with crude oil.” Proc., American Geophysical Union, Boston, in press.
Beloin, R. M., Sinclair, J. L., and Ghiorse, W. C.(1988). “Distribution and activity of microorganisms in subsurface sediments of a pristine study site in Oklahoma.” Microb. Ecol., 16, 85–97.
Borden, R. C., Gomez, C. A., and Becker, M. T.(1995). “Geochemical indicators of natural bioremediation.” Ground Water, 33, 180–189.
Chapelle, F. H., Zelibor, J. L., Grimes, D. J., and Knobel, L. L.(1987). “Bacteria in deep coastal plain sediments of Maryland: A possible source of CO2 to groundwater.” Water Resour. Res., 23, 1625–1632.
Chartrain, M., and Zeikus, J. G.(1986). “Microbial ecophysiology of why biomethanation: Intermediary metabolism of lactose degradation in continuous culture.” Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 51, 180–187.
Christensen, D., and Blackburn, T. H.(1982). “Turnover of labeled acetate in marine sediments.” Mar. Biol. (Berlin), 71, 113–119.
Fairweather, R. J., and Barlaz, M. A.(1998). “Hydrogen sulfide production during decomposition of landfill inputs.” J. Environ. Eng., 124(4), 353–361.
Fredrickson, J. K., Balkwill, D. L., Zachara, J. M., Li, S. W., Brockman, F. J., and Simmons, M. A.(1991). “Physiological diversity and distributions of heterotrophic bacteria in deep Cretaceous sediments of the Atlantic Coastal Plain.” Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 57, 402–411.
Fredrickson, J. K., Garland, T. R., Hicks, R. J., Thomas, J. M., Li, S. W., and McFadden, K. M.(1989). “Lithotrophic and heterotrophic bacteria in deep subsurface sediments and their relation to sediment properties.” Geomicrobiol. J., 7, 53–66.
Ghiorse, W. C., and Wilson, J. T.(1988). “Microbial ecology of the terrestrial subsurface.” Adv. Appl. Microbiol., 33, 107–172.
Haldeman, D. L., and Amy, P. S.(1993). “Bacterial heterogeneity in deep subsurface tunnels at Rainier Mesa, Nevada Test Site.” Microb. Ecol., 25, 183–194.
Haldeman, D. L., Amy, P. S., Ringelberg, D., and White, D. C.(1993). “Characterization of the microbiology within a 21 m3 section of rock from the deep subsurface.” Microb. Ecol., 26, 145–159.
Heron, G., and Christensen, T. H.(1995). “Impact of sediment-bound iron on redox buffering in a landfill leachate polluted aquifer (Vejen, Denmark).” Environ. Sci. Technol., 28, 1698–1705.
Heron, G., Crouzet, C., Bourg, A. C. M., and Christensen, T. H.(1994). “Speciation of Fe(II) and Fe(III) in contaminated aquifer sediments using chemical extraction techniques.” Environ. Sci. Technol., 28, 1698–1705.
Hillger, R. W., and Griffiths, R. A.(1992). “Remediation of leaking USTs: A system for accessing case histories and related documents.” J. Air Waste Manage. Assoc., 42, 289–302.
Hunt, M. J., Barlaz, M. A., and Borden, R. C.(1998). “Determining anaerobic BTEX decay rates in contaminated aquifer.” J. Hydrologic Eng., 3(4), 285–293.
Hunt, M. J., Shafer, M. B., Barlaz, M. A., and Borden, R. C.(1997). “Anaerobic biodegradation of alkylbenzenes in laboratory microcosms representing ambient conditions.” Bioremediat. J., 1(1), 53–64.
Kenealy, W., and Zeikus, J. G.(1981). “Influence of corrinoid antagonists on methanogen metabolism.” J. Bacteriol., 146, 133–140.
Kinner, N. E., Harvey, R. W., Bunn, A. L., and Warren, A. (1992). “Investigation of protozoa in an organically contaminated subsurface environment.” 6th Int. Symp. on Microbial Ecology, Barcelona, Spain, 241–241.
Lovely, D. R., Baedecker, M. J., Lonergan, D. J., Cozzarelli, I. M., Phillips, E. J. P., and Siegel, D. I.(1989). “Oxidation of aromatic contaminants coupled to microbial iron reduction.” Nature (London), 339, 297–300.
Lovely, D. R., and Phillips, E. J. P.(1986). “Organic matter mineralization with reduction of ferric iron in anaerobic sediments.” Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 51, 683–689.
Lovely, D. R., and Phillips, E. J. P.(1988). “Manganese inhibition of microbial iron reduction in anaerobic sediments.” Geomicrobiol. J., 6, 145–155.
McNabb, J. F., and Dunlap, W. J.(1975). “Subsurface biological activity in relation to ground-water pollution.” Ground Water, 13, 33–44.
Munch, J. C., and Ottow, J. C. G.(1980). “Preferential reduction of amorphous to crystalline iron oxides by bacterial activity.” Soil Sci., 129, 15–21.
Murray, R. E., Feig, Y. S., and Tiedje, J. M.(1995). “Spatial heterogeneity in the distribution of denitrifying bacteria associated with denitrification activity zones.” Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 61, 2791–2793.
Ottow, J. C. G.(1969). “Der einfluss von nitrat, chlorat, sulfat, der bakteriellen eisenreduktion.” Z. Planzenernaehr. Bodendkd., 124, 238–253.
Parkes, R. J., Tylor, J., and Jorck-Ramberg, D.(1984). “Demonstration, using Desulfobacter sp., of two pools of acetate with different biological availabilities in marine pore water.” Mar. Biol. (Berlin), 83, 271–276.
Rifai, H. S., Borden, R. C., Wilson, J. T., and Ward, C. H. (1995). Intrinsic bioattenuation for subsurface restoration in intrinsic bioremediation, Battelle, Columbus, Ohio.
Roden, E. E., and Zachara, J. M.(1996). “Microbial reduction of crystalline iron (III) oxides: Influence of oxide surface area and potential for cell growth.” Environ. Sci. Technol., 30, 1618–1628.
Russek, E., and Colwell, R. R.(1983). “Computation of most probable numbers.” Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 45, 1646–1650.
Russell, C. E., Jacobson, R., Haldeman, D. L., and Amy, P. S.(1994). “Heterogeneity of deep subsurface microorganisms and correlations to hydrogeological and geochemical parameters.” Geomicrobiol. J., 12, 37–51.
Sandon, H. (1927). Composition and distribution of the protozoan fauna of the soil, Oliver and Boyd, London.
Sargent, K. A., and Fliermans, C. B.(1989). “Geology and hydrology of deep subsurface microbiology sampling sites at the Savannah river plant, South Carolina.” Geomicrobiol. J., 7, 3–13.
Schwarzenbach, R. P., Giger, W., Schaffner, C., and Wanner, O.(1985). “Groundwater contamination by volatile halogenated alkanes: Abiotic transformations of volatile sulfur compounds under anaerobic conditions.” Environ. Sci. Technol., 19, 322–327.
Sinclair, J. L., and Ghiorse, W. C.(1987). “Distribution of protozoa in subsurface sediments of a pristine groundwater study site on Oklahoma.” Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 53, 1157–1163.
Sinclair, J. L., and Ghiorse, W. C.(1989). “Distribution of aerobic bacteria, protozoa, algae, and fungi in deep subsurface sediments.” Geomicrobiol. J., 7, 15–31.
Sinclair, J. L., Kampbell, D. H., Cook, M. L., and Wilson, J. T.(1993). “Protozoa in subsurface sediments from sites contaminated with aviation gasoline or jet fuel.” Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 59, 467–472.
Sinclair, J. L., Randtke, S. J., Denne, J. E., Hathaway, L. R., and Ghiorse, W. C.(1990). “Survey of microbial populations in buried-valley aquifer sediments from North Eastern Kansas.” Ground Water, 28, 369–377.
Smith, R. L., Harvey, R. W., and LeBlanc, D. R.(1991). “Importance of closely spaced vertical sampling in delineating chemical and microbiological gradients in groundwater studies.” J. Contam. Hydrol., 7, 285–300.
Soil Survey Staff. (1975). “Soil survey manual.” U.S. Department of Agriculture Handbook, Washington, D.C.
Stookey, L. L.(1970). “Ferrozine—A new spectrophotometric reagent for iron.” Anal. Chem., 42, 779–781.
Suflita, J. M., Gibson, S. A., and Beeman, R. E.(1988). “Anaerobic biotransformation of pollutant chemicals in aquifers.” J. Ind. Microbiol., 3, 79–194.
Swift, D. J. P., and Heron, D. S.(1969). “Stratigraphy of the Carolina Cretaceous.” Southeastern Geology.,10, 201–246.
Swindoll, C. M., Aelion, C. M., Dobbins, D. C., Jiang, O., Long, S. C., and Pfaender, F. K.(1988). “Aerobic biodegradation of natural and xenobiotic organic compounds by subsurface microbial communities.” Envir. Toxicol. Chem., 54, 212–217.
Thomas, J. M., Bruce, C. L., Gordy, V. R., Duston, K. L., Hutchins, S. R., Sinclair, J. L., and Ward, C. H.(1997). “Assessment of microbial potential for nitrate-enhanced bioremediation of a JP-4 fuel-contaminated aquifer.” J. Ind. Microbiol. Biotechnol., 18, 213–221.
Ward, T. E.(1985). “Characterizing the aerobic and anaerobic microbial activities on surface and subsurface soils.” Envir. Toxicol. Chem., 4, 727–737.
Wiedemeier, T. H., Miller, R. N., Wilson, J. T., and Kampbell, D. H. (1995). “Significance of anaerobic processes for the intrinsic bioremediation of fuel hydrocarbons.” Proc., Petroleum Hydrocarbons and Organic Chemicals in Ground Water Conf., National Ground Water Association, Houston.
Wilson, J. T., McNabb, J. F., Balkwill, D. L., and Ghiorse, W. C.(1983). “Enumeration and characterization of bacteria indigenous to a shallow water-table aquifer.” Ground Water, 21, 134–142.
Wilson, J. T., McNabb, J. F., Cochran, J. W., Wang, T. H., Tomson, M. B., and Bedient, P. D.(1985). “Influence of microbial adaptation on the fate of organic pollutants in ground water.” Envir. Toxicol. Chem., 4, 721–726.
Wolin, E. A., Wolin, M. J., and Wolfe, R. S.(1963). “Formation of methane by bacterial extracts.” J. Biol. Chem., 238, 2882–2886.
Zhang, C., Lehman, R. H., Piffiner, S. M., Scarborough, S. P., Palumbo, A. V., Phelps, T. J., Beauchamp, J. J., and Colwell, F. S.(1997). “Spatial and temporal variations of microbial properties at different scales in shallow subsurface sediments.” Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol., 63–65(0), 797–808.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Practice Periodical of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste Management
Volume 8 • Issue 2 • April 2004
Pages: 105 - 118
Copyright
Copyright © 2004 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Mar 10, 2003
Accepted: Mar 10, 2003
Published online: Mar 15, 2004
Published in print: Apr 2004
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.