Search results for "Bioremediation"
showing 10 items of 96 documents
Hydrocarbons removal from real marine sediments: Analysis of degradation pathways and microbial community development during bioslurry treatment
2022
In this study, real marine sediments polluted by petroleum compounds were treated by means of a bioslurry pilot scale reactor. The treatment performance was evaluated by measuring the removal of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH), coupled to further analyses required to understand the mechanisms involved in the biodegradation process. The maximum TPH-removal efficiency reached 86 % at the end of experiments. Moreover, high throughput 16S RNA gene sequencing was used to describe the microbiome composition in sediment prior to, and after, bioslurry treatment, in order to identify the taxa mostly entailed in the TPH removal process. The raw sediment was mostly colonized by members of Sulfurimon…
Biostimulation of in situ microbial degradation processes in organically-enriched sediments mitigates the impact of aquaculture
2019
Fish farm deposition, resulting in organic matter accumulation on bottom sediments, has been identified as among the main phenomena causing negative environmental impacts in aquaculture. An in situ bioremediation treatment was carried out in order to reduce the organic matter accumulation in the fish farm sediments by promoting the natural microbial biodegradation processes. To assess the effect of the treatment, the concentration of organic matter in the sediment and its microbial degradation, as well as the response of the benthic prokaryotic community, were investigated. The results showed a significant effect of the treatment in stimulating microbial degradation rates, and the consequen…
Isolation, identification and metabolic characterization of hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria from a polluted harbour in Sicily (Italy)
2014
The petrochemical site of Priolo-Augusta-Melilli (Sicily, Italy), is a Site of National Interest (SIN) due to high levels of environmental contamination of the coastline and a specific "national program of environmental remediation and restoration" was developed in order to allow remediation and restoration of contaminated sites. In order to identify the key hydrocarbon degraders and explore the natural bioremediation potential of the contaminated area, a total of six sediment and sea water cores were collected inside the Priolo Harbour (SR, Italy). After biological (bacterial counts, PCR-DGGE) and chemical-physical characterization (quali-, quantitative measures of hydrocarbons and heavy m…
Characterization of hydrocarbon-degrading and biosurfactant-producing Pseudomonas sp. P-1 strain as a potential tool for bioremediation of petroleum-…
2014
The Pseudomonas sp. P-1 strain, isolated from heavily petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated soil, was investigated for its capability to degrade hydrocarbons and produce a biosurfactant. The strain degraded crude oil, fractions A5 and P3 of crude oil, and hexadecane (27, 39, 27 and 13 % of hydrocarbons added to culture medium were degraded, respectively) but had no ability to degrade phenanthrene. Additionally, the presence of gene-encoding enzymes responsible for the degradation of alkanes and naphthalene in the genome of the P-1 strain was reported. Positive results of blood agar and methylene blue agar tests, as well as the presence of gene rhl, involved in the biosynthesis of rhamnolipid, …
Assessment of Bioremediation Strategies for Explosives-Contaminated Sites
2013
Large amounts of soil and water have been contaminated with energetic compounds as a result of the manufacture, storage, testing, use and disposal of munitions as well as the use of nitroaromatic and nitramines as chemical feedstock for synthesis of pesticides, herbicides, dyes, and pharmaceuticals. Historically, TNT (2 methyl-1,3,5, trinitrobenzene) has been the most widely used military explosive (Nicklin et al. 1999; Kulkarni and Chaudhari 2007b). Since TNT is toxic, mutagenic, and also highly energetic (Rosenblatt et al. 1991), TNT contamination has a serious impact on the environment and also threatens human health (Maeda et al. 2007).
Ex situ conservation and exploitation of fungi in Italy
2011
Abstract The kingdom Fungi comprises one of the most diverse groups of living organisms. They are numerous, ubiquitous and undertake many roles both independently and in association with other organisms. Fungi display a wide diversity of forms also mirrored by functional diversity and play such a dominant role in human society that they are arguably biotechnologically the most important group of organisms. Ex situ conservation of fungi, not only guarantees correct management and conservation of biodiversity, but also its exploitation in different fields. This article describes the major biological resource centres dealing with fungi in Italy and gives several examples of fungal exploitation…
Laccase: A Review of Its Past and Its Future in Bioremediation
2011
Laccases are multicopper proteins that use molecular oxygen to oxidize a broad spectrum of organic compounds by a radical-catalyzed reaction mechanism. Many articles over the past 15 years have touted the diverse potential applications of laccase in various biotechnological processes. This review covers the natural roles of the enzyme, its structural properties, substrates, reaction mechanism, and inhibitors, as well as its applications regarding the detoxification and bioremediation of polluted wastewaters and soils. Other applications are briefly covered as well. The authors critically assess the advantages, shortcomings, and future needs relating to laccase availability, effectiveness, a…
Mercury(II) removal from aqueous solution by sorption onto alginate, pectate and polygalacturonate calcium gel beads. A kinetic and speciation based …
2013
Abstract Gel beads of calcium alginate, pectate and polygalacturonate salts have been tested as sorbent materials for mercury(II) removal from aqueous solutions. Physico-chemical properties of gel beads, defined by SEM–EDX, TGA and texture and density analysis, were correlated with gel beads sorption capacity towards Hg 2+ ion. A speciation study in aqueous solution was carried out to define the strength of interaction of mercury ion with the polymers investigated and to assess the more suitable experimental conditions to achieve the best effectiveness of Hg 2+ sorption by gel beads. On the basis of the speciation study, pH values in the 3–5.5 pH range were considered appropriated for mercu…
Sorption of Pd(II) ion by calcium alginate gel beads at different chloride concentrations and pH. A kinetic and equilibrium study
2016
Abstract A kinetic and thermodynamic study on the sorption ability of calcium alginate gel beads towards Pd(II) ion was made in aqueous solution at different pH and chloride concentrations. The experimental conditions adopted in the sorption experiments were established on the basis of a speciation study on the Pd 2+ -AA system in which all the side reactions, such as the hydrolysis of Pd(II), the protonation of alginate and the interactions of the ligand and the metal ion with ions of ionic medium were taken into account. In the pH range 2–5 and at chloride concentration in the range 0 ⩽ C Cl - /mmol L −1 ⩽ 10 the gel beads showed good sorption ability towards Pd(II) ion as confirmed by k…
Phosphonate degradation by Spirulina strains: cyanobacterial biofilters for the removal of anticorrosive polyphosphonates from wastewater
2011
The ability of Spirulina spp. to metabolize the recalcitrant xenobiotic Dequest 2054(®) [hexamethylenediamine-N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(methylphosphonic acid)], a CaSO(4) inhibitor used for boiler treatment and reverse osmosis desalination, was investigated. The compound served as sole source of phosphorus, but not of nitrogen, for cyanobacterial growth. In vivo utilization was followed by (31)P NMR analysis. The disappearance of the polyphosphonate proceeded only with actively dividing cells, and no release of inorganic phosphate was evident. However, no difference was found between P-starved and P-fed cultures. Maximal utilization reached 1.0 ± 0.2 mmoll(-1), corresponding to 0.56 ± 0.11 mmol g(…