Stable Isotope Probing to Assess Bioremediation of LUST Contaminants: Addressing Existing MTBE/BTEX and Probable Future Ethanol/BTEX Contamination

“这项奖励是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。”泄漏的地下储罐（LUST）地点导致BTEX（苯、甲苯、乙苯和二甲苯）化合物、氧合物，如甲基叔丁基醚（MTBE）或叔丁醇（TBA）迁移到地表水和地下水中，最终出现在饮用水供应中。尽管甲基叔丁基醚正在被逐步淘汰，但这个问题不太可能很快得到解决，因为甲基叔丁基醚历史上的广泛使用，它的顽固性，以及这种化合物的物理化学性质有利于向水源移动。通过自然衰减的生物修复是最受欢迎的经济有效的清理方法。然而，关于不同地点的微生物及其在各种环境条件下有效转化这些化学物质的能力的信息仍然缺乏。本提案的主要目标是开发和应用稳定同位素探测（STP）方法来识别和研究在原位条件下负责从泄漏的地下储罐（LUST）中转化污染物的微生物。主要的研究任务是：(1)解决STP相关的局限性并进一步改进方法的准确性；(2)应用STP识别负责BTEX， MTBE和TBA生物降解的生物；(3)确定原位条件对这些微生物种群和活性的影响。拟议的工作建立在PI？这是美国的实验室，也是国家的利益所在，因为它可能有助于更好地了解和解决LUST泄漏造成的水污染问题。PI为扩大研究的影响做出了巨大的努力，并制定了一套详细的计划，以扩大代表性不足的群体、K-12教育和国际合作者的范围。这个项目所获得的资料将广泛传播。与纽卡斯尔一个正在探索生物燃料相关主题的小组拟议的国际合作将为参与这项工作的研究人员提供非常丰富的经验。

"This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5)."0853249CupplesLeaking underground storage tanks (LUST) sites have resulted in BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenezene and xylenes) compounds, oxygenates such as methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) or tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) migrating into surface and groundwater and eventually show up in drinking water supplies. Even though MTBE is being phased out, the problem is not likely to be resolved soon because of its historical widespread use, the recalcitrant nature of MTBE, and the physiochemical properties of the compound that favor movement to water supplies. Bioremediation through natural attenuation is the most favored cost-effective way of cleanup. However, information on the microorganisms involved at different sites and their ability to efficiently transform these chemicals under various environmental conditions is still lacking.The principal objective of this proposal is to develop and apply stable isotope probing (STP) methods to identify and to study the microorganisms responsible for the transformation of contaminants from leaking underground storage tanks (LUST) under in situ conditions. Major research tasks are: (1) to address the limitations associated with STP and further refining methods accuracy, (2) to apply STP to identify the organisms responsible for the biodegradation of BTEX, MTBE, and TBA, and (3) to determine the impact of in situ conditions on the populations and activity of these microorganisms. The proposed work builds on s strong set of techniques already developed in the PI?s laboratory and is national interest because of the potential contribution to better understanding and the solution of water pollution by leaking LUST. The PI has made a strong attempt to develop the broader impacts of the research and has laid out a detailed set of plans for outreach to underrepresented groups, K-12 education, and international collaborators. Information gained by this project will be broadly disseminated. The proposed international collaboration with a group in Newcastle that is exploring a related topic on biodesel will be very enriching experience for the researchers involved in this effort.