Dynamics of sulphur compounds in horizontal sub-surface flow laboratory-scale constructed wetlands treating artificial sewage.

The knowledge regarding the dynamics of sulphur compounds inside constructed wetlands is still insufficient. Experiments in planted (Juncus effusus) and unplanted horizontal sub-surface-flow laboratory-scale constructed wetlands fed with artificial wastewater were carried out to evaluate the sulphate reduction, the composition and dynamics of generated sulphur compounds, as well as the influence of carbon load and plants on processes of sulphur transformation. In planted and unplanted wetlands, the addition of organic carbon (TOC of about 120 mg L(-1)) immediately affected the transformation of up to 90% of the incoming sulphate (150 mg L(-1)), directing it mainly towards elemental sulphur (30%) and sulphide (8%). During this experimental period, nearly 52% of the transformed sulphate-sulphur was calculated to be immobilized inside the planted wetland and 66% inside the unplanted one. In subsequent experiments, the deficiency of organic carbon inside the planted wetlands favoured the decrease of elemental sulphur in the pore water coupled to retransformation of depot-sulphur to dissolved sulphate. Nearly 90% of the deposited and reduced sulphur was found to be reoxidized. In principle, the results indicate a substantial improvement of this reoxidation of sulphur by oxygen released by the helophytes. Surplus of organic carbon promotes the ongoing sulphate reduction and the stability of deposed and dissolved reduced sulphur compounds. In contrast, inside the unplanted control wetland, a relative stability of the formed sulphur depots and the generated amount of dissolved sulphur compounds including elemental sulphur could be observed independently of the different loading conditions.

Potassium deficiency results in accumulation of ultra-high molecular weight poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate in a methane-utilizing mixed culture.

AIMS: To investigate the effect of various single nutrient deficiencies on poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) biosynthesis in a methane-utilizing mixed culture (dominant species Methylocystis sp. GB 25 DSM 7674). METHODS AND RESULTS: Poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate accumulation experiments were performed in 7 and 70 l bioreactors and initiated by potassium, sulfur or iron deficiency. After 24 h the PHB content reached levels of 33.6%, 32.6% and 10.4% respectively. Interestingly a polymer with an ultra-high average-weight molecular weight (M(w)) of 3.1 MDa was accumulated under potassium-limited conditions. When sulfur and iron were lacking M(w) were lower by 20.6 and 41.6%. Potassium-deficiency experiments were furthermore characterized by a maximum specific PHB formation rate 0.08 g g(-1)residual biomass (R) h(-1) and a yield coefficient of 0.45 g PHB g(-1) CH(4). CONCLUSIONS: Biosynthesis of an ultra-high M(w) PHB in a methane-utilizing mixed culture can be induced by potassium deficiency. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study greatly extends the knowledge in the field of bacterial biopolymer formation with gaseous substrates. The special system used here combines the use of methane a low-cost substrate available from natural and renewable sources with the possibility of employing a mixed-culture in an open system for the synthesis of a high-value product.

Sulphur transformation and deposition in the rhizosphere of Juncus effusus in a laboratory-scale constructed wetland.

Sulphur cycling and its correlation to removal processes under dynamic redox conditions in the rhizosphere of helophytes in treatment wetlands are poorly understood. Therefore, long-term experiments were performed in laboratory-scale constructed wetlands treating artificial domestic wastewater in order to investigate the dynamics of sulphur compounds, the responses of plants and nitrifying microorganisms under carbon surplus conditions, and the generation of methane. For carbon surplus conditions (carbon:sulphate of 2.8:1) sulphate reduction happened but was repressed, in contrast to unplanted filters mentioned in literature. Doubling the carbon load caused stable and efficient sulphate reduction, rising of pH, increasing enrichment of S(2-) and S(0) in pore water, and finally plant death and inhibition of nitrification by sulphide toxicity. The data show a clear correlation of the occurrence of reduced S-species with decreasing C and N removal performance and plant viability in the experimental constructed wetlands.

Cometabolic degradation of chlorinated aromatic compounds.

The degradation of chlorobenzene was investigated with the specially chosen strain Methylocystis sp. GB 14 DSM 12955, using 23 ml headspace vials and in a soil column filled with quaternary aquifer material from a depth of 20 m. A long-term experiment was carried out in this column, situated in a mobile test unit at a contaminated location in Bitterfeld (Germany). Groundwater polluted by chlorobenzene was continuously fed through the column, through which a mixture comprising 4% CH(4) and 96% air was bubbled. Chlorobenzene was oxidized by up to 80% under pure culture conditions in the model experiments and was completely degraded under the mixed culture conditions of the column experiments. Over a period of 4 months, the stability of the biological system was monitored regularly by analyzing the sMMO activity as well as by classical microbiological and molecular biological methods.

Producing poly-3-hydroxybutyrate with a high molecular mass from methane.

Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) and other polyesters can be produced by various species of bacteria. Of the possible carbon sources, methane could provide a suitable substrate for the production of PHB. Methane is cheap and plentiful - not only as natural gas, but also as biogas. The methanotrophic strain Methylocystis sp. GB 25 DSMZ 7674 is able to accumulate PHB in a brief non-sterile process. The studies were carried out using a 7-l and a 70-l pressure bioreactor. Cultivation was performed in two stages: a continuous growth phase (dilution rate 0.17 h(-1)) and a PHB accumulation phase under deficiency conditions of an essential nutrient (ammonium, phosphorus or magnesium) in batch culture. The PHB content of biomass was as high as 51%; efficiency was highest during the first 5 h of the product formation process. The maximum PHB yield relative to the methane consumed was estimated to be 0.55 g g(-1). The PHB produced is of very high quality, having a high molecular mass of up to 2.5x10(6) Da.