Microorganisms to Combat Pollution

Transcription

1 Microorganisms to Combat Pollution edited Ьу Е. Rosenberg Department 01 Molecular Microbiology & Вiotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Israel Reprinted from Biodegradation 3: 2/3 Springer Science+Business Media, В.У.

2 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data М; croorgan i sms to combat ро 11 ut i оп / ed i ted Ьу Е. Rosenberg. р. ст. Includes bibl iographical references. ISBN ISBN (ebook) DOI / Bioremediation--Congresses. 1. Rosenberg, Eugene. TD192.5.M dc ISBN Printed оп acid-free paper АН Rights Reserved 1993 SQring,er Science+Business Media Dordrecht Origina11y published Ьу К1uwег Academic Publishers in 1993 Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1 st edition 1993 No part of the material protected Ьу this copyright notice тау Ье reproduced or utilized in апу form or Ьу апу means, electronic or mechanica!, inc!uding photocopying, recording, or Ьу anу information storage and retrieva! system, without written permission [roт the copyright owner.

3 Contents Preface A. Genetically Engineered Microorganisms Daubaras D. & Chakrabarty A M.: The environment, microbes and bioremediation: microbial activities modulated by the environment [1] Atlas R M.: Molecular methods for environmental monitoring and containment of genetically engineered microorganisms [13] v B. Metals Barkay T., Turner R, Saouter E. & Horn J.: Mercury biotransformations and their potential for remediation of mercury contamination Ron E. Z., Minz D., Finkelstein N. P. & Rosenberg E.: Interactions of bacteria with cadmium [23] [37] C. Lignocellulose Bayer E. A & Lamed R: The cellulose paradox: pollutant par excellence and/or a reclaimable natural resource? [47] Hadar Y., Kerem Z., Gorodecki B. & Ardon 0.: Utilization of lignocellulosic waste by the edible mushroom, Pleurotus [65] Shoham Y., Schwartz Z., Khasin A, Gat 0., Zosim Z. & Rosenberg E.: Delignification of wood pulp by a thermostable xylanase from Bacillus stearothermophilus strain T-6 [83] Broda P.: Biotechnology in the degradation and utilization of lignocellulose [95] D. Nitrogen and Sulphur Kuenen J. G. & Robertson L. A: The use of natural bacterial populations for the treatment of sulphurcontaining wastewater Abeliovich A: Transformations of ammonia and the environmental impact of nitrifying bacteria [115] [131] E. Halogenated Compounds van der Meer J. R, Bosma T. N. P., de Bruin W. P., Harms H., Holliger C., Rijnaarts H. H. M., Tros M. E., Schraa G. & Zehnder A J. B.: Versatility of soil column experiments to study biodegradation of halogenated compounds under environmental conditions [141] Boyle A W., Silvin C. J., Hassett J. P., Nakas J. P. & Tanenbaum S. W.: Bacterial PCB biodegradation [161] Belkin S.: Biodegradation of halo alkanes [175] F. Petroleum Pritchard P. H., Mueller J. G., Rogers J. C., Kremer F. V. & Glaser J. A: Oil spill bioremediation: experiences, lessons and results from the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska [191] Rosenberg E., Legmann R, Kushmaro A, Taube R, Adler E. & Ron E. Z.: Petroleum bioremediationa multiphase problem [213] Cerniglia C. E.: Biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [227] iii

4 IV G. Military I Industrial Pollution Walker J. E. & Kaplan D. L.: Biological degradation of explosives and chemical agents Oren A., Gurevich P., Azachi M. & Henis Y.: Microbial degradation of pollutants at high salt concentrations List of contributors Index [245] [263]

5 Preface This volume contains material first presented at an international workshop on the 'Use of Microorganisms to Combat Pollution', held in Israel, May , The workshop was sponsored by the Bat-Sheva de Rothschild Foundation for the Advancement of Science and included microbiologists, biochemists and geneticists from universities, environmental agencies and the military. Each of the contributors to this volume is an acknowledged expert on the treatment of one or more types of pollution using microorganisms or their enzymes. This book differs from most published symposia proceedings in the breadth of coverage of each subject. Most of the chapters are divided into three parts: (a) A general presentation of the source and toxicity of the pollutant, (b) a review of the current state-of-the-science on the biodegradation of that pollutant and (c) the authors' unique research experiences on the problem. In several examples, the authors have presented data from both laboratory studies and field trials. Thus, the book contains not only the theoretical background on the biodegradation of pollutants, but also practical experiences in applying this knowledge to solving significant pollution problems. The opening chapters deal with the use of genetically engineered microorganisms (GEM's) in bioremediation research and application. The major use of GEM's is as a tool for an improved understanding of the biodegradation pathways. The actual use of GEM's to treat or avoid pollution appears to be limited at present to totally recalcitrant pollutants, such as certain aromatic halides, and situations where high levels of a specific enzyme are required, e.g., biobleaching of wood pulp with xylanase (Shoham et al.). The presentation of Ron Atlas demonstrates how new molecular biological techniques, such as the use of PCRs, can be applied to detection and containment of GEM's. The remaining chapters are divided into the type of pollution potentially treatable by microorganisms: metals, lignocellulose, inorganic nitrogen and sulfur molecules, halogenated compounds, hydrocarbons and products produced by the military which must now be destroyed in an environmentally safe manner. In some cases the pollutants are mixtures of compounds that are difficult to define, e.g., petroleum and PCBs. This, of course, makes the quantitative determination of biodegradation more difficult. Nevertheless, the data presented here document and explain the generally successful use of microorganisms to treat a wide variety of pollution problems. It is hoped that the wide scope of pollution problems presented and the broad approach to discussing them will make this book useful to students and scientists interested in applied microbiology and the environmental sciences. E. Rosenberg v