Study of metabolites from the degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by bacterial consortium enriched from mangrove sediments

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) 2006-12, Vol.65 (11), p.2289-2296
• Main Authors: Luan, T.G., Yu, Keith S.H., Zhong, Y., Zhou, H.W., Lan, C.Y., Tam, Nora F.Y.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Bacteria; Bacteria - metabolism; Biodegradation; Biodegradation of pollutants; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Decontamination. Miscellaneous; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environment and pollution; Exact sciences and technology; Fluorene; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS); Geologic Sediments - microbiology; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Phenanthrene; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; Polycyclic Compounds - metabolism; Pyrene; Rhizophoraceae; Soil and sediments pollution; Solid phase microextraction; Water Microbiology
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2006.05.013

The PAH metabolites produced during degradation of fluorene, phenanthrene and pyrene by a bacterial consortium enriched from mangrove sediments were analyzed using the on-fiber silylation solid-phase microextraction (SPME) combining with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) method. Seventeen metabolites at trace levels were identified in different PAH degradation cultures based on the full scan mass spectra. In fluorene degradation cultures, 1-, 2-, 3- and 9-hydroxyfluorene, fluorenone, and phthalic acid were detected. In phenanthrene and pyrene degradation cultures, various common metabolites such as phenanthrene and pyrene dihydrodiols, mono-hydroxy phenanthrene, dihydroxy pyrene, lactone and 4-hydroxyphenanthrene, methyl ester, and phthalic acid were found. The detection of various common and novel metabolites demonstrates that SPME combining with GC–MS is a quick and convenient method for identification as well as monitoring the real time changes of metabolite concentrations throughout the degradation processes. The knowledge of PAH metabolic pathways and kinetics within indigenous bacterial consortium enriched from mangrove sediments contributes to enhance the bioremediation efficiency of PAH in real environment.