Degradation of humic acids in a microbial film consortium from landfill compost

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dc.contributor.authorQi B.C.
dc.contributor.authorAldrich C.
dc.contributor.authorLorenzen L.
dc.contributor.authorWolfaardt G.M.
dc.date.accessioned2011-05-15T16:01:47Z
dc.date.available2011-05-15T16:01:47Z
dc.date.issued2004
dc.description.abstractBacterial biofilms are ubiquitous in nature and industrial settings. In this study, a biofilm consortium was enriched in a continuous-flow-cell system using humic acid as the sole carbon and energy source. The degradation of the humic acids by the consortium under two supplementary carbon sources was investigated by ultraviolet (UV) absorbency, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and electrospray mass spectrometry (ES-MS). The morphological characteristics of the biofilm consortium and the isolated cultures from the biofilm were observed under an epifluorescence microscope. The metabolic diversity of the selected cultures from the degradative consortium, based on substrate usage pattern, was examined using Biolog EcoPlates. Microscopic analysis revealed that the biofilm was formed by various morphotypes of bacteria, fungi, and yeasts, as well as amoebas. The substrate usage profiles of the bacteria confirmed that, in addition to yeasts and fungi, two groups of bacterial consortia were developed in the biofilm to degrade the humic acids. The degradation of humic acid in the biofilm was mostly carried out in a secondary or a cometabolic path. Addition of the readily digestible external carbon source enhanced the growth of the biofilm consortium. The FTIR and ES-MS spectra confirmed the changes in chemical structure of the humic acid by the biofilm community.
dc.description.versionArticle
dc.identifier.citationIndustrial and Engineering Chemistry Research
dc.identifier.citation43
dc.identifier.citation20
dc.identifier.issn8885885
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/12154
dc.subjectBacteria
dc.subjectCarbon
dc.subjectCarboxylic acids
dc.subjectDegradation
dc.subjectFourier transform infrared spectroscopy
dc.subjectLand fill
dc.subjectMass spectrometry
dc.subjectMorphology
dc.subjectUltraviolet radiation
dc.subjectYeast
dc.subjectElectrospray mass spectrometry (ES-MS)
dc.subjectEnergy sources
dc.subjectHumic acids
dc.subjectMicrobial films
dc.subjectBiofilms
dc.subjectcarbon
dc.subjecthumic acid
dc.subjectbiodegradation
dc.subjectAmoeba
dc.subjectarticle
dc.subjectbacterial metabolism
dc.subjectbacterium
dc.subjectbacterium culture
dc.subjectbiofilm
dc.subjectchemical structure
dc.subjectcompost
dc.subjectcontinuous flow reactor
dc.subjectcontrolled study
dc.subjectelectrospray mass spectrometry
dc.subjectenergy
dc.subjectepifluorescence microscopy
dc.subjectfungus
dc.subjectinfrared spectroscopy
dc.subjectlandfill
dc.subjectlight absorption
dc.subjectmicrobial degradation
dc.subjectmorphology
dc.subjectnonhuman
dc.subjectyeast
dc.titleDegradation of humic acids in a microbial film consortium from landfill compost
dc.typeArticle
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