Microbial remediation of methyl
tert-butyl
ether-contaminated aquifers has been widely studied since
their cost/efficiency ratios are lower than other remediating
techniques. Based on previous studies, simultaneous
assessment of two inocula (
Acinetobacter calcoaceticus
M10 and a co-culture between strain M10 and
Rhodococcus
ruber
E10) was performed for methyl
tert-butyl ether
bioremediation in a designed pilot-scale biofilter. A noninoculated
biofilter was included for comparison. Temporary
bioremediation of methyl
tert-butyl ether (up to 80 %
removal) from the biofilter inoculated with the consortium
was observed within 44 days. In addition, the taxonomic
profile (temporal temperature gradient gel electrophoresis
from RNA extracts) from the latter biofilter contained more
active strains than in the other two systems. The presence
of strains M10 and E10 in temporal temperature gradient
gel electrophoresis analysis from RNA extracts and high
presence of strain E10 in temporal temperature gradient gel
electrophoresis analysis of DNA extracts, along with
alkB
amplification of both strains in the biofilter, suggest that the
co-culture inoculum was responsible for the methyl
tert-butyl
ether removal.
