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Influence of carbon sources and electron shuttles on ferric iron reduction by Cellulomonas sp. strain ES6

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Abstract

Microbially reduced iron minerals can reductively transform a variety of contaminants including heavy metals, radionuclides, chlorinated aliphatics, and nitroaromatics. A number of Cellulomonas spp. strains, including strain ES6, isolated from aquifer samples obtained at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hanford site in Washington, have been shown to be capable of reducing Cr(VI), TNT, natural organic matter, and soluble ferric iron [Fe(III)]. This research investigated the ability of Cellulomonas sp. strain ES6 to reduce solid phase and dissolved Fe(III) utilizing different carbon sources and various electron shuttling compounds. Results suggest that Fe(III) reduction by and growth of strain ES6 was dependent upon the type of electron donor, the form of iron present, and the presence of synthetic or natural organic matter, such as anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AQDS) or humic substances. This research suggests that Cellulomonas sp. strain ES6 could play a significant role in metal reduction in the Hanford subsurface and that the choice of carbon source and organic matter addition can allow for independent control of growth and iron reduction activity.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Kristy Weaver and Laura Jennings for their assistance in the laboratory. This research was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Environmental Management Science Program, under Grant No. DE-FG02-03ER63582 and DOE-NE Idaho Operations Office Contract DE-AC07-05ID14517. Partial financial support was provided by a grant from the Inland Northwest Research Alliance (INRA) under contract MSU 002.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA

    Robin Gerlach, Erin K. Field, Brent M. Peyton & Al B. Cunningham

  2. Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA

    Robin Gerlach & Brent M. Peyton

  3. Department of Microbiology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA

    Erin K. Field

  4. Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43606, USA

    Sridhar Viamajala

  5. Biological Systems Department, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID, 83415, USA

    William A. Apel

  6. Department of Civil Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA

    Al B. Cunningham

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  1. Robin Gerlach
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  2. Erin K. Field
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  3. Sridhar Viamajala
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  6. Al B. Cunningham
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Correspondence to Robin Gerlach.

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Gerlach, R., Field, E.K., Viamajala, S. et al. Influence of carbon sources and electron shuttles on ferric iron reduction by Cellulomonas sp. strain ES6. Biodegradation 22, 983–995 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10532-011-9457-1

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