Assessment of in situ biodegradation of monochlorobenzene in contaminated groundwater treated in a constructed wetland

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Mareike Braeckevelt - , Chair of Urban Water Management, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (Author)
  • Hemal Rokadia - , Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (Author)
  • Gwenaël Imfeld - , Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (Author)
  • Nicole Stelzer - , Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (Author)
  • Heidrun Paschke - , Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (Author)
  • Peter Kuschk - , Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (Author)
  • Matthias Kästner - , Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (Author)
  • Hans H. Richnow - , Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (Author)
  • Stefanie Weber - , Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (Author)

Abstract

The degradation of monochlorobenzene (MCB) was assessed in a constructed wetland treating MCB contaminated groundwater using a detailed geochemical characterisation, stable isotope composition analysis and in situ microcosm experiments. A correlation between ferrous iron mobilisation, decreasing MCB concentration and enrichment in carbon isotope composition was visible at increasing distance from the inflow point, indicating biodegradation of MCB in the wetland. Additionally, in situ microcosm systems loaded with 13C-labelled MCB were deployed for the first time in sediments to investigate the biotransformation of MCB. Incorporation of 13C-labelled carbon derived from the MCB into bacterial fatty acids substantiated in situ degradation of MCB. The detection of 13C-labelled benzene indicated reductive dehalogenation of MCB. This integrated approach indicated the natural attenuation of the MCB in a wetland system. Further investigations are required to document and optimise the in situ biodegradation of MCB in constructed and natural wetland systems treating contaminated groundwater.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)428-437
Number of pages10
JournalEnvironmental pollution
Volume148
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2007
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 17291643
ORCID /0009-0001-5656-0053/work/145224080

Keywords

Keywords

  • Biodegradation, Constructed wetland, In situ microcosms, Isotopic fractionation, Monochlorobenzene