A simple 14C-respirometric method for assessing microbial catabolic potential and organic contaminant bioavailability

Reid, Brian J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9613-979X, MacLeod, Christopher J. A., Lee, Philip H., Morriss, Alistair W. J., Stokes, Joanna D. and Semple, Kirk T. (2001) A simple 14C-respirometric method for assessing microbial catabolic potential and organic contaminant bioavailability. FEMS Microbiology Letters, 196 (2). pp. 141-146. ISSN 1574-6968

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Abstract

This paper describes the validation and application of a simple flask-based 14C-respirometer system designed to assess mineralisation of 14C-labelled substrates under defined conditions. Validation of this respirometer system indicated stoichiometric CO2 trapping up to a maximum of 400 µmol of CO2 (in a single trap). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-degrading bacteria were used to measure growth-linked biodegradation of [14C]naphthalene to 14CO2. A 14C activity balance of 101.7±8.9% (n=6), after 74 h incubation time and 10 respirometer-opening events, indicated the suitability of the system for monitoring substrate mineralisation. This respirometric apparatus was then successfully applied to assess: (i) the PAH catabolism of microbes in a field contaminated soil, where naphthalene and phenanthrene were rapidly mineralised and (ii) soil-associated organic contaminant bioavailability, where increased soil–phenanthrene contact time resulted in a reduction in phenanthrene mineralisation in the soil. The described respirometer system differs from existing respirometer systems in that the CO2 trap can be removed and replaced quickly and easily. The system is efficient, reproducible, adaptable to many situations, easy to construct and simple to use, it therefore affords advantages over existing systems.

Item Type:	Article
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Geosciences Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Environmental Biology Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Resources, Sustainability and Governance (former - to 2018) Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Geosciences and Natural Hazards (former - to 2017)
Depositing User:	Rachel Snow
Date Deposited:	09 Jun 2011 14:10
Last Modified:	24 Sep 2024 10:24
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/32107
DOI:	10.1111/j.1574-6968.2001.tb10555.x

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