Vanadium respiration by Geobacter metallireducens: novel strategy for in situ removal of vanadium from groundwater.

TitleVanadium respiration by Geobacter metallireducens: novel strategy for in situ removal of vanadium from groundwater.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2004
AuthorsOrtiz-Bernad I, Anderson RT, Vrionis HA, Lovley DR
JournalAppl Environ Microbiol
Volume70
Issue5
Pagination3091-5
Date Published2004 May
ISSN0099-2240
KeywordsAnaerobiosis, Biodegradation, Environmental, Culture Media, Fresh Water, Geobacter, Geologic Sediments, Mining, Oxidation-Reduction, Vanadium, Water Pollution, Chemical
Abstract

Vanadium can be an important contaminant in groundwaters impacted by mining activities. In order to determine if microorganisms of the Geobacteraceae, the predominant dissimilatory metal reducers in many subsurface environments, were capable of reducing vanadium(V), Geobacter metallireducens was inoculated into a medium in which acetate was the electron donor and vanadium(V) was the sole electron acceptor. Reduction of vanadium(V) resulted in the production of vanadium(IV), which subsequently precipitated. Reduction of vanadium(V) was associated with cell growth with a generation time of 15 h. No vanadium(V) was reduced and no precipitate was formed in heat-killed or abiotic controls. Acetate was the most effective of all the electron donors evaluated. When acetate was injected into the subsurface to enhance the growth and activity of Geobacteraceae in an aquifer contaminated with uranium and vanadium, vanadium was removed from the groundwater even more effectively than uranium. These studies demonstrate that G. metallireducens can grow via vanadium(V) respiration and that stimulating the activity of Geobacteraceae, and hence vanadium(V) reduction, can be an effective strategy for in situ immobilization of vanadium in contaminated subsurface environments.

Alternate JournalAppl. Environ. Microbiol.
PubMed ID15128571