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Microbially mediated phosphine emission.

Joris Roels1, Gwen Huyghe, Willy Verstraete

  • 1Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology (LabMET), Faculty of Applied and Biological Sciences, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium.

The Science of the Total Environment
|February 17, 2005
PubMed
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Researchers investigated microbial phosphine production. While de novo synthesis from phosphate wasn't proven, microbes converted unknown phosphorus compounds in inocula to phosphine gas, complicating detection.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Microbiology
  • Biogeochemistry
  • Anaerobic Digestion

Background:

  • Microbial reduction of phosphate to phosphine gas is debated.
  • Matrix-bound phosphine (MBP) in inocula complicates detection of de novo synthesis.
  • MBP requires digestion (acidic/caustic) for transformation into phosphine gas.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Compare digestion methods for MBP quantification.
  • Investigate microbial phosphine gas emission during anaerobic growth.
  • Determine if de novo phosphine synthesis occurs from phosphate.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of acidic and caustic digestion methods for MBP.
  • Anaerobic growth experiments with varied inocula and media.
  • Quantification of phosphine gas in headspace using gas chromatography.

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Main Results:

  • Acidic and caustic digestion are crucial for accurate MBP measurement before inoculation.
  • Phosphine emission during growth depended on medium composition.
  • Emitted phosphine amounts did not exceed initial MBP levels.
  • Microbial conversion of unknown reduced phosphorus compounds to phosphine was observed.

Conclusions:

  • De novo synthesis of phosphine from phosphate by microorganisms was not demonstrated.
  • Accurate measurement of matrix-bound phosphine is essential to avoid false positives for de novo synthesis.
  • Microbial activity can convert reduced phosphorus compounds into phosphine gas, influencing environmental phosphorus cycling.